1. The One-Page Rule: Why Your Resume Should Be Concise
One of the most critical pieces of advice for any attorney, regardless of their level of experience, is that a resume should never be longer than one page. This rule applies across the board, even for those who have been practicing for many years. Law firms deal with a high volume of applications, and a concise, one-page resume is much easier for hiring managers to review.
Why It Matters: A lengthy resume suggests an inability to prioritize or communicate efficiently, two essential skills in legal practice. Your ability to condense your achievements and experience into one page demonstrates that you can focus on what matters most—both in your legal writing and in your resume.
How to Achieve It:
- Focus on the Most Relevant Information: Avoid listing every single task or role you’ve had throughout your career. Instead, focus on the positions and accomplishments that are most relevant to the job you are applying for.
- Use Bullet Points: Bullet points help break up information and make it easier to read. They also encourage you to be concise.
- Condense Older Roles: For positions you held early in your career, consider summarizing them in a line or two, especially if they are less relevant to the job you’re currently seeking.
Tip: Every piece of information on your resume should serve a purpose. If it doesn’t support your candidacy for the specific position you’re applying for, leave it out.
See Related Articles:
- Should a Resume Be Only One Page Long?
- How Attorneys and Law Students Should Write a Legal Resume: Resume Examples, Suggestions and Resources
- A Complete Guide to Writing an Attorney Resume: Tips, Advice, and the Correct Format
2. Experience Over Education: The Shift After Five Years
For attorneys with more than five years of experience, the focus of your resume should shift from education to professional experience. Early in your career, where you went to law school and the academic honors you received may have been key factors in getting noticed. However, after several years of practicing law, firms are much more interested in what you’ve accomplished in your legal career.
Why Experience Is Key: Law firms want to know how your legal expertise has developed in practice, not just in theory. They care about the cases you’ve handled, the clients you’ve worked with, and the outcomes you’ve achieved. This becomes far more relevant than your GPA or the courses you took in law school.
How to Shift the Focus:
- Move Education to the Bottom: Once you’ve practiced for more than five years, your educational background should no longer be the centerpiece of your resume. Instead, it should be briefly noted at the end.
- Lead With Work Experience: At the top of your resume, emphasize the legal roles you’ve held, the skills you’ve developed, and the specific achievements that make you stand out.
- Highlight Recent Achievements: The most recent and relevant roles should take up the majority of your resume. These positions demonstrate your current level of expertise and your readiness to take on new challenges.
Tip: Your education is still important, but after five years, it takes a backseat to your real-world accomplishments.
3. Tailoring Your Resume for Each Application
One of the most important strategies for creating a successful resume is tailoring it to the specific job you’re applying for. A generic resume that you send to every law firm may not make the impact you need, as each firm has its own set of priorities and practice areas.
Why Customization Matters: Law firms are looking for candidates whose experience matches their needs. If your resume doesn’t speak directly to the role they’re hiring for, it may get passed over in favor of someone who has more directly aligned experience.
How to Customize:
- Research the Firm: Before you apply, research the law firm’s practice areas and the specific role they are hiring for. Tailor your resume to emphasize the experience that is most relevant to that firm.
- Highlight Relevant Experience: If you’re applying to a corporate law firm, for example, highlight your experience with corporate transactions, contracts, and negotiations. If you’re applying for a litigation role, focus on your trial experience, motion drafting, and case outcomes.
- Cut Irrelevant Information: Remove any information that doesn’t directly contribute to your candidacy for the specific job. Tailoring your resume means not overwhelming the reader with irrelevant details.
Tip: A customized resume shows that you’ve taken the time to understand the firm’s needs and that you’re serious about the opportunity.
4. Remove Irrelevant or Outdated Information
Another key piece of advice for attorneys is to avoid cluttering your resume with outdated or irrelevant information. Your resume should reflect your most recent and relevant experience, not a detailed account of every position you’ve ever held.
Why Less Is More: Including every job, task, or responsibility can dilute the impact of your resume. Hiring managers are looking for focused, relevant information that shows them how you’ll contribute to their firm. Including irrelevant details can distract from your qualifications and make it harder for hiring managers to see what sets you apart.
What to Remove:
- Early Career Roles: If you’ve been practicing for more than ten years, it’s time to remove internships or part-time jobs from your resume, especially if they are unrelated to the job you’re applying for.
- Unrelated Positions: If you’ve worked in a different field before practicing law, those roles may no longer be relevant unless they directly contribute to your legal expertise.
- Personal Interests: Hobbies and personal interests should only be included if they are directly related to the legal role you’re applying for.
Tip: Keep your resume focused on your legal career and the skills that are most important to the position.
5. Formatting: Keep It Clean and Professional
The content of your resume is crucial, but so is the way it’s presented. A clean, well-organized resume is much more likely to catch a hiring manager’s attention than one that’s cluttered or difficult to read. In the legal profession, attention to detail is key, and your resume should reflect your ability to present information clearly and professionally.
Why Formatting Matters: A resume with inconsistent fonts, poor alignment, or too much text is difficult to read and gives the impression that you may not have the organizational skills needed to be a successful attorney. On the other hand, a resume with clean, consistent formatting shows that you take pride in your work and that you have the skills to present information in a logical way.
How to Format Your Resume:
- Use Standard Fonts: Stick to traditional fonts like Times New Roman, Arial, or Calibri. These fonts are professional and easy to read.
- Consistent Spacing: Make sure that your spacing is consistent throughout the document. There should be equal amounts of space between sections, and all bullet points should be aligned properly.
- Clear Section Headings: Use bold section headings to break up your resume and make it easier to skim. This helps hiring managers quickly find the information they’re looking for.
Tip: A clean, well-formatted resume reflects your professionalism and attention to detail—both essential qualities for an attorney.
See Related Articles:
- Harrison Barnes’s 29 Rules to Make Your Resume More Marketable
- How to Perfect Your Legal Resume: 20 Essential Tips for Attorneys and Law Students
- Making the Most of Your Resume
6. Show Career Progression
As you advance in your legal career, your resume should reflect your growth and progression. Law firms want to see that you’ve taken on increasing responsibilities, developed new skills, and advanced in your field. A resume that shows career progression is far more compelling than one that lists a series of lateral moves without clear development.
Why Career Progression Matters: Firms want to hire attorneys who have not only gained experience but also shown the ability to take on more complex cases, lead teams, or handle higher-level responsibilities. Your resume should clearly demonstrate that you’re ready to take the next step in your career.
How to Show Progression:
- Highlight Promotions: If you’ve been promoted, make sure to emphasize this on your resume. Promotions are a clear indicator that you’ve excelled in your role and earned the trust of your employer.
- Increased Responsibilities: Over time, you’ve likely taken on more responsibility in your roles. Be sure to highlight these increased responsibilities, whether they involve managing junior attorneys, leading cases, or handling more complex legal issues.
- Significant Achievements: As you progress in your career, your achievements become more significant. Focus on the cases or transactions that had the most impact and demonstrate your ability to succeed in challenging situations.
Tip: Showing career progression is key to demonstrating that you’re ready to take on new challenges and responsibilities at the next level.
7. Proofreading: Attention to Detail Is Critical
One of the simplest yet most critical pieces of advice is to proofread your resume thoroughly before submitting it. Even a small typo, grammatical error, or formatting mistake can send the wrong message to hiring managers. Law firms expect their attorneys to have excellent attention to detail, and a resume with errors reflects poorly on your ability to catch mistakes.
Why Proofreading Matters: A resume with errors suggests carelessness, which is a major red flag for any attorney. Law firms rely on their attorneys to be detail-oriented, whether they’re drafting contracts, preparing legal briefs, or reviewing cases. If you can’t catch errors on your own resume, how can they trust you to handle complex legal matters?
How to Proofread Effectively:
- Read Aloud: Sometimes reading aloud can help you catch errors that you might have missed when reading silently.
- Use a Fresh Pair of Eyes: After reviewing your resume yourself, ask a colleague or mentor to take a look. A fresh set of eyes can often catch mistakes that you’ve overlooked.
- Take Your Time: Don’t rush the proofreading process. Take the time to carefully review each section of your resume to ensure that there are no errors.
Tip: Even small mistakes can cost you an interview. Proofreading shows that you’re thorough, detail-oriented, and serious about the role.
Conclusion: Crafting a Resume That Stands Out
Crafting an effective legal resume is both an art and a science. By following the principles outlined in this article, you can create a resume that highlights your most relevant experience, demonstrates your career progression, and presents your qualifications in a clear, concise, and professional manner. Remember, your resume is often your first opportunity to make an impression, so it’s worth investing the time to get it right.
Whether you’re a new graduate or an experienced attorney, a well-crafted resume can help you stand out in a competitive job market and increase your chances of landing an interview. By keeping your resume focused, concise, and tailored to the job you’re applying for, you’ll be well on your way to securing your next legal role.
About Harrison Barnes
Harrison Barnes is a prominent figure in the legal placement industry, known for his expertise in attorney placements and his extensive knowledge of the legal profession.
With over 25 years of experience, he has established himself as a leading voice in the field and has helped thousands of lawyers and law students find their ideal career paths.
Barnes is a former federal law clerk and associate at Quinn Emanuel and a graduate of the University of Chicago College and the University of Virginia Law School. He was a Rhodes Scholar Finalist at the University of Chicago and a member of the University of Virginia Law Review. Early in his legal career, he enrolled in Stanford Business School but dropped out because he missed legal recruiting too much.
Barnes' approach to the legal industry is rooted in his commitment to helping lawyers achieve their full potential. He believes that the key to success in the legal profession is to be proactive, persistent, and disciplined in one's approach to work and life. He encourages lawyers to take ownership of their careers and to focus on developing their skills and expertise in a way that aligns with their passions and interests.
One of how Barnes provides support to lawyers is through his writing. On his blog, HarrisonBarnes.com, and BCGSearch.com, he regularly shares his insights and advice on a range of topics related to the legal profession. Through his writing, he aims to empower lawyers to control their careers and make informed decisions about their professional development.
One of Barnes's fundamental philosophies in his writing is the importance of networking. He believes that networking is a critical component of career success and that it is essential for lawyers to establish relationships with others in their field. He encourages lawyers to attend events, join organizations, and connect with others in the legal community to build their professional networks.
Another central theme in Barnes' writing is the importance of personal and professional development. He believes that lawyers should continuously strive to improve themselves and develop their skills to succeed in their careers. He encourages lawyers to pursue ongoing education and training actively, read widely, and seek new opportunities for growth and development.
In addition to his work in the legal industry, Barnes is also a fitness and lifestyle enthusiast. He sees fitness and wellness as integral to his personal and professional development and encourages others to adopt a similar mindset. He starts his day at 4:00 am and dedicates several daily hours to running, weightlifting, and pursuing spiritual disciplines.
Finally, Barnes is a strong advocate for community service and giving back. He volunteers for the University of Chicago, where he is the former area chair of Los Angeles for the University of Chicago Admissions Office. He also serves as the President of the Young Presidents Organization's Century City Los Angeles Chapter, where he works to support and connect young business leaders.
In conclusion, Harrison Barnes is a visionary legal industry leader committed to helping lawyers achieve their full potential. Through his work at BCG Attorney Search, writing, and community involvement, he empowers lawyers to take control of their careers, develop their skills continuously, and lead fulfilling and successful lives. His philosophy of being proactive, persistent, and disciplined, combined with his focus on personal and professional development, makes him a valuable resource for anyone looking to succeed in the legal profession.
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.
Harrison Barnes does a weekly free webinar with live Q&A for attorneys and law students each Wednesday at 10:00 am PST. You can attend anonymously and ask questions about your career, this article, or any other legal career-related topics. You can sign up for the weekly webinar here: Register on Zoom
Harrison also does a weekly free webinar with live Q&A for law firms, companies, and others who hire attorneys each Wednesday at 10:00 am PST. You can sign up for the weekly webinar here: Register on Zoom
You can browse a list of past webinars here: Webinar Replays
You can also listen to Harrison Barnes Podcasts here: Attorney Career Advice Podcasts
You can also read Harrison Barnes' articles and books here: Harrison's Perspectives
Harrison Barnes is the legal profession's mentor and may be the only person in your legal career who will tell you why you are not reaching your full potential and what you really need to do to grow as an attorney--regardless of how much it hurts. If you prefer truth to stagnation, growth to comfort, and actionable ideas instead of fluffy concepts, you and Harrison will get along just fine. If, however, you want to stay where you are, talk about your past successes, and feel comfortable, Harrison is not for you.
Truly great mentors are like parents, doctors, therapists, spiritual figures, and others because in order to help you they need to expose you to pain and expose your weaknesses. But suppose you act on the advice and pain created by a mentor. In that case, you will become better: a better attorney, better employees, a better boss, know where you are going, and appreciate where you have been--you will hopefully also become a happier and better person. As you learn from Harrison, he hopes he will become your mentor.
To read more career and life advice articles visit Harrison's personal blog.
