Write an Attorney Resume That Reads Like Real Practice
Attorney resume examples, bar admission and practice area keywords, and a guide to writing matters, outcomes and representative experience.
Example Attorney summary
Attorney with seven years of commercial and public sector practice, admitted in two states and before the federal district court. Carries a docket of more than 30 active matters, has argued 30 motions and negotiated 18 settlements, and second chaired two jury trials. Known for early case assessment that tells a client what a dispute is worth before the discovery spend begins.
Skills to list on a Attorney resume
- Legal research
- Legal writing
- Motion practice
- Contract drafting and review
- Discovery management
- Depositions
- Settlement negotiation
- Client counseling
- Regulatory compliance
- Mediation and arbitration
- Trial preparation
- Westlaw and Lexis
- Docket management
- Associate supervision
What actually gets this resume read
- Put bar admissions, the states and the admission year in a labeled block near the top, because screeners check it first.
- Describe matters by type, forum and stage rather than listing duties every licensed attorney performs.
- Quantify your docket: number of active matters, motions argued, depositions taken, settlements negotiated, trials tried.
- Add a representative matters section when the practice area is specialized and the client names must stay confidential.
- Name the research and document platforms you actually use, such as Westlaw, Lexis, Relativity or a case management system.
- Keep clerkships, journal roles and moot court on the resume through your fifth year, then let practice results carry it.