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As the name suggests, contract attorneys specialize in all legal issues to do with contracts. You may be tasked with drafting contracts, scrutinizing contracts, dealing with contract disputes, and representing your client in court on any contract-related cases. You need to be an expert on contract law and recruiters will expect to see a long history in that area of law. Here is a recruiter-approved resume sample.
Contract law is broad, and many attorneys specialize in certain areas of contract law. If you do, make it clear in your resume. This applicant clearly specializes in patent law as almost all their experience listed is patent law-related.
Show recruiters that you are a hardworking and successful attorney by showing a steady upward career trajectory. It shows recruiters your dedication to your profession and your impressive success. This applicant began in a law intern position and has grown to a contract attorney position.
As a hiring manager who has recruited for top law firms like Kirkland & Ellis, Latham & Watkins, and Skadden, I've reviewed countless resumes for contract attorney positions. In this article, I'll share insider tips on how to create a compelling resume that will catch the attention of recruiters and hiring managers. The following tips will help you showcase your legal expertise, highlight your relevant experience, and demonstrate your value to potential employers.
Contract attorney positions often require expertise in specific practice areas, such as intellectual property, corporate law, or employment law. Make sure to highlight your relevant experience and knowledge in these areas.
Avoid generic statements like:
Instead, provide specific examples that demonstrate your expertise:
While a summary section is optional for a contract attorney resume, it can be a useful way to provide context and highlight key skills that may not be immediately apparent from the rest of your resume. This is especially true if you are a career changer or have a diverse background that doesn't directly align with your current career goals. However, it's important to avoid using an objective statement, as these are outdated and often too generic to be effective.
When crafting your summary, focus on showcasing your most relevant experience, skills, and accomplishments. Avoid simply repeating information that is already included elsewhere in your resume. Instead, use this space to provide a high-level overview of your qualifications and what makes you a strong candidate for the position.
Your work experience section is the core of your resume as a contract attorney. It's where you highlight your legal skills and accomplishments to show employers you have the right background for the job.
In this section, we'll break down the key steps to follow to write a compelling work experience section step-by-step, with examples of what to do and what to avoid. Let's dive in.
When describing your contract attorney experience, start each bullet point with an action verb that showcases your legal skills:
Avoid bland, generic verbs that could apply to any job:
Your education section is a key part of your contract attorney resume. It shows employers that you have the necessary legal training and qualifications to excel in the role. Here are some tips to help you write an effective education section:
The skills section of your resume is a critical component that showcases your expertise to potential employers. As a contract attorney, it's essential to highlight the specific skills that make you stand out from other candidates. In this section, we'll provide tips on crafting a compelling skills section tailored to your contract attorney resume.
Here are examples of popular skills from Contract Attorney job descriptions that you can include on your resume.
This word cloud highlights the important keywords that appear on Contract Attorney job descriptions and resumes. The bigger the word, the more frequently it appears on job postings, and the more likely you should include it in your resume.
Use our free resume checker to get expert feedback on your resume. You will:
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