Mistakes to Avoid With a Legal Resume
The legal landscape has changed in recent years and so have legal resumes. Below are some legal resume things to consider avoiding when crafting your legal resume.
Same Resume for Every Job
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Tailor each resume to the employer and position to which you are applying. It may be helpful to prepare several resumes that emphasize different skills or experiences. For example, you may want to create separate resumes for law firm positions and corporate legal positions or create different resumes to reflect your skills and experience that best match various legal practice areas.
Don’t Merely List Job Responsibilities
Your resume should not simply contain a list of your work history and job responsibilities. It should highlight your achievements and quantify your efforts using concrete and specific terms. For example, instead of “drafted appellate briefs,” it is better to write “drafted successful Third Circuit brief overturning $4 million judgment against Fortune 100 manufacturer.”
Multi-Page Resume
Your resume should not exceed one page unless you have been in the workforce for many years. Even if you have significant experience, limit your resume to two pages maximum. An uncluttered and concise resume will have more impact.
Personal Information
Don’t include personal information that has no bearing on your ability to perform the job such as age, marital status, children, school graduation dates or birth date. You should also avoid disclosing your religious or political affiliations since your views may differ from those of the hiring manager.