On a lawyer's resume, employers want to clearly see which area of law you specialize in and your concrete experience in that area. This article walks through how to build a lawyer's resume section by section. For general resume-writing rules, see How to Write a Resume.
What Should Stand Out on a Lawyer's Resume
- Bar admission status — which bar(s) you're admitted to and your current standing.
- Practice area — which area you've built depth in, such as corporate law, employment law, or criminal law.
- Litigation and case experience — the general nature of the matters you've handled (with confidentiality in mind).
- Foreign language proficiency — an especially important criterion for international firms.
Section Structure
1. Contact Information
2. Professional Summary
Example: "Attorney with 5 years of experience specializing in corporate law and contract management, working with institutional clients."
3. Bar Admission
Place this information near the top of your resume — the bar(s) you're admitted to, your admission date, and your current standing should be stated clearly.
4. Experience
For each position: firm/organization name, title, date range, and bullet points. Without naming specific clients for confidentiality, make your practice area concrete:
- Drafted and negotiated commercial contracts for institutional clients.
- Prepared pre-litigation risk assessments for disputed matters.
- Supported due diligence work in corporate merger and acquisition processes.
5. Education and Certifications
Law school, university, graduation year, and any advanced degrees or specialty certifications.
Build a resume with CV Mimarı's ATS-friendly templates that puts your practice area and bar admission front and center.
Browse Resume TemplatesCommon Mistakes
- Not stating a practice area. Instead of just "Attorney," clearly state which area of law (corporate, employment, criminal, etc.) you specialize in.
- Leaving out bar admission information. This detail is frequently checked at the first screening stage.
- Sharing details that risk a confidentiality breach. Describe your general practice area rather than client names or case specifics.
Conclusion
The strongest signal on a lawyer's resume is a clear statement of your practice area, bar admission, and concrete litigation/case experience (with confidentiality respected). For your resume's overall format, see How to Write a Resume.