You've drafted briefs that changed case outcomes, negotiated deals worth millions, and survived 80-hour weeks without blinking.
So why does your resume read like every other attorney's?
TL;DR
- Specialization beats generalist claims—firms hire for specific practice areas
- Bar admissions and jurisdictions go at the top, not buried in skills
- Use the Navy Gold Classic template—it signals prestige and professionalism
- Quantify: deal sizes, case outcomes, collections recovered, settlements won
- Tech proficiency matters now (eDiscovery, Westlaw, contract AI tools)
The Legal Hiring Landscape (2026)
of law firms use ATS
Your resume must pass automated screening before any hiring partner sees it
Source: Lawjobs, 2024
median Big Law first-year salary
Competition for these positions is fierce—your resume is the first filter
Source: NALP, 2024
of lateral hires prioritize specialization
Firms want depth in specific practice areas, not generalists
Source: BCG Attorney Search, 2026
The days of "full-service attorney seeking challenging opportunities" are over. Law firms—whether Big Law, boutique, or in-house—want specialists who can add value from day one.
What Hiring Partners Actually Scan For
| What They Want | How to Prove It |
|---|---|
| Bar admissions | "Admitted: NY, CA, DC" with dates at the top |
| Practice area depth | Specific experience in litigation, M&A, IP, healthcare law, etc. |
| Deal/case metrics | "2.3M settlement" |
| Client exposure | Direct client contact, business development, originations |
| Legal tech | Westlaw, LexisNexis, Relativity, contract AI, eDiscovery platforms |
| Business acumen | Revenue contributions, cross-selling, client relationships |
I scan for three things: bar admissions, practice area fit, and numbers. If you can't tell me your biggest deal, your win rate, or your revenue contribution, you're not differentiating yourself from 500 other applicants.
The Legal Resume Structure
Attorney resumes follow a distinct hierarchy:
- 1
Header with Bar Admissions
Name, contact, LinkedIn—bar admissions prominently displayed
- 2
Professional Summary
3-4 lines: years of practice, specialization, top case/deal metric
- 3
Experience
Reverse-chronological with quantified outcomes per role
- 4
Education
Law school, class rank if notable, journals, moot court honors
- 5
Bar Admissions & Credentials
If not in header, dedicated section with dates
- 6
Publications & Speaking
For litigation/academic-focused roles
Bar Admissions Placement
Your bar admissions should appear in the first third of your resume—either in the header or immediately after your summary. Hiring committees verify this first.
Format: "Bar Admissions: New York (2018), California (2019), District of Columbia (2020)"
Writing a Legal Summary That Commands Attention
What to include:
- Years of practice and level (Associate, Senior Counsel, Partner)
- Primary practice area
- Top quantified achievement
- Well-known clients or deal types (without breaching confidentiality)
- What you're seeking
Strong Attorney Summary
Senior Associate with 6+ years in complex commercial litigation at AmLaw 100 firms. Expertise in securities class actions, regulatory defense, and internal investigations. Lead counsel on 15+ matters with aggregate exposure exceeding $500M. Achieved favorable outcomes in 90% of cases through dispositive motions. Seeking litigation partner track opportunity.
Weak Attorney Summary
"Dedicated attorney with strong research and writing skills seeking a position at a prestigious law firm where I can contribute to meaningful cases."
Every law school graduate has research and writing skills. What did you do with them?
Quantifying Your Legal Experience
| Generic (Avoid) | Impact-Driven (Use This) |
|---|---|
| Handled commercial litigation matters | Lead counsel on 15+ commercial disputes with aggregate exposure exceeding $500M, 90% favorable outcome rate |
| Drafted contracts | Negotiated and drafted 50+ commercial contracts valued at $200M+ for Fortune 500 clients |
| Conducted due diligence | Led legal due diligence for $750M acquisition, identifying $15M in risk exposure that informed deal structure |
| Represented clients in court | First-chaired 8 depositions and 3 arbitration hearings; second-chaired 2 federal jury trials |
| Worked on IP matters | Prosecuted patent portfolio of 200+ patents across 12 technology families, securing $50M in licensing revenue |
Numbers That Matter in Legal
| Category | Examples |
|---|---|
| Deal size | 200M financing, $750M restructuring |
| Case metrics | 90% win rate, $2.3M settlement, 15+ matters handled |
| Billable hours | 2,100+ billable hours (if impressive) |
| Business development | $1.5M in originations, 5 new client relationships |
| Portfolio | 200+ patents prosecuted, 50+ contracts drafted |
Skills for Legal Resumes
Legal Skills Format
Practice Areas: Complex Commercial Litigation, Securities Class Actions, M&A, Regulatory Defense, Internal Investigations, Appellate Practice
Legal Research & Technology: Westlaw, LexisNexis, Relativity, Kira (AI contract review), Logikcull, PACER
Transactions: Due Diligence, Contract Drafting, SEC Filings, Regulatory Compliance
Litigation: Depositions, First-Chair Trial Experience, Motion Practice, Discovery Management, eDiscovery
In-Demand Legal Skills 🔥
- Cybersecurity & data privacy law
- AI/tech contract expertise
- ESG and sustainability compliance
- Healthcare regulatory
- eDiscovery technology proficiency
- Cross-border M&A experience
Less Differentiated
- 'Strong legal research skills' (expected of all attorneys)
- 'Detail-oriented' (show through outcomes)
- 'Team player' (prove with collaboration examples)
- Generalist claims without depth
Resume Tips by Legal Role
For Associates
Associate Resume Must-Haves
- Bar admissions with jurisdictions and dates
- Specific practice area focus
- Case/deal metrics (size, outcome, volume)
- First-chair or lead experience highlighted
- Law review, moot court, clerkships
- Pro bono work if substantial
For Partners & Senior Counsel
Senior Attorney Must-Haves
- Business development/originations
- Client relationships and revenue contribution
- Team leadership and associate mentoring
- Notable case wins or deal closings
- Industry recognition (Super Lawyers, Chambers)
- Board positions or speaking engagements
For In-House Counsel
In-House Resume Must-Haves
- Business unit support and cross-functional work
- Cost savings from outside counsel management
- Compliance programs developed
- Risk mitigation achievements
- Industry-specific regulatory expertise
- Contract velocity and efficiency metrics
Template Selection for Legal
The Navy Gold Classic Template
Signals prestige and professionalism—perfect for law firm applications:
Navy & Gold Classic
1-col layout
Figure: Navy Gold Classic template — traditional, high-trust design. Use This Template
Template Recommendations
Legal Resume Templates
Harvard Template
1-col layout
Navy & Gold Classic
1-col layout
Functional Minimal
1-col layout
Midnight Professional
2-col layout
| Template | Best For | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Navy Gold Classic | Big Law, AmLaw | Prestigious, traditional aesthetic |
| Harvard Template | Judicial clerkships, academia | Conservative, respected format |
| Classic Executive | In-house, General Counsel | Leadership-focused |
| Executive Premium | Partners, named partners | Senior executive look |
Common Legal Resume Mistakes
Instant Rejection Triggers
- Missing bar admissions — First thing hiring committees verify
- No practice area focus — "Full-service attorney" = no specialty
- No deal or case metrics — "$500M deal" beats "handled M&A transactions"
- Law school dated but no outcome — 3.9 GPA matters; don't hide it if strong
- Too long for experience level — First-years don't need two pages
- Ignoring legal tech — Relativity, Westlaw Edge, contract AI are now expected
Pre-Submit Checklist
Legal Resume Audit
- Bar admissions listed with jurisdictions and dates
- Practice area specialization clearly stated
- Case/deal metrics quantified (size, outcome, volume)
- Law school credentials included (class rank if strong)
- Legal technology proficiency mentioned
- Clean, ATS-parseable format
- One page for associates; two pages max for partners
Your Move
You've billed thousands of hours, won cases that seemed unwinnable, and closed deals that moved markets.
Now translate that into a resume that opens doors at the firms you want.
Build Your Legal Resume
Join thousands of attorneys using ResumeGuru to land positions at top law firms and corporations.
Create My Resume FreeRelated Resources
- Resume Summary Generator — Write compelling legal summaries with AI
- Skills Finder Tool — Get legal-specific keywords for ATS
- Professional Summary Examples — Industry-specific summary guidance
- Resume Examples Library — See legal resumes in context
- Browse Professional Templates — All ATS-optimized
More Industry Resume Examples
- Software Engineer Resume Examples — Technical stack, GitHub links, quantified impact
- Sales Resume Examples — Quota attainment, CRM proficiency, methodology fit
- Marketing Resume Examples — ROI-focused bullets, digital skills, portfolio links
- Nursing Resume Examples — Healthcare credentials, certifications, patient outcomes
Frequently Asked Questions
What should an attorney resume include?
Bar admissions, practice areas, notable case outcomes, deal experience, publications, and law school credentials. Emphasize specialization over generalist claims.
How long should a legal resume be?
One page for associates with under 10 years. Partners and senior counsel can use two pages if every line demonstrates value—case wins, revenue, client relationships.
Should I include my law school GPA?
Yes if you're a recent graduate (1-3 years) and it's strong (3.5+). After 5+ years of practice, GPA matters less than case outcomes and specialization.
What's the difference between a legal resume and a CV?
Resumes are 1-2 pages for law firm/corporate roles. CVs are longer for academia, government, or international positions. Use what the job posting requests.
Do law firms use ATS systems?
Yes—89% of law firms use ATS. Optimize with keywords from job postings and use clean, parseable formatting.
Build Your Perfect Resume
Create an ATS-optimized resume with our AI-powered builder.
No signup required.Start Building FreeExplore Resources
Enjoyed this article?
Share it with your network