Attorney Resume Examples
With a six-figure median salary in 2019 and the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of clients, many people dream of becoming an attorney. Our attorney resume examples can help you craft a professional, engaging resume to catch the attention of hiring managers. Use our resume examples as inspiration for writing, formatting and designing your own resume.
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What is a Attorney?
Attorneys advise individuals and corporations on legal issues and disputes and represent them in court proceedings. Specific responsibilities include conducting intake interviews with clients, performing research on legal problems, interpreting laws, gathering evidence, filing documents and presenting facts and arguments on behalf of their clients. Attorneys collaborate with paralegals, legal secretaries and other lawyers regularly. Attorneys must have a law degree from an accredited university. They must also possess a valid license by passing a state bar exam to legally practice law.
What Makes This a Great
Attorney Resume Example?
If you are looking for a position as an attorney, you are likely searching for a challenging job that offers the opportunity to practice a specific type of law. Use our attorney resume examples for guidance on formatting and wording your resume so it will stand out to potential employers. Here’s how our resume examples can help you craft your resume:
- Recommended job-specific content: The keywords and phrases you choose to use in your resume could mean the difference between getting the interview or getting a rejection letter. Our certified resume writers craft resume examples to show you the industry-specific phrasing hiring managers look for in an applicant. For more assistance, use our Resume Builder which will suggest pre-written resume content for every section.
- Suggest appropriate formats: This job seeker chose a combination format to present her information in a way that highlights both her skills, such as discovery and criminal defense, and her great career progression. This format is particularly effective for mid-career professionals who don’t have an extensive job history. Entry-level or senior-level professionals might choose a different resume format.
- Offer template choices: Your resume design should reflect both the job you want and the industry that it’s in. The legal field is typically quite conservative, and this job seeker chose a traditional resume template accordingly. To select the best template for your resume, our builder will offer a selection that is appropriate for your document.
3 Attorney Professional Summary Examples
The professional summary is the first thing potential employers see. Therefore, it should list your most relevant skills, accomplishments and work history. Use our attorney resume examples for guidance on crafting your own professional summary. Below are three additional examples of professional summaries for an attorney resume:
- Diligent litigation attorney with five years of experience. Maintained 1,500 billable hours a year with 96% client satisfaction at previous position. Proven success achieving case dismissals and advantageous settlements.
- Attorney with extensive civil litigation experience. Proven ability to provide clients with legal advice and solutions in high-pressure situations. Demonstrated leadership abilities with background supervising a team of six paralegals.
- Persuasive litigator with active law licenses in New York and New Jersey. More than 10 years of experience in product liability law and personal injury defense. Passionately and effectively represents client interests in and outside of court.
3 Attorney Work Experience Examples
The main goal of the work experience section of a resume is to communicate your relevant responsibilities and the skills you acquired in previous positions to potential employers. Use our attorney resume examples for ideas on how to write your own. The following are three examples of work history content to consider for your attorney resume:
- Managed 25+ client claims relating to personal injury, product defects and workplace accidents annually.
- Increased firm revenue by 10% in six months by increasing marketing efforts and building new client relationships.
- Gathered evidence and represented over 13 clients monthly in civil and criminal court proceedings.
Top Skills for Your Attorney Resume
Many large law firms use applicant tracking software to scan the resumes of job seekers. It’s important to optimize your resume using our attorney resume examples as a reference. Include legal jargon and skills that are highly desired by hiring managers.
Below are some hard and soft skills to consider adding to your resume:
Hard Skills
- Arbitration experience
- Preparation of pleadings
- Dispute resolution
- Legal compliance and audits
Soft Skills
- Leadership ability
- Written and oral communication
- Persuasive nature
- Discretion
Building Your Attorney Resume with Our Builder:
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Attorney FAQs
- What should a legal resume look like?
- How do you put ESQ on a resume?
- Should I put JD after my name on a resume?
What should a legal resume look like?
Attorney resumes should be concise, accurate, well-organized, easy to read and visually appealing. Choose formats and templates that are professional and conservative to stay in line with industry standards. If you’re an entry-level attorney, resumes should be one page in length. Longer resumes are acceptable for more experienced attorneys.
How do you put ESQ on a resume?
Esq. is the acronym for “esquire,” a term commonly used to describe an attorney. It is not required to put Esq. on a resume. Listing your education and license information is sufficient. However, if you want to include the information, you can put Esq. after your name at the top of the document like so: “Jane X. Doe, Esq.”
Should I put JD after my name on a resume?
It is not necessary to put J.D. after your name on a resume. Your credentials will be evident when the reader looks at your education and experience. However, if you decide to put J.D. after your name on a resume, make sure it is in the same color, size and font as your name and is preceded by a comma.
