A resume is a snapshot which must accurately portray your relevant skills, work experience, education and a thorough history of your employment. Good resumes demonstrate career progression and advancement, the ability to assume increasing responsibility with each position, and the development of relationships with colleagues and clients that reflect your growth and development as an attorney. The way in which you describe your work experience is the most critical component in attracting the interest of employers and in securing any position.

How to format your resume:

Start with a header which contains the following:

Education: Your education should be included on your resume as a section placed before or after your employment history, depending on your experience level and credentials, and written in reverse chronological order. Necessary information includes:

1. 1. Where you went to school, e.g. University, College, School of Law, etc., with the location of the institution
   2. Degree(s), major, and any certifications you received
   3. Date of graduation (month and year)
   4. Relevant activities such as law journals, moot court, oral argument awards, etc.
   5. To GPA or not GPA? This is a decision which varies from person to person.  Of course, if you graduated summa, magna or cum laude, Order of the Coif, or with Honors, absolutely specify this. Class rank may also be something to consider including, but again, this depends on a number of factors.

Summary of Work Experience: Any employer for whom you have worked should be identified by a heading which contains the name of the company or organization, your title, practice area (if applicable) and the dates of your employment. Following the heading, there should be a description of your work, which can be written in either paragraph or in bullet format depending on the amount of content you wish to provide.

There should be no less than four and probably not more than 10 bullet points or sentences about each position you have held, with the longest entry corresponding to your current job. Your work history should be organized beginning with your present or most recent employment and continue in descending order to your first position. Phrase your accomplishments in terms of results whenever possible.

Practice descriptions should provide factual information and include examples of the matters on which you have worked and what your role in them was. Take the time to think about and identify any accomplishments, highlights or successes you have attained during the course of your career.

An attorney resume should show the ability to absorb new information, make effective decisions, and demonstrate an ability to produce high-quality work while meeting deadlines.

Specific questions pertaining to how to incorporate non-legal experience, special skills, or any gaps in employment are best discussed with an experienced recruiter. However, any gap in employment on a resume which is not explained is a red flag to a potential employer, so it is best to avoid them if at all possible.

General tips: When writing about your experience, use legal terms and action verbs to describe your skills, but remember: the first person to review your resume may not be a lawyer; your resume should be written so that it is easy to comprehend and well organized for anyone screening your application.