Top Patent Lawyer sections that make the best resume
- Header
- Professional summary
- Experience (with numbers & results)
- Relevant skills
- Education
- Certifications
Writing a strong Patent Lawyer experience section
Checklist: Ways to Make Your Experience Section Stand Out
- Find balance: use 4-6 bullet points per position;
- Include positions that are relevant to the job you’re applying for;
- Use action verbs when describing your responsibilities and results;
- Highlight your achievements by adding numbers to them (e.g. instead of saying “achieved a steady increase in…”, say “achieved an X% increase in…”);
- Prove that you’re willing to work hard, both individually and in a team.
Need examples? We looked through thousands of Patent Lawyer resumes and gathered some examples of what the ideal experience section looks like. Check them out below!
- Developed and implemented a patent prosecution strategy resulting in an increase in the number of patents issued by 40% over two years.
- Managed the company's patent portfolio and ensured alignment with overall business goals.
- Negotiated and drafted IP agreements, including license agreements and collaboration agreements.
- Successfully defended the company against patent infringement lawsuits, resulting in a savings of $5 million in legal fees.
- Conducted IP due diligence for multiple mergers and acquisitions, resulting in successful acquisition of key technologies and products.
- Developed and implemented a legal strategy that reduced the number of lawsuits filed against the company by 50% over two years.
- Negotiated and drafted contracts for high-profile business transactions, resulting in a savings of $2 million in legal fees.
- Advised executives and employees on legal matters related to Strategic Business Units, Marketing, Brand Communication, Sales, Human Resources, Corporate Alliances, and International Divisions.
- Developed and led internal audits and corporate compliance initiatives, resulting in a 100% compliance rate.
- Managed complex IP litigation resulting in favorable outcomes for the company.
PRO TIP
Don't make the same mistake everyone else does. What we mean is, don't list your Patent Lawyer job responsibilities instead of your achievements. Recruiters know what you do. They want to know what kind of difference you can bring to their company. Focus on what you've accomplished.
Action Verbs for your Patent Lawyer Resume
Recommended reads:
Patent Lawyer Resume: Crafting a Strong Skills Section
Patent Lawyer resume: skills section checklist
- Scan the job advert for keywords worth including in your resume;
- List both hard and transferable skills;
- Leave room for discussion: include some of your skills in other sections of your resume;
- Focus on skills that prove your expertise and leave the irrelevant ones behind.
Top skills for your patent lawyer resume
Patent prosecution
Patent drafting
Legal research
Claim drafting
Patent analysis
Intellectual property law
Patent searching
Legal writing
Patent portfolio management
Litigation support
Attention to detail
Critical thinking
Analytical skills
Communication
Problem-solving
Teamwork
Time management
Organizational skills
Client management
Negotiation
PRO TIP
Avoid getting sidetracked by Applicant tracking software by including a tech skills' section matching the job description and your own qualifications.
Recommended reads:
Patent Lawyer resume header: tips, red flags, and best practices
Impressive Patent Lawyer resume summary checklist:
- Point out the achievements that make you a valuable applicant;
- Mention the total years of experience you have;
- Highlight the things you believe make you the best fit for the position;
- Keep it short: aim at having no more than 3-5 sentences.
Resume summary formula:
PRO TIP
Highlight specific past projects that you’re most proud of in your summary. It sets an excellent tone for the rest of your resume. You can talk about all of your former jobs in your work experience section later on.
Recommended reads:
How to write a Patent Lawyer resume
There are three basic resume formats you can choose from:
- Reverse-chronological resume format;
- Functional resume format;
- Hybrid (or Combination) resume format;
The most optimal format for your particular case will depend on your years of experience, as well as whether you’re switching industries or not.
Reverse chronological resumes are best suited for experienced individuals who are sticking to their industry. The experience section takes a central place, and its bullets contain your responsibilities and achievements, coupled with numbers and results.
Functional resumes are used by less experienced jobseekers or career changers. Note that it’s not a format that recruiters prefer, as most are used to the classic chronological alignment. Instead of a list of job titles, functional resumes focus on your skills, and through what experiences you gained them.
Hybrid resumes are great for both experienced and entry-level candidates, as well as career changers. They combine the best of both worlds - most often in a double column format, where one side of the content is focused on your experience, whereas the other - on your skills, strengths, and proudest moments.
Check out our additional tips on perfecting your Patent Lawyer resume’s style and layout:
- Choose traditional 1-inch resume margins;
- Go for a serif or sans serif resume font that’s easy to read yet looks professional (e.g. Arial, Verdana, or Calibri);
- Keep your Patent Lawyer resume short: one-page template are preferable, but if you have over 10 years of experience, you can also go for a two-page format;
- Save your resume as PDF and choose a suitable name, e.g. NameSurnameResume;
Tired of looking for ways to make your resume stand out? Read this article!