1L Tuesdays: Resumes
Guiding Principle: Focus on what your resume is
supposed to do
’80 Dodge Aspen. Automatic.
55Kmiles. $710.
A great classic car at a very reasonable price. 1980
Dodge Aspen 4-door sedan in good mechanical
condition, with super clean body and interior. Last of
the extra-reliable rear wheel drive Chrysler line with
many extra options, automatic, air, rear window
defroster, etc. and only 55,000 original miles on the
fabulous long-lasting extra-durable 225 cubic inch
slant-6 engine. Asking only $710.
•
Address my needs and priorities, not your
wishes and aspirations
•
Don’t tax my patience
•
Don’t tax my credulity
•
Give me the information I want, and only
the information I want, in a sequence that
lets me make a snap judgment about you.
Heading
Education
Experience
Additional Information
Sections
Qualities of an ideal lawyer:
Skills of an ideal lawyer:



























Energy (hard work)
Follow-through
Ability to juggle multiple tasks and prioritize
Ability to pick up new information quickly
Ability to deal with time pressures and tight
deadlines
Team player
Initiative
Motivation
Creativity/imagination/inventiveness
Self-confidence
Flexibility
Intelligence
Persuasiveness
Persistence
Attention to detail
Willingness to accept responsibility
Ability to handle stress
Goal-orientation
Enthusiasm
Problem solving
Legal analysis and reasoning
Legal research
Factual investigation
Communication (written and verbal)
Counseling
Negotiation
Organization and management of legal work
Brain Dump

Length: one page only

Make it easy to read

Font: Just one. Arial, Times, Garamond

Margins: Ideally an inch around, no less than .7 on
the sides and .5 on the top and bottom

Headings should stand out


Use white space, underlining, bold, capital letters,
italics and font size thoughtfully

Font size preferred: 10.5-12 pt

Use consistent formatting
Avoid visual distraction – no colors
Format



Name – a little larger font & bold
Contact info: One mailing address unless
geographically relevant
Email address/voicemail
Heading







Reverse chronology
You attend: Loyola University Chicago School of Law
Juris Doctor NOT Juris Doctorate!
Only your expected graduation date, no date ranges
Bachelor of Arts, cum laude, May 2009
Dean’s List is possessive
GPA: 3.141 (3 digits to the right of decimal)
ADDITIONAL LEGAL EDUCATION
“Contemporary Issues for Trust Fiduciaries,” Continuing Legal
Education Program, October 2, 2012, offered by Loyola University
Chicago School of Law
Education










Reverse chronology
Paid, unpaid, full-time, part-time, volunteer work
Employer’s name, city, state, dates of employment, title and job
responsibilities
Use bullet points and begin with active verbs
Lead with most impressive skills, responsibilities
What is relevant to the employer? Skills, passion, interest
Read job description and gear to job posting
Include all legal-oriented transferable skills
Differentiate between current and former jobs
Use active language
Experience


Volunteer/Community Services
Languages



Know your fluency level
Personal Interests
Licenses and Associations
Additional Information









Objective Section
High school info
Computer skills, Lexis/Westlaw
References Available Upon Request
LSAT score
Personal data
Abbreviations, acronyms, terms of art
Using a form
Etc.
Avoid