Resume Tips for Associates


When updating your resume, it’s important to keep the reader in mind. The aim is to give the reader a compelling story that speaks directly to their hiring needs. It’s also important to make the resume easy to read and from where we sit, this is mandatory, not optional. 

Here are our tips in achieving all the above and securing that first interview with an impressive resume. 

Formatting

A well formatted resume is like showing up to an interview wearing a suit - you’re a step ahead when you’re pleasing to the eye. 

  • Clarity - Highlight your experience and achievements, but keep your bullet points short and to the point. 

  • Font - You can’t go wrong with the classic Times New Roman. Garamond and Palatino are also good options.

  • Location - Be sure to include the city and state. No need to include your exact address.

  • Omit the ‘Objective / Summary’ Section - While a previously compelling addition, it’s no longer the norm on an attorney's resume. Your work experience should speak for itself.

  • Formatting - Berkeley Law has provided some great samples, found here.

  • Document Upload - Ensure all of your documents are in PDF format (unless otherwise requested) and the document titles are synchronized. We recommend first and last name with the type of document following

    • Example: Kelly Johnson - Resume.pdf; Kelly Johnson - Transcript.pdf


Education 

You worked hard in law school and you should let your achievements shine.

  • GPA - You’ll likely be sending your law school transcript along with your resume, but if your GPA is 3.5 or higher, include that on your resume. 

  • Honors/Awards - Include any CALI and Witkin Awards, scholarships, and academic awards such as Order of the Coif, cum laude, etc.

  • Activities - Were you an Editor for a Journal? Participate in Moot Court? Serve as a Research Assistant? Be sure to list all of your activities. We like to list the organization first, then your role in italics second.

    • Example: International Law Society, President; Sports Lawyers Journal, Senior Managing Editor.

  • Transfers - If you transferred law schools, be sure to include the first law school just under your second. Providing a clear narrative is key.


Experience

When determining whether to place the Education or Experience section first, consider the length of your career to date. While there’s no bright line rule, junior attorneys typically put their Education section first, followed by Experience. As you get more senior, your experience matters more and you’ll want to place the Experience section on top.

  • Be Specific - As a reader scans a resume, they want to quickly get a sense of your experience and accomplishments to date. What types of matters have you handled? Have you taken and defended depositions? Have you drafted motions and if so, what kinds? On the transactional side, what types of agreements are you drafting? Who are your clients - national banks, VC firms, public companies, individuals, or a combination? Provide specific details about your responsibilities. If you’re a corporate attorney with at least two years of experience, consider creating a separate Deal Sheet, or Representative Matters List. This highlights the types of deals you’ve worked on over the years, including the type of client, size of the deal, and type of deal completed. 

  • Tense - Keep your current work experience in the active tense and past experiences in past tense. This seems straightforward, but this can often be overlooked, especially if you’re updating an existing resume.

  • Title Changes - Showing continuity at a firm is key. If you summered with a law firm and joined upon law school graduation, you’ll want to note this: add one line with “Associate” and another just below with “Summer Associate” with the relevant dates. Similarly, if you joined as an Associate and were elevated to Managing Associate or Counsel, be sure to include each title and the associated dates.


ETC Tips

These might be a given, but never hurts to review.

  • Interests & Languages Section - We recommend including interests that can be seen as a value-add to the team culture, or something your interviewer would find genuinely interesting. Prepare to speak about what you include during your interview. Languages are always good to add, too.

  • Email Address - Ensure your personal email address presents professionally (avoid long number sequences, tropes, cultural references, etc).



When you work with a recruiter at Swan Legal Search, your resume will always be reviewed and discussed. We have reviewed hundreds of resumes and know what works. Further, we carefully consider your credentials and experience and tailor your resume to fit your career goals. We would love to hear from you. Contact us here.