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Otherwise called a junior associate, a junior lawyer is a new lawyer who most likely just graduated from law school. In this position, you will assist more senior lawyers by doing research, drafting legal documents, and performing administrative tasks where needed. This position has a huge workload and you will most likely be expected to work outside of normal business hours.
Your resume should indicate what tasks and functions you can perform, and should list your qualifications. Take a look at this strong resume sample.
Everyone applying for this position will have completed law school and passed the bar. If you want to stand out from the crowd, go the extra mile and gain certifications in specific areas of law. It will indicate your drive and extra expertise. This applicant has 2 impressive certifications.
It's important to show recruiters that you can do almost any legal task needed in a law firm. This is especially important for this position as you will be given multiple varying tasks every day. So mention your experience writing legal documents, negotiating contracts, and doing effective research.
As a hiring manager who has recruited for top law firms like Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP and Kirkland & Ellis LLP, I've reviewed hundreds of resumes for junior lawyer positions. Based on my experience, here are the most important tips for crafting a strong junior lawyer resume that will catch the attention of hiring managers and help you land your dream job.
Employers want to see that you have practical experience in the legal field, even if you're just starting out. Include any internships, clerkships, or part-time positions you've held in law firms, government agencies, or non-profit organizations.
When describing your experience, focus on your specific contributions and the skills you developed, such as:
A resume summary for a Junior Lawyer is optional, but it can be a valuable addition if you want to provide context or highlight details that aren't immediately apparent from the rest of your resume. It's especially useful if you're a career changer and your past experience doesn't directly align with the legal field, or if you have relevant experience that you want to emphasize right away.
However, it's important to keep in mind that your resume itself is already a summary of your qualifications, so you don't want to simply repeat information that's already covered elsewhere. Instead, focus on adding value by including your most relevant skills, experiences, and accomplishments as they relate to a Junior Lawyer position.
Your work experience section is the heart of your resume. It's where you show hiring managers how you've applied your skills to make an impact for previous employers. For aspiring junior lawyers, this section needs to demonstrate your ability to conduct legal research, draft documents, and support more senior attorneys.
Here are some key tips to make your work experience section stand out:
Start each bullet point with an action verb that showcases your legal skills:
Avoid generic, overused verbs like "assisted" or "helped" that don't highlight your specific contributions. Compare:
Your education section is a key component of your junior lawyer resume. It's where you showcase your academic achievements and relevant coursework. Here are some tips to help you craft a strong education section that will impress hiring managers and land you an interview.
The skills section of your resume is a critical component that showcases your abilities to potential employers. As a junior lawyer, it's important to highlight the skills that are most relevant to the legal industry and the specific role you're applying for. In this section, we'll break down the key steps you should follow when crafting your skills section to make it stand out to hiring managers.
Here are examples of popular skills from Junior Lawyer job descriptions that you can include on your resume.
This word cloud highlights the important keywords that appear on Junior Lawyer 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.
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