Your Profile is a Snapshot: It is a quick photo, not a formal studio portrait. It offers a broad idea of who you are, just as a snapshot of New England forests in autumn shows stunning swathes of yellow, orange, and red but not individual birch, maple, or oak leaves. Your Profile should stun the reader with strong statements about your professional self.
Join the Legal Elite on LawCrossing. Upload Your Resume Today!
Your Profile is a Hook: It is a tool to pull your readers along. Intrigued by what they read in your Profile, they will settle back and read the balance of your resume. So be sure to think about your characteristics in light of the needs of employers (which requires some research on your part before sending your resume). Employers want to be impressed by you! They want to hire you! They want to think about the value you will bring to the firm!
Your Profile is a Collage: It is an assembly of your diverse fragments, without transitions. In this way, your Profile is easy to skim and remember. In your Profile, instead of writing "I worked throughout undergraduate and law schools," you could use words like "diligent" and "determined."
In addition to mentioning that you are, for example, a litigator (or a student about to graduate from law school), mention your skills, e.g., negotiations, oral argument, interpersonal communications, cultural competence, foreign language fluency (but not those two years of French you took in high school). Include law review, a top GPA, professional memberships, significant awards, and foreign language/experience abroad. And, of course, Bar memberships. Don't be shy! Don't be humble!
When you construct it thoughtfully, the Profile can be a clear snapshot/rich collage of your skills, accomplishments, and ethics. After you are finished, you want to hear yourself say (as did an Attorney Resume client), "Looks fantastic! The profile fits me perfectly!"
Master every step of the BigLaw hiring process with this free training. Watch It Now
Below are two examples.
| Principled, ambitious associate attorney with graduate degree in civil engineering. Wide-ranging experience in intellectual property/patents. Superior negotiation skills. Meticulous and diligent. Conscientious client/colleague relations. U.S. Patent & Trademark Office Patent Agent. Board Member, Fargo Research & Technology Park. Member, Big Blue Society. Law Review/Top 5%. North Dakota, Minnesota, and American Bar Associations. Bar Memberships: North Dakota and Minnesota. Wisconsin, pending. |
|
 |
|
|
In-house attorney for $10-billion global corporation, with expertise in complex domestic and international commercial transactions, seeking new challenges. Skilled in negotiation and highly knowledgeable regarding risk analysis/assessment. Functions well in deadline-driven, detail-oriented environments. Recognized for responsiveness and resourcefulness. Excellent interpersonal communications, developing trusted relationships with clients and colleagues. Fluent in English, Mandarin, and Tagalog. Member, American Bar Association. New York State Bar. |
Read More About Legal Resumes
- Devloping the skills of wrting a perfect Law firm Resume
- The Dos and Don'ts of Cover Letter Writing
- Tips on how to write a great cover letter and a Resume
- Formatting Your Resume
- Broadening Your Resume When Job Experience is Scarce
- How to choose writing samples for an interview
- Your Attorney Resume: Use a Statement of Qualifications and a Cover Letter Instead of an Objective
- Covering letter is considered to be an important asset while applying for a Paralegal Job
- How to Write a Legal Resume: Tips on Writing a Legal Resume to Get an Attorney Job
- Legal Research Writing
Interested in More Interview Advice?
See Our Most Popular Interview Articles:
- The Five Musts of Interviewing
- The Best Way to Prepare for a Job Search and Interviews
- How to Talk About Other Interviews in Your Interviews
- Employers Want to Hire You
- How To Answer The Tell Me About Yourself Interview Questions
