Resume Writing Help for Attorneys – 5 Resume Tips to Avoid for Attorneys When Resume Writing

You sit at your computer, taking deep breaths and preying to the heavens above. You ask for forgiveness for all the bad things you’ve done as you scan the state bar pass list, hoping your name is on it….There it is – YOU PASSED!!!!

After you wake up the next morning nursing a well-deserved hangover, you think – Now what? As the market continues its downward spiral (do not let the numbers fool you, most of the “1,000,000 new jobs” you optimistically read about or heard about on NPR are actually just temporary contract positions) you sit at your desk, confused. You made it through law school and passed the bar – how hard can writing a 1-2 page resume really be? Unfortunately for you, it is MUCH HARDER than you think.

The problem is twofold: First, as attorneys we are less than humble most of the time. Most of us cannot comprehend the fact that we cannot – or should not – write the resume ourselves. Second, as attorneys we are also intelligent enough to know that maybe we should throw up the reins and pass the baton to someone who does this professionally. Whether you cannot let go of the control, or if financial pressures are a concern, I will provide you a list of 5 things to remember in your quest to draft your own legal resume.

For reference, I am an attorney and Certified Professional Resume Writer who has have worked with thousands of applicants in the last 7 years, both in and out of the legal field – these issues are the most common and easiest to avoid:

1. Outline: Just like any other document you would or will prepare as an attorney, a well-thought out plan of attack is your best bet. Outline each section of the resume. This will help you both organize your thoughts as well as jar your memory of past accomplishments, awards, and achievements.

2. Prepare a first draft as if you’re writing it for someone else: Even the most narcissistic attorneys have trouble writing about themselves. Once you have your outline, prepare a first draft of the resume. Remember, this is NOT and essay and not a PERSUASIVE document. It is a CAREER TOOL designed to get you the interview.

3. Be Confident, Not Cocky: We all have strengths and weaknesses, that is a fact of life. But, with that said, you do not want to turn a potential employer off as someone who can’t work in a team environment. (Translation: “Authored and submitted a successful motion for summary judgment which was summarily granted” is good, versus “Authored the best brief in the history of the world, as told to me by my peers and everyone in earshot of my oral argument” is not good.) Before you laugh, trust me – you’d be amazed at what has come across my desk.

4. A Resume is Not a Substitute for an Interview – For attorneys, this is the KEY problem. Look, even if you hate interviews, cannot sleep the night before, get nauseas moments before the introduction, it is inevitable that you WILL have to interview for the position. In other words, there is no getting around the interview process. As such, trying to cram potential interview responses into a resume will not work. It will make you look verbose and rambling instead of streamlined and succinct.

5. Hire an Attorney Certified Resume Writer: Leave your resume to the experts. By hiring a certified professional resume writer who is also an attorney, they will have the industry knowledge, experience, and ability to draft an effective resume for you. You spend hundreds of thousands of dollars for your legal education, do not blow it!

Good Luck!!!!!