How do you write a resume for a law graduate?
Asked by: Prof. Sterling Gerlach DDS | Last update: August 25, 2025Score: 5/5 (47 votes)
List experiences that demonstrate knowledge and skills in areas relevant to legal employers, especially research, writing, and analysis. Emphasize professional skills including organizational ability, leadership, initiative, creativity, communication skills, common sense, and intellectual ability.
How to make a resume for a law graduate?
- Add identifying information. It is standard to put your name and contact information at the top of your resume. ...
- Write a professional summary. ...
- State your credentials. ...
- Describe your legal experience. ...
- Share your educational credentials. ...
- Discuss your relevant skills. ...
- Add additional sections (optional)
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 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.
How far back should a resume go for law school?
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.
Tips for writing a compelling law student CV
What should a law student resume look like?
List both paid and unpaid experiences. Include work associated with a scholastic experience, including legal clinic experience, research for a professor, and extensive work for a student organization. Rewrite past descriptions written for different industries and audiences.
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.
Should my resume have my legal name?
A resume is not a legal document, so it is acceptable to use your preferred name on the resume.
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.
Should I include my GPA on my law school resume?
Most law firms want to see your GPA and class rank. Emphasize the positive.
Do law schools care about resumes?
Your law school resume should clearly present all your work experience. Schools also commonly ask applicants to list each significant job or volunteer position individually on a separate form for easy comparison. Consider integrating such experience into the personal statement, as well.
What is the best resume for a lawyer?
A hybrid resume format is best for Lawyers, combining chronological and functional elements. This format highlights your career progression and key skills, which is crucial in the legal field. Include sections like Contact Information, Summary, Experience, Education, Skills, and Certifications.
What skills and interests should I put on my law school resume?
- Analytical and writing abilities.
- Leadership.
- Community engagement.
- Work ethic.
- Self-financing your education.
- Athletic talents.
- Cultural or volunteer activities.
- Language proficiencies.
How do you format a law school resume?
- Introduce yourself in the header. Introduce yourself in the resume's header. ...
- Write a professional summary. ...
- Add your educational experience. ...
- List your relevant certifications. ...
- Incorporate your law skills. ...
- Include your employment and internship experiences. ...
- Proofread your document.
What is the difference between a CV and a resume?
A CV presents a full history of your academic accomplishments, while a resume presents a concise summary of your qualifications. While both are tailored for the specific position you are applying to, they are used for different purposes with CVs being required for academic positions and resumes being needed otherwise.
How to create a law resume?
- Make contact info prominent. Include all relevant information for potential employers to contact you through phone and email. ...
- Include a summary statement. ...
- Document law license info. ...
- Highlight experience. ...
- Record educational background. ...
- List skills or core competencies. ...
- Include additional information.
What is 3 items that should not go into a resume?
There's no need to include personal information on a resume such as your social security number, marital status, nationality, sexual orientation, or spiritual beliefs. In fact, it is illegal for employers to ask for these personal details.
Should I attach my degree to my resume?
In most cases, show both your master's and bachelor's degrees on your resume. Although hiring managers will likely assume you've earned a bachelor's, failing to cite this degree could hinder your resume during the initial ATS scan. As previously mentioned, order your degrees from newest to oldest.
Do you put your age on your resume?
Don't include your Age!
Age is irrelevant to the application and your suitability for the role.
When should you include your GPA on your resume?
You should only consider including your GPA on your resume if you are a new or recent graduate. It's not recommended to include it once you have experience (working in a role a year or two past graduation.)
Should I put my full address on my resume?
Here's what you need to know: Don't list your full address. List your general location — city, state, or geographic region are all fine. Include your location in your resume header along with relevant contact information such as phone number, email, and LinkedIn profile.
What is the difference between a legal resume and a regular resume?
Writing a good resume may be a daunting task for law graduates and even young lawyers seeking to land their dream job at a top legal firm. A legal resume is unique simply because legal applicants are expected to highlight their broad range of skills compared to a resume for job applications in other industries.
How do you list a law degree on a resume?
When listing your law degree, you may write out Juris Doctor or abbreviate it as J.D. or JD.
What is the best job for a law graduate?
- Business Consultant. As a law school graduate with a law degree, your greatest asset is the unique and specialized training you received from your chosen JD program. ...
- Entrepreneur. ...
- Legal Journalist. ...
- Legal Marketer/Content Writer. ...
- Professor. ...
- Arbitrator. ...
- Human Resources Leader. ...
- Project Manager.
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.