Sample lawyer resume

2024 Author: Howard Calhoun | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:16

A resume is the first thing a prospective employer sees before meeting a candidate. If you treat this document irresponsibly, then it will be almost impossible to find a job. That is why the issue of preparing a lawyer's resume requires special attention in the conditions of an oversaturated legal labor market.

Desired Position

Many lawyer resume applicants make a very simple mistake. They don't know what position they want to take. Reading the resume, you can see the following text: "I'm trying to take the position of a lawyer, deputy director, head of the legal department." But these are three different jobs. Each requires specific skills and knowledge, different for each of these vacancies.

Unsystematic thinking is the main enemy of a good lawyer, and uncertainty in positions is the main sign of unsystematicity.

Therefore, remember that specificity is the first rule when preparing a lawyer's resume.

Education

This paragraph of the summary is one of the most important. It will be the first thing to pay attention to. HR specialist.

Despite the fact that many practitioners tend to believe that all university postulates should be forgotten, it is important to point out the following:

• where did you study;
• what kind of legal specialization have you mastered;
• what specific skills did the training give you.

It is very important to explain to the future employer that obtaining a diploma has become more than just a formal act for you. A lawyer's resume should clearly show that the candidate has a range of skills that will be useful to the employer.

Experience and skills

Not all employers are loyal to the younger generation. Even fewer managers want to train a young employee. This practice has led to the fact that a novice lawyer is forced to work for several years for ridiculous wages in order to gain at least some experience.

So experience is the most important thing on a lawyer's resume.

What might alert a potential employer:

• frequent transitions from one job to another;
• employment in municipal or state institutions;
• career was built only in the executive authorities.

If a lawyer recruit has no experience in corporate support, then his resume loses a lot to colleagues who came from business. If you have worked in government agencies or institutions, but dream of the position of head of the legal service in some large company, then hurry up to find yourself a job inanother sector.

Each place of work must be accompanied by three facts:

• Competencies that have been assigned to you. In order for the employer to understand what tasks you can perform, your lawyer resume should indicate the duties that you performed at your previous job.
• Skills acquired. This data will allow the HR specialist and the manager to conclude that you are highly trained. This item is more important than all the laudatory odes that you will write for yourself in the "Personal qualities" section.
• Awards and regalia. An important point that is often forgotten by inexperienced applicants. If a lawyer has won a large number of court cases or was able to reduce the company's losses to any extent, then this is certainly worth mentioning. Participation in courts is now easily verified using e-legal systems, as the representative's work is always reflected in decisions. Even better, if the results of your activities were reflected in the work book in the section with awards and incentives.

Wage expectations

On this issue, personnel officers do not have a single position. On the one hand, the low level of wages indicates the low ambitions of the applicant. On the other hand, the legal services market is sold to an impossible level. Therefore, by overestimating the level of expected remuneration, one may appear incompetent and ignorant in the matter of pricing for the services of legal professionals.

It would be wiser to independently determine the average wage level in your region, multiply it bycoefficient of one's own ambitions, assessment of professionalism and indicate the minimum price in the appropriate section of the lawyer's resume.

Out of the box

Filled-out lawyer resumes are viewed by dozens of personnel officers. Don't let yours get lost in a giant pile of paper.

Let the style of your presentation grab the attention of the HR specialist and make him read your resume as a lawyer. At least an interesting hobby can serve as an example. There were cases when the most unpromising candidate was not even supposed to get an interview, but a curious hobby made the personnel officer set up an initial meeting, and then the charm and ability to communicate did their job.

Additional information

This must be true information about yourself. Marital status, willingness to travel, having your own car or the ability to drive it, hobbies and personal qualities.

Sample lawyer resume

Desired position - Senior Legal Counsel.

1. Ivanov Petr Vladimirovich Date of birth: February 27, 1993 (25 full years). Contact information:

• phone;
• e-mail;
• Skype.

2. Higher education. Qualified "lawyer" in civil law specialization.

During his studies, he was engaged in active scientific activity, which allowed him to learn a critical look at the norms of law and the ability to find defects in major legal acts. In the workplace, this skill is applicable whendue diligence of contracts.

3. Work experience and professional skills.

LLC "Star Wars" - position as a lawyer from September 2009 to February 2018. Job responsibilities: advising representatives of specialized departments on legal issues, legal expertise of the company's outgoing documentation. In addition, participation in meetings of courts of general jurisdiction and arbitration courts. The acquired professional skills allow me to perform the duties of the current position at the proper level. Over 9 years of work, more than 120 claims were satisfied in the interests of the employer. The total reduction in losses is more than 500 million rubles. This fact was noted by the management of the company with gratitude dated 01.03.2016

4. Salary requirements: 35,000 rubles (minimum).

5. Work schedule: full (full time).

6. Additional information: I am married, I have a personal car and a category B driver's license. Foreign language skills: fluent English and German. About me: stress resistance, punctuality, competent written and oral speech, knowledge of business ethics, readiness for difficulties. Hobbies: Flamethrower skeet shooting.

This is what a sample lawyer resume might look like.

Things to avoid

Give up the cliches. Commonplaces often carry a lot of information, but the ideal lawyer resume template can do without them. Be original and original, but at the same time do not lose seriousness andprofessionalism.

You should also not write about facts that are not relevant, like a charming appearance or having a diploma in kettlebell lifting.

Cover letter

Many young professionals forget about this important part of communication with the employer, getting off with a couple of formal phrases. If you are asked to write a short cover letter, then this is a great chance to make a connection and impress your future employer. Write in detail about why you think the work in the company is interesting and promising, why you are suitable for this position, how you are better than other candidates, and so on.

Most importantly, believe in yourself and your own strength. And then everything will certainly work out.