How To Write The Perfect Attorney Resume
It's not a hidden fact that writing a resume is the first step to becoming an attorney at prestigious corporate companies or recognized law firms.
However, just any kind of resume won't cut it — your resume has to be irresistible and outstanding. Nothing less.
This is because the quality of your resume can either make or mar your chances of getting this job you crave.
And what's more, there is a lot of competition out there. It doesn't get any easier. So, if you want to stand out from the competitive crowd you have to bring ou? A-Game by submitting the most compelling resume.
You have to show the hiring managers that you are the missing piece of the puzzle — the one they have been looking for.
Writing your resume effectively emphasizes your strengths and sells you effortlessly. This is why you need to learn the art of effective resume writing.
Wondering how you can go about putting together an attorney resume that tilts the odds in your favor? We have got you covered.
You will discover proven tips for writing an attorney resume as you keep reading this insightful post.
Read on!
What You Need to Create an Irresistible Attorney Resume
If you think creating an attorney resume is a tough nut to crack, here's some good news. It's much easier than your experience at law school, so you can rest assured that it's something you can pull off once you set your mind to it.And we have made it even easier for you by simplifying the process involved in attorney resume writing into comprehensive and easy-to-follow steps.
Without further ado, here's how you can put an attorney resume together:
· Use a Resume Builder
· Choose an Ideal Attorney Resume Format
· Get your Header
· Insert a Resume Summary
· Show your Work Experience
· Use Action Words and Keywords
· Add your Educational Background
· Highlight your Skills
· Include Other Sections
· Attach a cover letter
Use a Resume Builder
These days, anyone can create a resume of their own with online resume builders like ResumeBuilderPro. Here, you will find professionally recommended templates and layouts tailor-made for your dream job.Using a resume builder is undoubtedly the best way to build an effective and professional job resume, especially when you need one quickly.
If you want to make a resume that shows you are smart and perfect for the attorney job, you should consider using a resume builder.
You just have to follow some simple steps. Within a few minutes, your resume will be ready. No stress! No complications!
Need help with your attorney resume? Use a resume builder today.
Choose an Ideal Attorney Resume Format
This is where it all begins. There are 3 resume writing formats namely Chronological, Functional, and Combination. And they serve different purposes and are ideal for unique occasions.In this case, the chronological resume format is what you need for your attorney resume, as it can help you catch the eye of hiring managers.
Additionally, ensure that:
· Your resume is in either MS Word or PDF format
· You use fonts that are clear and readable such as Times New Roman
· You use font sizes between 12 and 14 for the body text, and 15 to 16 for the header (bold them also)
Get your Header Right
This is arguably the easiest aspect involved in writing an attorney's resume. Nonetheless, many candidates struggle to get it right, making mistakes every now and then.Although these errors may not be detrimental, you should ensure you cut them out. Here's is the order you should follow when writing your header:
· Your name
· Your professional email address
· Your updated phone number
· Your LinkedIn (if you have one)
Insert a Resume Summary
Your resume summary gives you to perfect platform to sell yourself and stand out from your competition.Here is what you should do to convince a hiring manager with your resume summary:
· Ensure it is straight to the point
· Emphasize your experience, skills, and expertise
· Back your facts up with numbers
Show your Work Experience
This is the heart of any attorney's resume. In most cases, hiring managers snub other details and shift their attention to your work experience. This implies that you mustn't get it wrong.If they are not convinced, your resume will end up in the trash regardless of the work you might have put into creating it.
To prevent this occurrence, ensure you use the chronological resume format and list your relevant work experience.
Use action words and keywords
Action words and keywords work like magic. This is why you should use them. If you need the best keywords for your resume, pay attention to the job description. On the other hand, here are some action words you can use:· Achieved
· Accomplished
· Conducted
· Drafted
· Established
· Initiated
· Investigated
· Presented
· Revised
· Researched
· Verified
· And many others
Add your Educational Qualifications
Before becoming an attorney, you will likely have acquired educational qualifications like Bachelor's degree, Master's degree, and Doctoral degree.If some of your qualifications are not included in the requirements for the position, don't hold back. Ensure you include them. They could give you an edge over other candidates.
Here's how you can add your educational qualifications:
· Indicate your major· Include your graduation year and commencement year
· Include the institution or university and where it is located
· Achievements, Awards, or Honors (if you have any)
· Only include your GPA (Grade Point Average) if it's higher than 3.0
Highlight your Skills
Your attorney resume should contain a blend of legal, hard, and soft skills that show your ability to deliver on the job. Below are skills you can include:Legal Skills
· Corporate law· Client advocacy
· Litigation
· Settlement
· Antitrust law
· Negotiation
· Product liability law
· Tort law
· Trial preparation
· Mediation
Hard Skills
· Documentation· Project management skills
· Client service
· Upselling
· Client management
· Writing
· Research
· Tech skills
· Legal procedure
· Law knowledge
Soft Skills
· Persuasiveness· Organization
· Time management
· Analytical
· Detail-oriented
· Work ethic
· Dependable
· Collaboration
· Communication
· Interpersonal skills
Include Other Sections
You can include additional sections like:· Student organizations
· Community involvement
· Moot court experiences
· Conferences
· Non-journal publications
· Journal work/notes
· Volunteer work
Attach a Cover Letter
A cover letter attached to your resume is undoubtedly a perfect combination. You can use your cover letter to show how well you researched the company. This is your chance to show why you believe your experience, expertise, and skills can help the company in diverse ways.So, emphasize what you bring to the table and show your interest in helping the company achieve its goals.
This will give the hiring managers something to think about, making it more difficult to take you out of the picture.
For this reason, experts highly recommend that you attach a cover letter when submitting an attorney resume.
Final Words
There you have it, all you have to do to create an irresistible attorney resume. Hence, if you want to make your dreams come true by getting that job you crave, you should apply the resume best practice in this post.Do You Need An Attorney?
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