Making the Most of Your Resume

Is your resume sending a negative message? I can’t tell you how many sloppy, disorganized resumes I see on a regular basis, and what a poor impression such a resume leaves on your reader. I’ve seen resumes in which each new job is simply added, as acquired, without editing down previous jobs, even when they are no longer relevant. I’ve seen resumes that pack an enormous volume of words into a small space, and are consequently difficult to read. I’ve seen resumes that are splattered with big, impressive words and business-y phrases that tell me nothing about the person’s skill set. All of these mistakes will send your resume immediately to the trash bin.

Update Your Resume.


Although I do not slavishly adhere to the one-page resume principle, I think that most of the time, one page is probably all a person needs. People run into trouble when they avoid thinking about what actually needs to be on the page, and what doesn’t. A resume reader wants to know what you can do, and it is your job to tell her. Period. The reader (in many cases, me) does not want to know what you did three jobs ago, when you were a junior associate doing basic document review or junior due diligence. I do not want to know in which law school organizations you participated nominally. Therefore, each time you update your resume, you should be adding skill sets relate directly to jobs you might be applying for, and deleting items that no longer matter, or are too junior for the work you do now. Did you dabble in different practice groups as a first-year? Remove those that are not current. Did you do a pro bono project in an area that is irrelevant to jobs you are seeking now? Remove it. Also, summer associate positions, internships, and research assistant positions may be condensed to one line or even a simple title the more senior you get.

• See 6 Things Attorneys and Law Students Need to Remove from Their Resumes ASAP If They Want to Get Jobs with the Most Prestigious Law Firms for more information.

If you are a sixth-year associate, you will want to emphasize the high-level skills that are relevant to someone seeking a sixth-year associate, and include very little else. Include items that show that you have supervised junior associates, have had extensive client contact, assume primary document drafting responsibility, operate with very little supervision, and are capable of running with the ball; items that show that you are trusted, independent, and know your way around your area of the law.

If you are more junior, your resume should convey that you have been trusted with progressively greater responsibility, like primary document drafting, court arguments and depositions, handling matters by yourself, and supervising others (even paralegals or contract attorneys).

Be Clear About Your Skills.

A resume reader needs to be able to look over your resume, and, in roughly 5-10 seconds, be able to know what you can do. Readers do not have time to read each word, and trust, me, they won’t. Clarity is paramount. Do not think of your resume as a document to be read; think of it instead as a document to be glanced at.

Your resume is not the place to be overinclusive. People have a tendency to want to include everything they have ever done. Please, please don’t do this. Instead, make your resume as visually simple as you can. I love bullet points, and I despise paragraphs. Do not make your reader work. Give her all the information she needs using as few words as possible. You can describe a large project that shaped your skill set. For example: “I supervised thirty junior associates on a two-year, $300M due diligence project involving a merger of Fortune 50 clients.” Or, rather than list each representative matter, you might condense your experience into a descriptive bullet point. For example: “I have taken the lead on dozens of depositions in state and federal court matters,” or “I have drafted 20+ patent applications involving LED lighting and similar electrical arts-related products.” Focus on your role in the project rather than the project itself, again, keeping in mind that the reader wants to know what you are capable of doing, not what the firm or its partners did, or how big or fancy the client was.

Lay Off The Business Speak.

Keep it simple. Don’t try to impress your reader with businesslike phrases like, “added value” or “provided excellent client service.” These are meaningless phrases and are nothing more than your subjective opinion. Please, just include the facts. I remain a fan of the reverse chronological resume in which you bullet point relevant skills and/or projects, stating examples of matters you have handled and the specific tasks you performed. If you have drafted specific agreements on a regular basis, say so. For example: “regularly drafted agreements related to borrower’s collateral, such as guaranty/security agreements, mortgages, and control agreements.” This tells me that you are capable of walking into my firm and performing these tasks by yourself.

I highly discourage those wordy header paragraphs at the top of attorney resumes that say things like, “Proactive, go-getter attorney with deep management experience and excellent people skills seeks top law firm to help me grow my practice.” Again, this is your subjective opinion, which does not interest me, your reader. I also discourage a general listing of matters you have handled over your 20-year career, because, too often, your reader will be confused as to when you handled these matters, and whether you are still able to handle comparable matters. Be specific about what you handled, what your role was, and in what time frame you handled these matters.

In a nutshell, your resume must, above all, be a clear, visually uncluttered, easily glance-able document. You may literally only have 5-10 seconds to impress a reader who may or may not be giving your resume her full attention, and if she can’t quickly tell what you can do, she will simply click on the next email in the queue. Clarity and simplicity are the keys to an excellent resume.


About Harrison Barnes

No legal recruiter in the United States has placed more attorneys at top law firms across every practice area than Harrison Barnes. His unmatched expertise, industry connections, and proven placement strategies have made him the most influential legal career advisor for attorneys seeking success in Big Law, elite boutiques, mid-sized firms, small firms, firms in the largest and smallest markets, and in over 350 separate practice areas.

A Reach Unlike Any Other Legal Recruiter

Most legal recruiters focus only on placing attorneys in large markets or specific practice areas, but Harrison places attorneys at all levels, in all practice areas, and in all locations-from the most prestigious firms in New York, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C., to small and mid-sized firms in rural markets. Every week, he successfully places attorneys not only in high-demand practice areas like corporate and litigation but also in niche and less commonly recruited areas such as:

• Immigration Law
• Workers Compensation
• Insurance
• Family Law
• Trust and Estate
• Municipal law
• And many more...

This breadth of placements is unheard of in the legal recruiting industry and is a testament to his extraordinary ability to connect attorneys with the right firms, regardless of market size or practice area.

Proven Success at All Levels

With over 25 years of experience, Harrison has successfully placed attorneys at over 1,000 law firms, including:

• Top Am Law 100 firms such including Sullivan and Cromwell, and almost every AmLaw 100 and AmLaw 200 law firm.
• Elite boutique firms with specialized practices
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He has also placed hundreds of law firm partners and has worked on firm and practice area mergers, helping law firms strategically grow their teams.

Unmatched Commitment to Attorney Success - The Story of BCG Attorney Search

Harrison Barnes is not just the most effective legal recruiter in the country, he is also the founder of BCG Attorney Search, a recruiting powerhouse that has helped thousands of attorneys transform their careers. His vision for BCG goes beyond just job placement; it is built on a mission to provide attorneys with opportunities they would never have access to otherwise. Unlike traditional recruiting firms, BCG Attorney Search operates as a career partner, not just a placement service. The firm's unparalleled resources, including a team of over 150 employees, enable it to offer customized job searches, direct outreach to firms, and market intelligence that no other legal recruiting service provides. Attorneys working with Harrison and BCG gain access to hidden opportunities, real-time insights on firm hiring trends, and guidance from a team that truly understands the legal market. You can read more about how BCG Attorney Search revolutionizes legal recruiting here: The Story of BCG Attorney Search and What We Do for You.

The Most Trusted Career Advisor for Attorneys

Harrison's legal career insights are the most widely followed in the profession.

• His articles on BCG Search alone are read by over 150,000 attorneys per month, making his guidance the most sought-after in the legal field. Read his latest insights here.
• He has conducted hundreds of hours of career development webinars, available here: Harrison Barnes Webinar Replays.
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Submit Your Resume to Work with Harrison Barnes

If you are serious about advancing your legal career and want access to the most sought-after law firm opportunities, Harrison Barnes is the most powerful recruiter to have on your side.

Submit your resume today to start working with him: Submit Resume Here

With an unmatched track record of success, a vast team of over 150 dedicated employees, and a reach into every market and practice area, Harrison Barnes is the recruiter who makes career transformations happen and has the talent and resources behind him to make this happen.

A Relentless Commitment to Attorney Success

Unlike most recruiters who work with only a narrow subset of attorneys, Harrison Barnes works with lawyers at all stages of their careers, from junior associates to senior partners, in every practice area imaginable. His placements are not limited to only those with "elite" credentials-he has helped thousands of attorneys, including those who thought it was impossible to move firms, find their next great opportunity.

Harrison's work is backed by a team of over 150 professionals who work around the clock to uncover hidden job opportunities at law firms across the country. His team:

• Finds and creates job openings that aren't publicly listed, giving attorneys access to exclusive opportunities.
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This level of dedicated support is unmatched in the legal recruiting industry.

A Legal Recruiter Who Changes Lives

Harrison believes that every attorney-no matter their background, law school, or previous experience-has the potential to find success in the right law firm environment. Many attorneys come to him feeling stuck in their careers, underpaid, or unsure of their next steps. Through his unique ability to identify the right opportunities, he helps attorneys transform their careers in ways they never thought possible.

He has worked with:

• Attorneys making below-market salaries who went on to double or triple their earnings at new firms.
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For attorneys who think their options are limited, Harrison Barnes has proven time and time again that opportunities exist-often in places they never expected.

Submit Your Resume Today - Start Your Career Transformation

If you want to explore new career opportunities, Harrison Barnes and BCG Attorney Search are your best resources. Whether you are looking for a BigLaw position, a boutique firm, or a move to a better work environment, Harrison's expertise will help you take control of your future.

Submit Your Resume Here to get started with Harrison Barnes today.

Harrison's reach, experience, and proven results make him the best legal recruiter in the industry. Don't settle for an average recruiter-work with the one who has changed the careers of thousands of attorneys and can do the same for you.

About BCG Attorney Search

BCG Attorney Search matches attorneys and law firms with unparalleled expertise and drive, while achieving results. Known globally for its success in locating and placing attorneys in law firms of all sizes, BCG Attorney Search has placed thousands of attorneys in law firms in thousands of different law firms around the country. Unlike other legal placement firms, BCG Attorney Search brings massive resources of over 150 employees to its placement efforts locating positions and opportunities its competitors simply cannot. Every legal recruiter at BCG Attorney Search is a former successful attorney who attended a top law school, worked in top law firms and brought massive drive and commitment to their work. BCG Attorney Search legal recruiters take your legal career seriously and understand attorneys. For more information, please visit www.BCGSearch.com.