How do I make my law school resume stand out?
Asked by: Coleman Grimes II | Last update: October 21, 2025Score: 4.9/5 (51 votes)
- Experience. Include both jobs and internships. ...
- Education. Include degrees, distinctions such as magna cum laude, and academic awards. ...
- Activities. ...
- Personal. ...
- Make it scannable. ...
- Use bullet points, but no more than three per entry. ...
- Give context for each entry. ...
- Format consistently.
How to boost resume for law school?
To enhance your resume for law school, focus on academic achievements, relevant coursework, any legal internships or volunteer work, and leadership roles. Highlight skills such as critical thinking, research, and communication.
How do I make my law school personal statement stand out?
- Find a story to tell. Somewhere in your life, there is a story that indicates who you are, and why you're you.
- Demonstrate leadership.
- Show why you're a good fit.
- Avoid cliché.
- Don't mention your weaknesses.
- Put yourself in their shoes.
How should I format my resume for law school?
- Proofread.
- Use 0.5 inch margins.
- Use Times New Roman or Arial fonts.
- Use action verbs.
- Use ``I'' not ``we''.
- Use a work email address or school email address if you have one.
- Be consistent in your spellings (either American or British English, not both).
What jobs look good on a law school resume?
The Skills Law Schools Are Looking For. While legal experience such as working as a paralegal, legal assistant, legal clerk, or court representative will undoubtedly look good on your law school application, gaining work experience in other fields is just as worthwhile.
9 Biggest Law School Application Resume Mistakes
What skills do law schools look for in applicants?
- Strong Academic Record and LSAT Score. ...
- Extracurricular Involvement. ...
- Excellent Writing and Reading Abilities. ...
- Personal Growth. ...
- Strong Recommendations from People Who Actually Know You. ...
- Something Special… ...
- Demonstrated Interest in the Law School Itself.
How far back should a law school resume go?
How far back should I go? Four to five years unless you have extensive work experience. If you've recently graduated from undergrad, then stick to what you did during that time. Unless you received a Presidential Medal of Honor in high school, there's no need to go back that far.
What not to put on a resume for law school?
An “Objective” or “Summary of Qualifications” section
Your law school résumé is very different from a work résumé—so avoid using your work résumé as your template. And make sure it doesn't contain an objective or summary of qualifications. They serve no purpose except to make your law school résumé unnecessarily long.
Do law schools look at resumes?
Law schools look for tailored resumes that communicate professionally and concisely – like lawyers.
What is the best font for a lawyer's resume?
Use a standard font such as Times New Roman or Garamond. Select a font size of 11 point or 12 point. Create margins no smaller than . 5 inches on all sides.
What are law schools looking for in a personal statement?
We want you to use the personal statement to show us that you have the skills needed to succeed in law school, beyond what your LSAT score or GPA can tell us. We're looking for things like a strong work ethic, motivation, and the determination to overcome obstacles.
Why do I want to be a lawyer?
BECOMING A LAWYER IS A POWERFUL WAY TO HAVE REAL IMPACT.
As a lawyer, you can work for justice. You can create change and right the wrongs you see in your community. You can help people who need a passionate and effective advocate. Truth is, lawyers can work in just about any field.
How many letters of recommendation for law school?
Each institution will let you know how many letters it requires – usually two to three.
How to list law school on resume?
List your college/university, city and state, and graduation year (not years attended). Include activities and honors from both undergraduate school and law school. List your GPA / Class Rank/and Top % of class, especially if you are participating in On-Campus Interviewing (OCI).
How much does your resume matter for law school?
A well-written resume will highlight the traits, experiences, and qualifications law schools are looking for—like: Analytical and writing abilities. Leadership. Community engagement.
How to prepare for law school during a gap year?
A lot of people wonder what to do in a gap year. You should ideally work or volunteer in a legal environment or retake the LSAT if your score is low. If you cannot gain experience in the legal field, find an opportunity that allows you to develop skills that will still be useful in it.
How to build a good law school resume?
- Experience. Include both jobs and internships. Note promotions and other accomplishments. ...
- Education. Include degrees, distinctions such as magna cum laude, and academic awards. ...
- Activities. Include community service and other extracurriculars. ...
- Personal.
How do I know if I am fit for law school?
Readers can test their potential fit for law school by speaking to current law students or recent graduates in position they are excited about, attending a law school class, watching videos of law school lectures, reading a book about the law school experience, or taking a look at a law school casebook and reading an ...
What does Harvard look for in law school applicants?
As a general guideline, most admitted applicants demonstrate potential for success in law school through an exceptional undergraduate academic record, standardized test scores in the top percentiles, and substantial accomplishments in work or extracurricular activities; however, no one of these aspects of an ...
Should I put scholarships on my law school resume?
For law school, list all honors and activities of importance such as law review, participation on other journals, moot court, trial advocacy, clinics, fellowships, scholarships, committees, student organization membership, and academic awards.
Which one should not be included in your resume?
- Your resume has to beat the bots and impress a hiring manager. ...
- Less is more. ...
- Unprofessional email. ...
- Full mailing address. ...
- Multiple phone numbers. ...
- Outdated or irrelevant social media profiles. ...
- Resume objective statement. ...
- Personal details.
What should your class rank be on a law school resume?
Students may list their Rankings only on their resumes and correspondence used for applications for clerkships and academic positions. No Ranking information, except for the top 12 ranked students and graduates in the Order of the Coif, will be on official and unofficial transcripts.
How old is the average law school applicant?
It's never too late in life to apply to law school. Although most applicants are under 25, about 1 in 5 are 30 or older and a much smaller proportion are over 40. Many older law school graduates build fulfilling second careers that draw on preexisting skills and experiences.
Should a law school resume be one or two pages?
In fact, most law schools will happily accept resumes that are 1-2 pages in length. That's right, your resume can finally be longer than one page for these purposes. With that in mind, clarity and readability is critical. So, widen those margins (to 1-inch) and increase that font size (to at least 11-point font…
What is a good length for a law school personal statement?
Some schools set no limit for personal statements, but most suggest either 2–3 or 2–4 pages. Aim for two pages, double-spaced. Do not make the error of thinking that more is better. Law schools value the ability to persuasively convey information in a relatively short space.