Our free Google Docs templates are approved by recruiters and suitable for each legal profession, including:
- Employment law attorneys
- Paralegals
- Intellectual property law attorneys
- Associate attorney
- Family law attorney resume
- Contract law attorney
- Civil litigation attorney
- Immigration attorney resume
- Real estate attorney resume
- Patent law attorney
- Senior Law Partner
How to write an attorney resume that gets more interviews?
Now that you know what a successful legal resume looks like, it's time to update yours. Here's how to write a standout resume that won't leave the hiring managers indifferent.
Use the traditional attorney resume structure
In a traditional industry like law, you want to keep your resume minimalist and clean. Make sure to include all the essential sections and avoid creative layouts that can confuse the corporations or law firms you're targeting.
Whether you specialize in civil litigation, personal injury, environmental law, work in federal court, or offer strategic legal advice to corporations, you'll want to include these details in your resume:
- Your name and contact information
- Resume headline - include your specialization here, such as Corporate Law Attorney or Civil Litigation Attorney.
- Summary section
- Professional experience - exclude any non-legal experience to keep your resume focused
- Education and certifications
- Skills
- Other sections (such as publications, languages, Bar admission, hobbies, etc.).
Pick a professional resume template
Although the resume content is the most important, a template can make or break the first impression. Poor formatting or a random template you've downloaded from the internet can send the wrong signals to the law firm, showing your lack of interest or poor attention to detail.
At ResumePerk, we offer expertly designed templates for every professional in the legal industry. Here are the advantages of the free templates we offer:
- A variety of templates are available for different career levels and legal specializations;
- All templates are ATS-optimized, so you'll pass the screening if the company uses such software;
- Easy to customize - templates are available in Google Docs and you can modify them to suit your career goals.
How to choose the best template?
Consider your career level and work history when choosing the best layout for your resume. For example, if you have a progressive experience in the same field, such as family law, opt for a template with an extensive Experience section and no summary. If you changed fields or don't have a specialization, opt for a template with a summary to present your strengths for a specific law firm. As a law school graduate, use a template with the Education section placed at the top so that the law firm can quickly see your excellent performance.
If you're having trouble choosing a perfect template, contact us. Our resume consultants can develop a unique template for you and update your resume content according to the recent requirements in the legal field. Chat with us to learn the details.
Lead with a powerful attorney resume summary
A well-written summary can capture the reader's attention, provide a high-level overview of your legal career, and draw attention to your key achievements. Moreover, if you have a versatile background, you can use this section to explain your career goals and specialization to potential employers.
- 2-4 sentences summarizing your legal background and highlighting skills the job description specifically asks for (such as conducted legal research, family law, working on criminal and civil cases, or else).
- How many years of experience you have and your specialization
- Law degree and academic achievements (for recent law school graduates)
- 1-2 key professional achievements with numbers and percentages.
Example: Dedicated Family Law Attorney with 5+ years of experience advocating for clients in divorce, custody, and adoption cases. Proven track record in negotiating favorable settlements in over 90% of divorce cases, minimizing court appearances and emotional stress for clients. Provide personalized legal solutions and guide families through challenging transitions.
Focus on your relevant experience
For any skilled attorney, the Experience section is the biggest asset. Here, you showcase relevant legal experience, achievements, and other details that present you as a perfect candidate for a job. Your Experience block shouldn't be about daily job duties only. Include at least 1-2 professional achievements to showcase your professional value and ability to deliver results.
Here's how to write this section:
- Use a reverse chronological format. Start with your current employment and work back to previous roles. If you have extensive experience, include 3-4 most recent roles and mention only job titles and organization names for earlier jobs.
- Include achievements with metrics, for example, "Led enforcement actions against trademark infringers, successfully recovering over $250,000 in damages". Results show your dedication and excellent skills.
- Write 4-5 bullets for each role. You needn't include each task or project you were assigned. Focus on your most relevant contributions and results.
- Highlight promotion. If you received a promotion in a law firm or were granted extra responsibility, make this information visible.
- Include unpaid experience. As a graduate, you can focus on pro bono experience or work in a legal aid society. Even unpaid legal experience can strengthen your resume and help you land more interviews.
List education and credentials correctly
Your legal education is proof of your professional competencies, moreover, some roles require a specific educational background. Include your Juris Doctor degree and any other degrees, omitting the high school details. Add the year of graduation, school's name, and any academic achievements such as honors and awards.
Here's how to format your Education section:
- List degrees in reverse chronological order. In other words, your Juris Doctor degree goes first, and then your Bachelor's and Master's degrees.
- As a recent graduate, you can put the Education section at the top of the resume. If you have 5+ years of experience as an attorney, your work experience goes first.
- Include relevant certifications or licenses, such as Bar admissions.
Example:
Harvard Law School, Cambridge, MA
Juris Doctor, May 2022
Concentration: Intellectual Property Law | Graduated Summa Cum Laude
Include the Skills section
Including a dedicated Skills section serves two purposes. Firstly, they quickly draw attention to your competencies, especially if you have limited experience. Secondly, they help your resume pass the ATS screening, increasing your chances of getting an interview. Skills sections are found in most attorney resume examples, including senior-level and entry-level attorney resume.
Make sure to highlight both technical skills (such as proficiency in legal software) and soft skills that describe your interaction with coworkers, superiors, and clients. Tailor your skills to the job description, emphasizing skills that are the must-haves for the attorney role you're aiming at.
Attorney resume skills
- Corporate governance
- Drafting legal briefs
- Conducting legal research
- Prepare legal documents
- Legal research tools
- Resolving legal disputes
- Preparing licensing agreements
- Commercial Litigation
- Labor and employment law
- Contract law
- Federal laws
- Communication skills
- Negotiation skills
- Arbitration
- Conflict resolution
- Due diligence
- M&A
- Leal writing
- Data analysis
- MyCase
- PracticePartner
- Clio
Insert relevant keywords
In 2025, you should always include keywords from the job listing in your attorney resume. Highlighting the exact skills and qualifications from the job posting helps your resume look relevant to the hiring manager. Plus, it helps you successfully pass the ATS selection.
Make sure to mirror the language of a job description, using the same words and phrases to describe your experience. Add keywords in all sections of your resume, including summary, experience, and skills.
Use powerful action verbs
Action verbs help your resume sound more dynamic and confident. With strong words like Initiated, implemented, or developed you make an impression of a proactive person who takes his own initiative and delivers results. Vary the action verbs you use to make the resume look more professional.
You can find great action verbs in attorney resume examples above. Here are more verbs you can incorporate:
- Formulated
- Persuaded
- Drafted
- Negotiated
- Researched
- Advised
- Litigated
- Advocated
- Developed
- Oversaw
Attach a relevant attorney cover letter
Your application to a large company or a law firm won't be complete without a tailored cover letter. According to the stats, 60% of hiring managers believe that attaching a cover letter is a must for a successful job application.
Here's how to write your cover letter:
- Tailor it to the job. Generic cover letters copied from the internet don't work. Take the time to describe how your qualifications and background suit the specific law firm and why you're a perfect fit. Mention something specific about the company that interests you to show you've done your homework.
- Format it consistently with a resume. Use a plain template with professional fonts. On our website, you can find great free attorney cover letter templates to format the letter effectively.
- List achievements. Impress the recruiters with 2-3 major achievements, such as reducing litigation costs, executing a legal strategy, and reducing case preparation expenses.
- Convey enthusiasm. Use a professional tone, yet don't forget to show genuine interest and enthusiasm in a position. Driven, inspired individuals get more consideration than candidates who draft purely formal letters.
- Be concise. Keep the letter to one page and write in plain English, following the professional tone. Avoid jargon or overly complex sentences. Ensure impeccable grammar and punctuation to create an impression as a detail-oriented person.