Attorney Resume Sample

Whether you’re an experienced candidate with years of time in your field or a recent graduate from a top law school, getting hired for a great position can be a challenge. The best law firms want succinct resumes that demonstrate confidence and capability. If your document isn’t able to convince someone to hire you, you’ll need to make some revisions. Before taking on this task, look through a few samples to get some inspiration.

The attorney resume sample below is a good place to start when you need some assistance with ideas. Check out how another candidate organized skills and experiences for optimal effectiveness. Once you’ve seen what others have done, start writing with help from the resume builder tool.

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Daniel Dennehy, Esq.

100 Broadway Lane
New Parkland, CA, 91010
Cell: (555) 987-1234
example-email@example.com

Professional Summary

Criminal Defense Attorney with 10+ years of experience in representing clients throughout legal matters. With thousands of hours in the courtroom, has the communication, confidentiality, sensitivity and inductive skill to combine information into cohesive, defensive arguments. Will always use the law to protect the best interests of clients through negotiation and settlement.

Core Qualifications

• Bar certified lawyer in four states
• Criminal litigation and proceedings
• Use of precedents to forecast outcomes
• Sound legal strategies and arguments
• Evidence gathering and verification
• Research and presentation

Experience

Attorney – March 2007 to Present
Amble Barnham Grunner McKimson, New Cityland, CA

• Lead counsel on pro bono case involving three minority high schoolers accused of first degree rape, leading to exoneration through proof of misconduct by investigating detectives.
• Represented firm clients in an array of criminal matters with a record 95% of cases being settled without going to trial, 65% negotiated to client’s exoneration or no record and 52% of trials resulting in acquittal.
• Develop legal case-specific strategies based on research, client needs and precedents.

Associate Attorney – March 2002 to February 2007
Masterson Criminal Law Advisory, New Cityland, CA

• Performed research to determine pre-trial strategies.
• Was second chair on over 200 criminal trials.
• Drafted motions.

Education

2002 Juris Doctorate
California University School of Law, New Cityland, CA

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Why Is This a Good Attorney Resume Sample?

The key thing to remember about a resume is what its purpose truly is. This professional document should prove to a hiring manager you’re the best candidate. It’s recommended to start your resume off with your most compelling points in a well-written summary statement like the attorney resume sample demonstrates. In this statement, the candidate shows off 10 years of experience in the field, an understanding of criminal defense, and a strong sense of duty towards clients.

In the next part of the attorney resume sample, the writer goes into a little bit more detail about important skills for the job. The most essential are at the top of a bulleted list. The attorney points out bar certification in four different states and experience with criminal matters. As the list of six skills ends, the candidate gives more general skills, such as research and evidence collection.

In the candidate’s experience section, the resume presents information in a logical and organized way. Each job entry stands out because it uses bold print as a heading for the basic details, such as date, job title, company, and location. Then, all the specifics of each job come next. The candidate uses bullet points to make the duties and accomplishments easier to read. The attorney puts a few specific measurable details in the experience section for greater impact. The writer mentions his leadership in more than 200 criminal trials. He indicates an impressive 95 percent case settlement rate and a 52 percent acquittal rate.

The last part of the attorney resume sample states the candidate’s educational background. The writer follows the best practices for a resume and gives details about his law degree, which is most likely the highest educational credential earned. He states his graduation year, the degree title, name of the school, and the university’s location.

Why You Need a Strong Attorney Resume

Attorney jobs are in hot demand with the rush of new law school graduates completing programs each year. This, along with the sheer competitiveness of the industry, makes it difficult to get a well-paying job, even though jobs should grow six percent by 2024, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. If you want a job with one of the top firms, you need to prove yourself with a stellar resume.

Attorneys can also demonstrate their strong skills in argument and persuasion with a quality resume. If you need to brush up on your convincing abilities, look through the examples, such as the attorney resume sample, for help.

Costly Attorney Resume Mistakes To Avoid

The key to winning over hiring managers for a big law firm is by impressing them with your capabilities. During your quest to stand out, don’t make the mistake of going into too much detail. Too many personal details or an excessive amount of irrelevant information may put your resume out of consideration. Another potential mistake that happens sometimes when jobseekers want to make a great impression is exaggeration. Avoid misrepresenting yourself or embellishing your work and educational experiences. This practice could easily get you in trouble with your future employer.

Instead, focus on the top qualities necessary to be a capable attorney. In the attorney resume sample, the candidate shows off his understanding of “criminal litigation,” “sound legal strategies,” and “client needs.” This candidate also boasts capabilities in “communication,” “inductive skill,” and “confidentiality,” all necessary traits of strong legal professionals. This way, the candidate presents himself as a well-rounded individual ready to help the law firm succeed.

Conclusion

Landing a job as an attorney in a successful law firm is a goal for many in this industry, and you can only make this happen if your resume is at the top of its game. Pay attention to how the examples, like the attorney resume sample, do it, and you could finally get a position in this fast-paced and exciting field.