During the law school application process, you probably spent a lot of time updating and refining your resume as part of your application. If you think that now that you’re a student you don’t need to worry about your resume for a while, think again! Internships, jobs, student journals, and many other programs will typically ask for your resume, so it’s best to keep yours in good shape. To help you get started, we’ve rounded up this list of tips to improve your law school resume.
Know your audience
When you’re applying for a job or internship, it’s important to tailor your resume to fit the work you’re interested in. You want your law school resume to demonstrate the aspects of your background that lend themselves to your target opportunity. Note that this doesn’t mean that only law-related entries should appear on your resume. Your resume should reflect any substantive legal experience you have, but jobs and internships prior to law school can still demonstrate your relevant skills.
Be honest
This should go without saying, but make sure your law school resume accurately reflects your experience. For example, don’t imply that you were the president of a student organization when you were actually the treasurer. Applicants sometimes think that exaggerating their work experience can improve their law school resume, but there’s a good chance this will backfire. Not only is it unethical to lie about your experience, it’s also likely that you’ll be found out. Instead, improve your law school resume with honest and accurate descriptions of your experience.
Aim for brevity
Save showcasing your writing abilities for your cover letter and writing sample. Instead, aim to create a resume that’s clear and concise. Employers do not want to wade through wordy descriptions of your activities. So, rely on short sentences or bullet points that are packed with active, descriptive language. If you’re not sure where to start, your school’s career services office almost certainly has plenty of templates and examples.
Make sure your formatting is on point
Proper formatting is one of the things that keeps the legal profession running smoothly. Your law school resume might be your first exposure to the importance of proper formatting, but you should still take it seriously. Proper formatting can improve your law school resume by giving it an organized, neat appearance. And don’t forget to comply with any formatting requirements listed by your school or the application! One thing to keep an eye out for is whether your resume should list your law school GPA or class ranking. If you are unsure, consult with your school’s career services office.
Revise, revise, revise
Before sending off your law school resume, make sure that several pairs of eyes have checked it for typos, punctuation errors, and other mistakes. Attention to detail is a necessary characteristic for law students and lawyers alike, so make sure your resume doesn’t suggest otherwise. If your school offers resume review through the career services office, definitely take them up on it. They know what employers are looking for and can give you good advice on how to improve your law school resume.
