Attorney Resume: Examples & Writing Guide for 2026
Legal resumes follow specific conventions that differ significantly from other industries — reverse chronological, formal language, bar admission listed prominently, and education near the top for law school graduates. Here's how to write a modern attorney resume that meets those conventions while standing out.
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Example Resume Bullet Points (Attorney)
These are strong, quantified examples you can adapt for your own experience.
- ✓First-chaired 12 jury trials with 9 favorable verdicts over 5-year litigation career
- ✓Managed $2M+ commercial litigation portfolio of 40+ active matters simultaneously
- ✓Drafted and negotiated 60+ commercial contracts annually, including SaaS agreements, NDAs, and licensing deals
- ✓Led due diligence team for 3 M&A transactions totaling $800M in deal value
- ✓Supervised and mentored 2 associates and 1 paralegal on case strategy and brief preparation
How to Write an Attorney Resume That Gets Callbacks
List bar admissions prominently
Your bar admission(s) are non-negotiable credentials — put them in a prominent Bar Admissions section, either near the top or immediately visible. Include the state and year of admission.
Lead with your practice area specialty
Litigation, corporate, employment, IP, real estate — law firms and legal departments hire specialists. Your resume should make your primary practice area clear in the first 5 seconds.
Include law school honors and journal work
For attorneys within 7–10 years of graduation, law school credentials still matter: law review, moot court, Order of the Coif, GPA (if above 3.5), class rank. After 10 years, work experience takes precedence.
Quantify your caseload and outcomes where ethical rules allow
Trial wins, deal value, number of active matters, team size — attorneys can quantify without disclosing privileged information. 'First-chaired 12 jury trials' tells a story that 'conducted litigation' does not.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should an attorney resume include GPA?
Yes if you graduated within the past 5–7 years and your GPA is above 3.5. After that, work experience should dominate. Never include a GPA below 3.0 on a legal resume.
How long should a lawyer resume be?
One page for law students and new associates (under 3 years). Two pages for mid-level and senior associates or partners with extensive experience. More than two pages is rare and generally not recommended for lateral moves.
Should a legal resume have an objective statement?
Skip the objective statement — it's outdated. Use a brief professional summary instead if you have 5+ years of experience or are making a significant career transition (e.g., BigLaw to in-house).
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