Your resume experience section is an essential component of your application, regardless of your experience level or legal education. It provides potential employers with information about your qualifications and legal knowledge. In order to demonstrate to law firms and other prospective employers that you possess the qualities they seek in candidates, here are some recommendations for drafting a job experience section on a resume.
What Belongs in the Work Experience Section of a Resume for Lawyers?
Any real law work experience must be included in your experience area. However, what if you have a short work history or transitioned from another industry to the legal field? If so, look for abilities in your job history that you can apply to practicing law while creating the work experience portion of your resume, and highlight them in a way that highlights their value to potential employers.
You could be a stronger prospect for litigation, for instance, if any of your skill set shows that you can interact with people easily. Work that required thorough documentation attests to your aptitude for gathering evidence and conducting discovery. You are a strong prospect for property law or family law if you have experience working as a social worker or real estate agent, respectively.
Recall that your application for lawyer jobs is supported by voluntary work, internships, clerkships, and supplementary legal work. Employers may be greatly influenced by the way you present your talents in the job experience part of your resume and style your resume.
How to Format the Work Experience Section of a Resume for a Lawyer?
When drafting the job experience part of their resumes, most attorneys use one of two forms. The more conventional resume format, a chronological one, arranges your whole employment history in chronological order, beginning at the current moment. If you are a recent law school graduate or have extensive experience in the legal area, this style is ideal for you. Under each employment item, use bullet points to describe your work experience. Aim for five to eight points for every spot.
A Sample Attorney Resume with a Strong Work Experience Section
This is a fantastic resume example that you may use as a guide when crafting your job experience section. It employs a hybrid resume style, prioritizing legal experience over more recent, less relevant jobs. Furthermore, take note of how this approach manages a lapse in employment to make it less noticeable.
Associate at Abbott, Kinney & Hampton in Santa Monica, California
August 18, 2013, to July 10, 2010
- Assisted with litigation on cases
- Helped senior partners draft briefs
- Cataloged evidence
- Conducted depositions
- Prepared witnesses prior to trial
Beverly, Pico & Crenshaw – Paralegal – Los Angeles, CA
September 9, 2005 to August 20, 2007
- Developed paralegal mentoring program
- Managed active document files for corporate law firm
- Assisted with client meetings
- Filed documents at the courthouse
- Retrieved material from the law library
Sales Manager at Bel Air Personal Protection in Los Angeles, California
September 1, 2013 to present
- Advance the use of private security firms;
- Write material for sales brochures about home security systems;
- Hire bodyguards;
- Deliver presentations to investors;
- Assign other sales staff members sales targets.
Many more excellent resume templates and section samples are available to users of LiveCareer. Once you know how to make your job experience part stand out from the crowd, writing a resume work experience section will be a snap.
5 Steps to a Fruitful Job Search for Law Work Experience
Step 1: Compose a standout resume
A CV is the first step in any job hunt. You want to finish writing your CV first because it might be the hardest portion.
The following are some essential pointers for crafting a CV that will catch the eye of recruiters for legal firms:
- Keep it to one or two pages.
- Make it visually appealing (the best designs are simple and have a defined framework).
- Just include applicable talents on your list, such as negotiating, IT, interpersonal, and creative problem-solving abilities.
- Include non-legal professional experience that provided you with valuable transferable abilities;
- Provide proof to back up your list of talents (e.g., leadership qualities acquired while serving as a sports team captain).
- Include a scholarly or expert reference.
- Ask someone to evaluate the readability of your resume.
If you would need more specific advice on how to construct a flawless CV for a prospective lawyer, you may read this page.
Step 2: Draft a succinct, straightforward cover letter.
A more intimate component of your application is the cover letter. It enables you to communicate your ideas and persuade the staff that you are the best.
You want to steer clear of the usual error of creating a lengthy, ambiguous cover letter. Keep your format brief and to the point.
The following should be covered in the cover letter:
- What drew your attention to that particular legal firm? What qualities and abilities best suit you? Why are you a good fit for that law firm (concentrate on how you can help the company)?
Make sure you investigate the legal practice you are applying to in great detail. Do they possess high-quality training? Do they have an entry in The Legal 500? Clearly stating your reasons for selecting that particular business will make you stand out.
Step 3: Make your LinkedIn profile seem good.
You must remain current with the trends in job seeking. Developing your internet presence is one of them.
The most well-liked professional network with excellent networking possibilities is LinkedIn. Recruiters frequently use this platform to look for the ideal individual. The site also allows you to actively search for employment.
It’s time to create a LinkedIn profile if you don’t already have one. If you already have one, refine it and make it suitable for use.
Step 4: Proceed with caution Examine the job descriptions.
Information from the job description may help you apply for jobs more effectively. Never undervalue the importance of close reading.
Consider the talents mentioned in the description, for instance. Put such abilities on your resume if you possess them. You’ll be the ideal fit if your application demonstrates the same abilities the legal company listed in the job description.
Step 5: Customize your programs
Customize your application for various positions. Personalization is a must if you want to leave a lasting impression.
Different experiences or talents might be given priority by employers. Adapt your application, cover letter, and resume to each position.
Organizing information even a little bit better will increase your chances of being employed. Rearrange your lists to meet the needs of your particular company because the material at the top receives the greatest attention.