Popular Legal Intern Resume Examples
Entry-level legal intern resume
An entry-level resume for a legal intern should highlight relevant coursework, volunteer experiences, research and writing skills, and any certifications that show eagerness and capability.
Places skills over experience: Using a functional resume format strategically highlights this candidate's legal skills, such as drafting client briefs and conducting research, showcasing relevant expertise over a limited work history.
Showcases education: This resume builds the candidate’s credibility by placing a strong focus on their educational background, establishing their expertise despite limited experience.
Mid-career legal intern resume
A mid-career legal intern's resume should effectively showcase relevant experiences, core competencies, and evidence of growth to appeal to prospective employers in the competitive legal landscape.
Begins with a powerful summary: This resume starts with a professional summary that highlights the job seeker's legal internship experience, showcasing their skill in case management and document drafting.
Employs active language: Using action verbs such as "investigated," "drafted," and "collaborated" highlights initiative and effectiveness, showcasing the ability to drive results in legal contexts.
Experienced legal intern resume
An experienced legal intern resume should highlight relevant skills, internships, and academic achievements to clearly demonstrate growth and potential in the legal field.
Highlights experience: This resume's summary effectively showcases the applicant's 13 years of diverse legal experience, immediately establishing credibility. This strong introduction sets a professional tone and highlights their commitment to excellence in client service and legal support.
Optimized for ATS: This resume showcases a well-structured template that merges a sophisticated header with an ATS-friendly resume format, facilitating seamless access for both recruiters and automated tracking systems.
No experience legal intern resume
A resume for an applicant with no experience seeking a legal intern role should spotlight relevant coursework, internships, volunteer work, and transferable skills that demonstrate the applicant's potential and enthusiasm for the legal field.
Draws from diverse experiences: Highlighting extracurricular activities and volunteer roles can significantly improve a resume, illustrating valuable skills such as leadership, teamwork, and dedication that may not be captured through academic or work experience alone.
Avoids jargon: Job seekers often feel pressured to embellish their resumes with complex terminology or exaggerated task descriptions. However, a straightforward and honest approach is far more effective in showcasing their genuine skills and experiences.
More resume examples
Legal Intern Resume Template
Kickstart your legal career with this versatile resume template. It’s easy to adapt—just fill in your details and showcase your skills effectively.
Aiko Kim
Columbus, OH 43206
(555)555-5555
Aiko.Kim@example.com
Professional Summary
Dynamic legal intern adept at drafting legal briefs and managing cases, proficient in contract negotiation and legal research, seeking to leverage expertise in a supportive legal role.
Work History
Legal Intern
Reed & Associates Law Firm - Columbus, OH
June 2024 - December 2025
- Drafted 15 legal briefs monthly
- Assisted in contracts worth $500K
- Conducted case law research leading to 20% case wins
Paralegal Specialist
Clarkson Legal Services - Columbus, OH
February 2022 - May 2024
- Managed 30 client files simultaneously
- Increased filing efficiency by 25%
- Organized discovery documents for a $2M case
Legal Assistant
Johnson & Smith Attorneys - Cincinnati, OH
January 2021 - January 2022
- Processed 50+ affidavits monthly
- Underwent extensive training in legal software
- Developed 10 procedural templates for efficiency
Skills
- Legal Research
- Contract Drafting
- Case Management
- Document Review
- Legal Writing
- Client Communication
- Research Analysis
- Project Coordination
Certifications
- Paralegal Certification - American Bar Association
- Legal Writing Excellence - National Legal Center
Education
Master of Laws Corporate Law
Columbia Law School New York, NY
May 2020
Bachelor of Arts Political Science
University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA
May 2018
Languages
- Spanish - Beginner (A1)
- French - Intermediate (B1)
- German - Beginner (A1)
Must-Have Skills on a Legal Intern Resume
A strong skills section is important for making your resume stand out in a competitive job market.
Legal professionals play a critical role in upholding standards, managing risk, and supporting informed decisions. The skills you highlight should reflect your ability to navigate complexity and contribute to fair, effective outcomes. Your resume should reflect the ways you add value through clarity, consistency, and sound judgment.
The following data highlights the essential hard and soft skills relevant to legal internships, sourced from Resume Now’s extensive resume database.
When you're ready to improve your resume with these vital skills, try our AI Resume Skills Generator. It helps you identify both hard and soft skills tailored to your specific job title, ensuring a comprehensive and personalized skill profile.
Writing Your Legal Intern Resume
Having explored these effective resume examples, you are now prepared to dive into how to write a resume. We will provide a step-by-step guide, examining each section with clarity and precision.
List your most relevant skills
A compelling skills section for your legal intern resume should include both technical skills, such as research and drafting, alongside essential soft skills like teamwork and communication. This section acts as a spotlight on your qualifications, making it easier for recruiters to see how you fit their needs.
Be sure to incorporate keywords from the job listing into your skills section. Doing so not only captures the attention of human recruiters but also improves your chances with applicant tracking systems. By mirroring the language used in job descriptions, you demonstrate that you understand what the employer values, positioning yourself as a strong job seeker for the role.
Example of skills on a legal intern resume
- Proficient in using legal research tools (LexisNexis, Westlaw) for comprehensive case analysis
- Adept at preparing legal briefs, contracts, and correspondence
- Collaborative team player with a knack for innovative solutions
- Careful with strong attention to detail in document review and editing
Highlighting your soft skills on your resume can set you apart from other applicants. Employers greatly value interpersonal abilities because they are often challenging to cultivate, making them a key asset in any workplace.
Highlight your work history
The work experience section of your resume as a legal intern is your chance to highlight how you applied your skills during your internship and any significant contributions you made. Use specific examples that demonstrate your impact, including relevant keywords that hiring managers look for in job seekers.
For each position, include important information: your job title, the employer's name, and the dates of employment. This helps establish professional credibility and allows employers to quickly assess your background.
Example of a legal intern work experience entry
- Legal Intern
Smith & Associates Law Firm - New York, NY
June 2021 - August 2021 - Conducted comprehensive legal research on case law and statutes, contributing to the preparation of briefs for ongoing litigation cases
- Assisted attorneys in drafting legal documents including motions, contracts, and discovery requests, ensuring accuracy and compliance with legal standards
- Participated in client consultations and meetings, improving communication skills while gathering essential information for case development
- Collaborated with a team of interns to organize a legal workshop that attracted over 50 participants, improving community engagement and awareness of legal rights
- Maintained case files and documentation in an organized manner, streamlining workflow processes to increase efficiency by 15%
Aim for clarity and impact in your resume. Each bullet should be concise yet informative, highlighting key skills or achievements without unnecessary fluff. Focus on what you contributed and the results achieved.
Include your education
The education section of your legal intern resume should be organized in reverse-chronological order, starting with your most recent degree. Include relevant diplomas and degrees but feel free to exclude your high school diploma if you possess a higher qualification.
If you're currently pursuing a degree or if your education is still ongoing, indicate your highest level completed and provide an expected graduation date. Additionally, consider including bullet points that highlight relevant coursework or important academic achievements.
Common certifications for a legal intern resume
- Certified Legal Intern (CLI) – American Bar Association (ABA)
- Paralegal Certification (PC) – National Federation of Paralegal Associations (NFPA)
- Advanced Legal Research Certificate (ALRC) – LexisNexis
- Legal Assistant Certification (LAC) – National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA)
Sum up your resume with an introduction
Creating a strong profile section on your resume is important because it serves as your first impression to potential employers. This brief introduction should describe your qualifications and set the tone for the rest of your application, highlighting why you would be a valuable addition to their team.
If you have prior experience in legal roles, opting for a professional summary can be highly effective. This format allows you to showcase key achievements and relevant skills immediately, giving hiring managers a snapshot of what you bring to the table.
If your background is limited, include a goals-based resume objective that reflects your dedication to learning and development.
Professional summary example
Motivated legal intern with 2 years of hands-on experience in dynamic law firms. Demonstrated ability to conduct thorough legal research, draft precise documents, and assist in case preparation, contributing to successful outcomes for clients. Adept at collaborating with attorneys and improving operational workflows.
Resume objective example
Eager legal intern looking to use strong analytical skills and attention to detail in supporting a forward-thinking law firm. Committed to improving case research and documentation processes while fostering positive client relationships and contributing to successful outcomes.
As a legal intern job seeker, your resume profile should be concise but packed with essential information. Aim for no more than three sentences that highlight your key qualifications and experiences. Remember, any additional insights can be effectively communicated in your cover letter.
Add unique sections to set you apart
Improve your resume by adding optional sections to highlight your distinctive qualifications as a legal intern applicant.
These sections offer a chance for potential employers to discover more about your professional persona, such as relevant hobbies and volunteer work that align with your values and skills. Demonstrating how you invest time in activities that sharpen legal competencies or contribute to community initiatives can provide insights into your dedication and work ethic.
Three sections perfect for a legal intern resume
- Languages: As a legal intern, effective communication is important. Being bilingual can help you connect with diverse clients and understand their needs better, so highlight your language skills on your resume.
- Volunteer Work: Including volunteer work on a resume showcases your dedication to community service and highlights transferable skills. It demonstrates your ability to collaborate, lead, and make a positive impact, all of which are valuable in any profession.
- Accomplishments: As a legal intern, quantifiable accomplishments are vital to showcase your contributions. Present these achievements within your work experience section or consider adding a distinct accomplishments section to emphasize them.
5 Resume Formatting Tips
- Choose a format that matches your career stage.
Choosing the right resume format is important for showcasing your skills effectively. If you are a legal intern with limited experience, consider using a functional resume to highlight your skills and education. For those with more experience, a chronological format may best demonstrate your career progression.
- Pick a smart resume template.
Using a professional resume template is essential for clarity and impact. It allows your information to stand out, making it easier for hiring managers to read quickly. Whether you opt for a premade template or create your own, ensure that the design is clean and uses ATS-friendly fonts for optimal results.
- Select an appropriate font.
Select clear and professional fonts to improve your resume's readability. Opt for widely accepted choices such as Helvetica, Georgia, or Tahoma to ensure your application stands out to both automated systems and hiring managers.
- Use consistent formatting.
Align your resume to the left and use uniform margins to create a polished and professional look that stands out to potential employers.
- Keep your resume to one or two pages.
When crafting your resume, remember that resumes should be one page long. If you have extensive experience, a two-page format is acceptable. Focus on keeping your content concise and relevant to effectively showcase your qualifications.
Tools for Your Job Search
Are you preparing to apply for that coveted legal intern position? Before you hit submit, consider using our ATS Resume Checker. This essential tool offers insights into how well your resume aligns with the automated systems commonly used by law firms to filter applicants during the initial screening process.
Want to elevate your application even further? Our AI Resume Builder provides tailored content recommendations specifically designed for aspiring legal professionals, along with sleek, professionally crafted templates that effectively showcase your skills and internships.
Frequently Asked Questions
Last Updated: December 12, 2025
Yes, a cover letter is important because it provides essential context to your resume and allows you to communicate directly with potential employers. It’s your opportunity to share what draws you to the legal intern role and how your background makes you an ideal job seeker. So, take the time to write a cover letter that improves your application.
Consider using our AI Cover Letter Generator for a quick and efficient way to create personalized cover letters. You can choose from various cover letter template options that align perfectly with your resume, making it easier than ever to present yourself professionally and effectively.
A resume is typically concise, spanning one to two pages, while a CV (curriculum vitae) can extend several pages, providing detailed information about your academic achievements, research contributions, and professional experiences. This comprehensive nature of a CV makes it suitable for roles that require in-depth qualifications.
CVs are often expected in specialized fields such as academia and law. If you're applying for such positions, you’ll likely need a CV rather than a resume. To help you create an impressive CV quickly and efficiently, our online CV Maker offers various CV templates tailored to different industries and career levels. Start crafting your perfect CV today!
Selecting the right resume format is important and varies by your career stage. Inexperienced job seekers often find success with a functional format, which highlights their skills rather than work history. For those with more experience, a chronological format showcases job-related achievements effectively. Mid-level professionals may benefit from a combination format that merges skills and experience to provide a well-rounded view of their qualifications.
A frequent resume mistake legal interns make is neglecting ATS compatibility. Ensure your resume template is ATS-friendly by using standard formats and keywords from the job description. Tailoring your content improves visibility in applicant tracking systems and also showcases your fit for the role.
To improve your networking skills as a legal intern, regularly connect with past colleagues and reach out to them. Consider joining legal associations or clubs to meet like-minded professionals. Keep your LinkedIn profile current to showcase your experience and stay engaged with industry developments.
Practice responding to typical job interview questions and answers for a legal intern. This preparation not only boosts your confidence but also equips you to tackle any surprises that may come your way during the interview.
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Hailey is a career advice writer dedicated to helping job seekers excel in their careers.
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