Best Attorney Resume Examples for 2025 (Template & Guide)

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Attorney Resume: Choose a Format

Choosing a resume format is the first step in presenting your experience as an attorney. The right format for your resume will put your legal skills and career history in the best light.

There are three formats to consider for your attorney resume: chronological, functional, or combination. Each offers unique advantages and potential drawbacks, so let’s dive in!

Chronological resumes for attorneys

A chronological resume is ideal for attorneys with a steady work history in law, emphasizing career growth and consistency. In this format, you’ll list your work experience in reverse chronological order, focusing on your most recent positions and achievements. A chronological format is the most traditional choice and is compatible with applicant tracking systems (ATS) used to pre-screen resumes.

Chronological resumes work well when you want to showcase progression within your legal career, highlighting a series of promotions or increasingly complex responsibilities. However, if you have gaps in your employment or have frequently changed roles, a different format might work better.

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Functional resumes for attorneys

A functional resume emphasizes skills over work history, making it an excellent choice for attorneys who have taken unconventional career paths or have periods of inactivity. This format allows you to highlight specialized skills, such as mediation, contract negotiation, or case strategy development, rather than focusing solely on your past job titles.

However, a functional format can appear vague regarding your work history, raising questions about consistency in your career. It is also incompatible with most applicant tracking systems, which could hurt your chances.

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Combination resumes for attorneys

A combination resume merges the strengths of both chronological and functional formats, making it a solid choice for attorneys who want to highlight their skills and career growth equally. This format opens with a robust skill-based section and a chronological list of your previous job roles.

A combination format works well if you have a diverse skill set and want to present a well-rounded view of your abilities. However, it can be tricky to organize, which may cause your resume to be longer than ideal. When using this format, focus on the most relevant information.

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Choosing a resume format

Choosing a format is a critical step in the resume-writing process. If you aren’t sure which is best for you, a chronological resume format is typically a safe choice for attorneys because it is ATS-friendly and familiar to potential employers.

A chronological resume can work well even if you’re a recent graduate or have limited experience. Focus on highlighting relevant legal internships, clerkships or volunteer positions to demonstrate practical experience.

If you need more extensive experience, emphasize transferable skills developed through activities like mock trials, legal research or roles in legal clinics. Include relevant coursework or case studies to demonstrate your foundational knowledge.

You can also highlight relevant educational achievements, such as leadership roles in law school organizations, contributions to law reviews, or notable casework from internships. These details provide hiring managers with concrete examples of your readiness for an attorney position, even if your professional experience is limited.

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How to Write an Attorney Resume

Once you have chosen your format, you can focus on writing an attorney resume that gets noticed. First, you will create a resume outline that includes the following essential sections:

• Contact Information
• Resume Summary or Objective
• Work History
• Skills
• Education

Once you have covered this critical information, consider including additional sections to enhance your resume. This step-by-step resume-writing guide will show you how to make each section of your resume shine and help you land your dream job.

Contact information

Start with the basics. Your contact information section should include your full name, location (city and state), phone number, email address, and (optionally) LinkedIn profile. Accuracy is critical, so double-check for typos. Place this information at the top of your resume and use a standard, easy-to-read font.

Your contact information section will look something like this:

Emma J. Lawson
Denver, CO
(555) 123-4567
emma.lawson@email.com
linkedin.com/in/emmalawson

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Summary or objective

A resume summary or objective statement serves as your opening statement. For experienced attorneys, a summary can emphasize your legal expertise and significant achievements, while an objective is better suited for entry-level candidates or those changing specialties.

A resume summary highlights your most valuable skills and accomplishments, providing a brief career snapshot. This is ideal if you have steady experience as an attorney.

For example, a resume summary for an attorney’s resume might say:

Accomplished attorney with over 10 years of experience in corporate law and compliance. Proven record of success in representing clients and negotiating favorable outcomes in high-stakes cases.

On the other hand, an objective statement is best suited for attorneys new to practicing law. It is a concise two or three sentences explaining your goals and genuine interest in the work.

For example, an objective for an attorney’s resume might say:

Driven law school graduate with hands-on experience in legal research and case preparation. Seeking an entry-level attorney position to apply strong analytical skills and dedication to client advocacy. Eager to contribute to a dynamic firm by providing comprehensive support in litigation, contract review and client consultations.

Whichever you choose, customize this section for each application using relevant keywords from the job description to stand out to the ATS and show your alignment with the role.

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Work history

Your work history section is an opportunity to showcase your career progression and legal expertise. To get started, list your previous jobs chronologically, beginning with the most recent and working backward. Include your job title, employer’s name and location, and dates of employment. This creates a clear timeline for hiring managers, helping them quickly understand your experience.

Then, beneath each job entry, write three to five bulleted sentences detailing each position. Highlight your achievements and how you’ve made an impact. Start each bullet point with a strong action verb, like “argued,” “negotiated,” or “developed,” to create a sense of active contribution.

Quantifying your accomplishments is another way to make an impact. Numbers immediately grab attention and make your achievements feel concrete. Did you manage a caseload of 30 clients? Increase settlement success by 20%? These details help hiring managers see the value you bring.

Here’s an example of a job entry for an attorney’s resume:

Senior Attorney
Denver Law Group, Denver, CO
June 2017 – Present

• Argued and won 85% of high-stakes cases, achieving favorable outcomes for clients in complex corporate and litigation cases.
• Conducted thorough legal research for over 50 cases, improving case readiness by 30% through strategic analysis.
• Negotiated settlements valued at over $5 million, reducing trial expenses and securing beneficial client terms.

Skills

Next, you will create a dedicated skills section highlighting your qualifications to make your resume stand out. A well-rounded mix of hard and soft skills is crucial to demonstrating technical proficiency and interpersonal effectiveness.

Hard skills showcase your direct legal expertise, such as research and case management, which form the foundation of successful legal work. Meanwhile, soft skills reveal your ability to communicate effectively, manage time and build client relationships.

For inspiration, here are the top hard and soft skills for an attorney resume:

Top 5 hard skills for attorney resumes

1. Legal research: Attorneys must locate relevant case law, statutes and precedents to build compelling arguments. Legal research is essential for preparing thorough case strategies and accurately advising clients.
2. Negotiation: Strong negotiation skills are necessary for reaching settlements and ensuring favorable contract terms. They are indispensable in both litigation and transactional law and often determine the success of a case or contract.
3. Litigation: Litigation skills are vital in a courtroom, from preparing witnesses and evidence to presenting cases persuasively. Proficiency in litigation demonstrates that you can handle the pressures of court proceedings and represent clients effectively.
4. Case management: Attorneys handle multiple cases simultaneously, each with unique deadlines and requirements. Case management skills ensure you can organize casework, track critical deadlines, and juggle large caseloads without compromising quality.
5. Compliance analysis: Compliance analysis ensures clients follow all relevant laws and standards. Highlight your ability to assess regulations, identify potential risks, and implement compliance measures to maintain a company’s legal integrity and reputation.

Top 5 soft skills for attorney resumes

1. Attention to detail: Legal work requires high accuracy, as even minor errors can lead to costly repercussions. Attention to detail is invaluable in preparing documents, reviewing contracts, and analyzing cases.
2. Communication: Attorneys must communicate complex legal concepts to clients, judges and juries. Strong communication skills ensure that you can explain legal information clearly, making your arguments more persuasive and accessible.
3. Critical thinking: Critical thinking allows attorneys to evaluate multiple perspectives, identify logical connections, and anticipate potential counterarguments. This skill is essential for developing compelling case strategies and making well-reasoned decisions under pressure.
4. Empathy: Legal issues often come with high emotional stakes for clients. Empathy helps attorneys build trust and connect with clients personally, which is crucial for understanding and representing their needs effectively.
5. Time management: Effective time management enables you to prioritize tasks, meet deadlines, and balance workload efficiently, ensuring that each client receives focused attention.

A skills section for an attorney’s resume should look something like this:

Skills

• Legal research
• Case management
• Communication
• Critical thinking
• Time management

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Education

Next, you will provide your educational background. List your highest degree first, specifying the degree, institution, and location. Including a graduation date is unnecessary, and experts warn it can introduce bias into the hiring process.

Here’s how to format the education section on a resume for an attorney:

Education:

Juris Doctor (JD)
University of Colorado Law School, Boulder, CO

Bachelor of Science in Business Administration
University of Colorado, Denver, CO

You can also include relevant coursework or academic honors in this section. However, creating a separately labeled section to spotlight unique achievements may make more of an impact.

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Additional sections

Once you cover the most essential information, including some additional sections can add more depth to your resume. Consider including sections like:

• Publications
• Pro Bono Work
• Professional Affiliations
• Languages
• Honors & Awards

Remember, these optional sections should be relevant to the attorney role you are applying for, creating a comprehensive picture of your professional abilities.

Top certifications for attorneys

Certifications enhance your credibility as an attorney and demonstrate specialized expertise in niche areas of law. Here are some top certifications for an attorney resume:

• Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP): The CIPP demonstrates your understanding of global privacy standards and regulations, which is valuable for attorneys working with technology companies, healthcare providers or international corporations.
• Certified Civil Trial Attorney: Offered by various state boards and legal associations, this certification signifies advanced skills and knowledge in civil litigation. This certification demonstrates trial preparation, courtroom procedures and case strategy expertise.
• Certified Compliance and Ethics Professional (CCEP): This certification is valuable for attorneys focusing on corporate law, risk management or regulatory compliance. It indicates your ability to implement compliance programs, assess risk, and enforce ethical standards.
• Mediation Certification: Mediation certification is valuable for attorneys in alternative dispute resolution (ADR). It validates your ability to facilitate negotiations and resolve conflicts outside of court, crucial in family law and contract disputes.

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10 Tips for Writing an Attorney Resume

1. Use strong action verbs: Starting each bullet point with a powerful action verb instantly adds impact. Think of words like “argued,” “negotiated,” or “represented” to make your role clear. Saying “Argued cases in high-stakes court settings” sounds much stronger than “Handled cases in court” gives hiring managers a sense of your active role and specific skills.
2. Quantify achievements: Where possible, include specific results to make your achievements measurable and memorable. Instead of just saying “Won cases,” try “Achieved favorable outcomes in 90% of cases,” which shows the scale of your success. Whether it’s case outcomes, the number of clients represented or compliance initiatives you’ve developed, numbers make your contributions concrete and compelling.
3. Tailor your resume to each job: Customizing your resume for each job application can make a big difference. Review the job description to identify the skills and experiences most relevant to the position, then make sure those are front and center on your resume. For example, if the job emphasizes negotiation, highlight instances where your negotiation skills made a direct impact.
4. Match keywords for ATS: Most firms use applicant tracking systems (ATS) to screen resumes, so including relevant keywords from the job description is essential. If a posting calls for skills in “contract negotiation” or “compliance management,” make sure these terms appear in your resume. This simple step helps your resume pass through ATS filters and reach the hiring manager’s desk.
5. Highlight client interaction skills: Client interaction is a massive part of being an attorney. Show that you can build and maintain client relationships by including examples like “Managed a client portfolio of 15 corporate clients” or “Developed client trust through consistent communication.” These details can convey that you’re approachable, reliable and skilled at client management — all vital qualities in law.
6. Focus on recent roles: Emphasize your most recent and relevant experience, especially if it relates directly to the job you’re applying for. While previous roles can show how you got started, recent positions are often the best indicators of your current skills. List these roles with more detailed descriptions to highlight growth and expertise.
7. Include specialized skills: Make it clear on your resume if you have expertise in a particular area of law — like intellectual property (IP), corporate compliance or family law. Specialized skills can set you apart and signal to hiring managers that you have the knowledge to handle specific cases or clients.
8. Use bullet points and headers: Easy-to-read resumes get noticed more quickly. Organize your content with clear headers like “Work History” and “Education,” and use bullet points to make each achievement or responsibility easy to read. Hiring managers appreciate this structure because they can quickly locate the needed information.
9. Limit to one page: Keeping your resume concise for early-career attorneys helps highlight only the most relevant information. Stick to one page and focus on your top achievements, skills and impactful experiences. This makes your resume look more professional and ensures hiring managers see your best qualifications first.
10. Proofread carefully: In the legal field, accuracy is essential, and even a small typo can make a poor impression. Review your resume multiple times and consider having a colleague or mentor review it. Attention to detail on your resume reflects the same meticulousness you’ll bring to the job, which is precisely what employers are looking for.