Should you include interests on law school resume?

Asked by: Jessie Cormier  |  Last update: September 17, 2023
Score: 4.7/5 (46 votes)

Do I need to include an Interests section? While it's not mandatory to include an Interests section, many employers note that this is a part of the resume they like seeing to help get to know a candidate. It is fairly common to include for private sector focused resumes — especially for BigLaw.

Should I include an interests section in my resume?

Ultimately, adding a “Hobbies and Interests” section at the end of your resume is a great way to wrap up your resume. It can help you make an impression that extends beyond the professional aspect and give the recruiter a little extra something to remember you by.

What skills should I put on my resume for law school?

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.

Should I include relevant coursework on law school resume?

If you have a master's degree or any postgraduate work, you would start with that first. And, unless your high school education is particularly relevant or impressive, don't include that. Providing details on coursework allows you to explain some of your areas of expertise and highlight any skills gained.

Do you put all work experience on law school resume?

Including Your Work History in Your Application

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.

Law school resumes I what to include

34 related questions found

Do law schools prefer students with work experience?

At many of the top law schools, the percentage of applicants admitted to their programs with at least one year of work experience after college exceeds 50%. These days, I encourage applicants to think about taking a gap year to work, especially if they are light on prior employment.

Do law schools care about work experience?

Work Experience on Your Application

LSAT score and GPA generally constitute the most important factors in law school admissions decisions. Historically, post-college work experience has not been emphasized, and students often go directly from college into law school.

Should I put my GPA on my law school resume?

As a general rule, if your GPA is in the top half of the class, or starts with a "3," include it. Otherwise, you may want to consider leaving it off. Employers will assume your grades were lower than top half if they see no mention of grades or rank.

Do I put my LSAT score on my resume?

In that same survey, the vast majority of employers thought listing LSAT scores was “irrelevant,” and a few found it annoying. Given this feedback from employers, you most likely will choose not to include your LSAT on your resume.

Do law schools look at your courses?

This transcript report includes a calculation of your cumulative GPA, as well as your GPA at each institution attended. However, admissions officers also look beyond those numbers to consider the subjects, difficulty and workload of the courses you have taken. They also consider any trend of improvement over time.

What looks good when applying to law school?

Keep reading to improve your chances of your law school application landing in the “accepted” pile...
  • 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…

How many pages should a law school resume be?

Unlike most employment-oriented resumes, which are tailored to a particular job function, the law school resume is broad, and should include all of your significant, post-high school experience. For this reason, many applicants expand their standard one-page resume to two pages.

What skills law schools look for?

The following core skills, values, knowledge, and experience are essential to succeed in law school and the practice of law:
  • Problem solving.
  • Critical reading.
  • Writing and editing.
  • Oral communication and listening.
  • Research.
  • Organization and management.
  • Public service and promotion of justice.

Should I include hobbies and interests?

Should I List Hobbies and Interests on My CV? The answer is a qualified yes. Putting your interests on a CV really can strengthen your job application and help you score an interview. It helps you stand out as an individual and helps the recruiter to think of you as a person, not just a work experience section.

Are interests and hobbies the same thing?

Basically, an interest is something one likes to do or something that one has a feeling for. For example, she has an interest in poetry, or he is interested in watching the game. A hobby is something one likes to do in his past time, a spare-time recreational pursuit.

Should I put an interests section on my resume reddit?

Only include the hobbies/interests section if you can't fill up the page with more important stuff. And if you do include it, don't repeat hobbies and interests which are already reflected in your projects, and pad it out as much as possible with job related stuff.

Should I keep a 150 LSAT score?

For example, to get into a top-ranking law school, you'll probably need an LSAT score of at least 160 or above, while a score in the mid-150s is often acceptable at many excellent law schools. A top 10 law school typically requires a 170 or above.

Does LSAT predict success as lawyer?

It's worth noting that the LSAT does NOT necessarily predict your chances of passing the bar exam or your chances of being a successful attorney! It also does not necessarily predict “success” in law school—it only predicts GPA. “Success” in law school can be defined much more broadly than GPA alone.

Does LSAT predict law school performance?

Ultimately, the LSAT is meant to predict how well a student will perform during their first year in law school. According to its creators, the LSAT has a predictive validity of 60%, meaning 60% of the time, its score is, in fact, correlated to how someone performs in their first year in law school.

What GPA do lawyers put on resumes?

Only put your GPA on your resume if it is exceptional. In the legal world, this means at least a 3.5. If you had a not so great overall GPA in law school, but had a high GPA in classes in your area of practice (such as tax or intellectual property), you could include that GPA only.

What is a good GPA at law school?

Among the 191 ranked law schools that submitted grade data to U.S. News in an annual survey, the average median GPA of entering law school students in 2021 was 3.55. But at the 20 highest-ranked law schools, the average median GPA is much higher – 3.86.

Should you put dean's list on law school resume?

If you have only one or two honors and/or awards (e.g., dean's List), then it would be better to include the item(s) in the education section. If you have one or more items of research to highlight, it may be appropriate to include a separate section for research.

Is it better to take a gap year before law school?

Is It Good To Take a Gap Year Before Law School? If students use their gap year to make themselves better candidates through a higher LSAT score or a richer resume, then yes! A gap year can help them get into law school easier and can also give them time to fulfill other goals they have.

How hard is law school compared to undergrad?

Studying. Law school typically has a heftier work load than undergrad. You should treat it like a full-time job, dedicating at least 40 hours (or more) to reading and studying each week. And you should make sure your study and time management skills are up to snuff too.

Is the LSAT more important than GPA?

Keep in mind that just because the LSAT gets more weight in the decision-making process, a GPA well below a school's typical range is still likely to keep you from being admitted to that school. While LSAT is the most important factor, GPA is still significant.