RESUME WRITING & Employment Letters

Transcription

1 RESUME WRITING & Employment Letters Career Strategy and Professional Development Mentoring Center 48 Print Date: 8/9/13

2 RESUME WRITING AND EMPLOYMENT LETTERS TABLE OF CONTENTS RESUMES The Legal Resume 3 List of Useful Resume Action Verbs 12 Updating Your Resume: Summer Update 14 Sample Resume Descriptions 16 Basic Resume Outline 18 Sample Resumes 19 Sample Reference Sheet 25 COVER LETTERS A Guide to Writing Cover Letters 26 Cover Letter Dos and Don ts 28 Cover Letter Form & Samples 29 NETWORKING What is Networking? 36 Practical Networking Tips 38 Requesting a Networking Appointment 41 FOLLOW-UP & THANK YOU LETTERS Tips on Follow-Up & Thank You Letters 42 Sample Thank You & Follow Up Letters 43 Sample Acceptance Letter 45 Sample Withdrawal Letter 46 Sample Rejection Letter 47 WRITING SAMPLES Writing Sample Tips 48 Writing Sample Basics 49 Tips for Online Etiquette 51 2

3 THE LEGAL RESUME Purpose of a Resume The most useful resume is not a mere written record of what you ve done in the past. Instead, a resume should be your own personal marketing tool. A well-done legal resume does the following: Summarizes your education and experience Introduces you to potential employers and focuses their attention on pertinent areas of your background Gets you through the door to an interview Shows prospective employers how your background makes you valuable to them Serves as an example of your work product All of this boils down to one simple point: your resume tells employers what a great job you can do for them. If you keep this in mind when preparing your resume, you ll end up with a resume that is perfect for you. Also, remember that your resume is not carved in stone. As you gain legal experience and participate in new activities, update your resume. In addition, the same resume may not be appropriate for all employers. As you target different employers, review your resume and make changes to emphasize the information that will be of greatest interest to your audience. For example, the resume that catches the eye of the hiring partner at a conservative law firm might look a little different than the resume you send to a non-profit corporation. It all comes back to the guiding principle behind your resume it is meant to show employers what you can do for them. Format and Stylistic Details The look and feel of your resume can often determine whether it is read. Because you want the employer to focus on the substance of your resume, not its form, be sure that the format is not distracting, is easy to read, and has a professional appearance. Most lawyers are conservative, so make sure employers do not eliminate your resume at the beginning due to an unusual format, colored paper, or bizarre font. Keep the following guidelines in mind: Various formats can be used effectively, so select a format that appeals to you and best highlights your background. A number of samples are presented in this handbook. Make sure any format you choose uses white space, headings, spacing, indentation effectively and consistently, and does not have a cluttered appearance. Pertinent information should easily jump out at the reader. Your resume should be in an outline format, rather than narrative. Do not use personal pronouns in job descriptions. 3

4 Avoid the urge to use an unusual format to stand out from the crowd. Legal employers are much more impressed by a crisp and professional resume which presents your qualifications in an easily readable manner. Use letter-size white or cream good quality paper. As a general rule, your resume should be on one page unless law is your second career or you have a great deal of relevant experience. Once you hit your third year, you may need to expand it to two pages. Use black ink and a conservative font between 10 and 14 points in size. A good rule of thumb is 1" margins on all four sides of your resume, although slightly smaller margins may be used to keep resume to one page. Use a good quality printer. Remember, a visually appealing resume will command more attention. Aim for spaciousness and ease of reading. Most people will spend about 30 seconds reviewing resumes those that look promising are set aside for a second look. A concise, easy-to-read resume with a professional appearance stands a better chance of receiving this second look. A resume with a typographical error will surely land in the round file. Preparing Your Resume Now that you ve got the format and style issues out of the way, you can concentrate on drafting a resume that best conveys what you have to offer a legal employer. Before you start writing, take two preliminary steps. First, list all of the possible information that might be included your bar membership, law school, graduate, and undergraduate education, work experience (both paid and volunteer), school and community activities, honors and awards, outside interests, professional affiliations, military experience, publications, special skills, and language proficiencies. Second, put yourself in the employer s shoes and think about the information that best conveys what you have to offer. Identify the attributes the employer to whom you are applying is seeking. Attributes a legal employer is likely to look for include determination, self-confidence, creativity, excellent analytical and writing skills, persuasiveness, persistence, commitment, high energy, maturity, conscientiousness, attention to detail, thoroughness, and good people skills. It is difficult for an individual to identify his or her skills. We are conditioned to focus on our weaknesses rather than our strengths. For law students and new law graduates, this is particularly true. You are keenly aware of each grade that could have been higher and each response in class that could have been sharper. Consequently, you overlook the many fine abilities that you bring to the practice of law. The ABA task force report on the legal profession (the MacCrate report ), outlines fundamental lawyering skills. Before preparing your resume and cover letter, review this list and make sure you are highlighting these skills sought by your prospective employers. 4

5 Fundamental Lawyering Skills Problem Solving Identifying and diagnosing problems Generating alternative solutions and strategies Developing a plan of action Implementing the plan Keeping the planning process open to new information and new ideas Legal Analysis and Reasoning Identifying and formulating legal issues Formulating relevant legal theories Elaborating legal theory Evaluating legal theory Criticizing and synthesizing legal argumentation Legal Research Knowledge of the nature of legal rules and institutions Knowledge of and ability to use the most fundamental tools of legal research Understanding of the process of devising and implementing a coherent and effective research design Factual Investigation Determining the need for factual investigation Planning a factual investigation Implementing the investigative strategy Memorializing and organizing information in an accessible form Deciding whether and when to conclude the process of fact-gathering Evaluating the information that has been gathered Communication Assessing the perspective of the recipient of the information Using effective methods of communication Counseling Establishing a counseling relationship that respects the nature and bounds of a lawyer s role Gathering information relevant to the decision to be made Analyzing the decision to be made Counseling the client about the decision to be made Ascertaining and implementing the client s decision 5

6 Negotiation Preparing for negotiation Conducting the negotiation session Counseling the client about the terms obtained from the other side in the negotiation and implementing the client s decision Litigation and Alternative Dispute Resolution Procedures Litigation at the trial-court level Litigation at the appellate-court level Advocacy in administrative and executive forums Proceedings in other dispute-resolution forums Organization and Management of Legal Work Formulating goals and principles for effective practice management Developing systems and procedures that ensure that time, effort and resources are allocated efficiently Developing systems and procedures to ensure that work is performed and completed at the appropriate time Developing systems and procedures for effectively working with other people Developing systems and procedures for efficiently administering a law office Recognizing and Resolving Ethical Dilemmas Understanding the nature and sources of ethical standards Knowing the means by which ethical standards are enforced Following the processes for recognizing and resolving ethical dilemmas Generic Characteristics Important for Lawyering Energy Initiative Motivation Follow-through Ability to juggle multiple tasks and prioritize Ability to pick up new information quickly Ability to deal with time pressures and tight deadlines Ability to work well in a team Creativity Consider which of these characteristics you have, and how your life experiences demonstrate that you have these qualities. Also, evaluate the transferable skills that you gained through past educational or work experiences. You will then be able to narrow down the universe of information you came up with in step one and use it as a base in writing your resume and cover letters. 6

7 Resume Sections After you ve finished listing and evaluating all of your experiences and have thought about what will be of greatest interest to a legal employer, you are ready to begin the writing process. Every resume will include a heading and sections for education and experience. Other sections are optional and will depend on your unique background. Some of the most common sections are discussed below. Heading: Your full name, address, phone number and address should appear at the top of your resume. The word Resume should not. If your permanent address is outside Phoenix and you are seeking employment in that area, also include your permanent address. Always include a reliable telephone number and an address where you can be reached. Bar Membership: When you have graduated from law school and passed the bar, you will begin your resume with a Bar Membership section. List bar(s) passed; date licensed and license number. For example: Arizona, July 2010, Bar Number: If you have taken the bar but have not received results, identify the bar taken and awaiting results. For example: Sat for Arizona Bar July 2010, awaiting results. If you passed the bar but are awaiting character and fitness, identify the bar passed and awaiting character and fitness. For example, Arizona, July 2010 (passed bar exam and awaiting character and fitness). Education: With rare exceptions, this will be the first major section of your resume. List schools in reverse chronological order (law school first, then other graduate programs, then undergraduate). Include the name of the school, city and state, and degree attained. Do not include associate arts degrees or high school (although there may be some rare exceptions for certain private schools in some areas - check with Career Services). Law School: Indicate the month and year you expect to graduate. For example, J.D. expected May 20 or J.D. Candidate 20. Although Career Services staff encourages employers to use many indicators of competence, some employers place great reliance on grades. If your GPA places you in the top third of your class, you should include this on your resume. If your overall GPA is not as high as you d like, you may choose to highlight an upward trend in grades by indicating your GPAs for various years along with your overall GPA. You can also indicate those classes in which you excelled, as long as they are relevant to the employer. Never estimate or round-off your GPA or speculate your class rank. Only the Registrar can provide you with your exact GPA and rank. If you are a first year student and received a high grade of A- or above in Legal Research and Writing, include this on your resume. It is recommended that you not include your LSAT score, however, occasionally a student will choose to do so if the score is particularly high. 7

8 If your grades are not your strongest point, consider ways of highlighting other achievements in law school (i.e. your performance in specific courses where you can show an exceptional standing, placement in competitions, high grades in legal research and writing). Generally, include any activities or honors related to each school (see discussion below) Undergraduate or Graduate Schools: Indicate the degree, month and year received Include your GPA if above 3.5 and any honors received with your degrees ( cum laude, etc.). However, don t include GPA if you did not include it for law school; in this case, just include honors received. Include any relevant activities or honors related to each school (see below) Honors and Activities: Honors and activities should generally be included under the school they relate to, unless you have a substantial number of honors and activities that are outside the educational sphere, or many major honors that you wish to highlight. In that case, you may wish to create an entirely separate section entitled Honors and Activities. Whichever approach you use, keep the following in mind: List honors first, then activities You may use two subheadings to separate honors and activities under each school, or one major heading. If space allows, list one honor or activity per line for easier reading Provide enough of a description so that the reader will understand your honors and activities. Make sure your descriptions emphasize your achievements. Examples of common law school honors and activities include journal experience, scholarships/grants, awards, competitions/moot court accomplishments etc. In listing accomplishments in Moot Court competitions, distinguish between various competitions. List your extracurricular activities: membership or leadership positions in student organizations, clubs or student/faculty committees; sports activities; competitions where you participated but did not place etc. Provide the full name of the organization/club (not just the acronym). It is not necessary to put the word member before each organization listing; however if you are an officer in the organization, designate that position. Undergraduate honors and activities may include scholarships, student government, participation in athletics, student organizations, and debate. If you have extensive undergraduate activities, include only those that were most significant and would be of greatest interest to a legal employer. In some cases you will need to give serious thought to whether or not to include certain activities. Highly charged resume items may include involvement in a political organization or campaign, religious activities, or work for certain nonprofit groups. Inclusion of these items may depend on the employer you are 8

9 targeting. There is no right or wrong answer here, just what is best given your particular situation. Experience: This section can be called Experience or Employment. Experience has the advantage of encompassing paid, volunteer, clinic, and externship positions. As you prepare your Experience section, keep the following hints in mind: If you have extensive work experience prior to entering law school, you may want to separate this section into different groups such as Legal Experience, Business Experience, Professional Experience etc. Generally, you will list all relevant experience in reverse chronological order. This format is preferred by most legal employers. In some rare cases for people with extensive pre-legal career experience or several career paths - a functional format may be appropriate. With this format, job experience is grouped by function rather than employers. However, you should stick to the chronological approach for your legal experience. See Career Services for more information on this issue. For each job, list the employer name, city and state, your position, dates of employment (months are not necessary if employed at least a year), and description. Several different formats can be used, but it is important to be consistent with each position. Highlight your major responsibilities and use action verbs to begin your sentences and describe your responsibilities. If you are applying for public interest positions, describe community activities that are both law and non-law related. When deciding whether to lead off with the employer s name or your position, consider which is most impressive or likely to catch an employer s eye. Once you decide, follow the same format for each position. Describe any accomplishments at each job first, using action words ( Increased sales by 20%, Implemented new computer program ). Then, describe duties, again using action words. A list of commonly used action words is included in this handbook. Use present tense verbs for current jobs and past tense for past jobs If you ve been selected for an externship or internship in the future, you may include that on your resume. Use future tense when writing the job description. Avoid using first pronouns and introductory phrases such as My duties included... or As the tax clerk I... If you had a number of part-time jobs during undergraduate school, you may want 9

10 to try a summary description such as Continually employed in a variety of jobs including and to finance undergraduate education. Remember your goal to show how your past experiences have prepared you to make a contribution to your target legal employer Special Skills: This is a good place to indicate special proficiency in languages, computer skills, or licenses and credentials. Identify your level of language skill such as fluent or conversational and your legal research proficiency. Licenses: Create a separate section only if you have enough of these to warrant using the space. Examples include: CPA, Real Estate Licenses, and computer certifications. Bar memberships could eventually be included here, however, when you first graduate from law school and pass the bar, this will be the first header on your resume. Publications: Include all publications if relevant. If you have one publication that was completed as part of law school or undergraduate work, you could include it under the section for that school. Military: Can be included as a separate section or as part of Experience section. You can list the service with the inclusive dates, then list assignments underneath in reverse chronological order. Include medals received and rank at time of discharge. Interests: Although this section is optional, it shows you are a living, breathing person with a life beyond the law. What you include in this section may spark an employer s interest and provide good conversation material for an interview. Include items that are unique (bungee jumping), demonstrate worthy personality traits such as self-discipline (competing in marathons), or suggest rainmaking potential (golf, tennis). Beware of items that may be controversial, and resist the temptation to be too humorous in this section. Finally, be truthful - if you falsely claim to be a classical pianist, odds are that your interviewer will share that interest and ask you about it or ask you to perform! References: Generally, references are not included on the resume, but on a separate reference sheet. On the reference sheet list references and provide their title, address, phone number, and address. It is not necessary to include the statement References available upon request on your resume since this only states the obvious. A sample of a reference sheet is included in this handbook. 10

11 Personal Data: This information is seldom helpful or relevant to employers. Marital status, dependent information, health status, and date of birth are not legally relevant and may not be questioned by employers. Falsification of Resumes Putting false or misleading information on your resume is a serious offense. Falsifying your resume could cost you your job and your professional reputation, not to mention that this is no way to start your career. Anyone found to have falsified information on his or her resume will not be allowed further use of the Career Services Office. Notice of the violation will also be sent to the Associate Dean for disciplinary action. Sample Resumes Sample resumes for first, second and third year students are provided in this handbook. These are just examples and are not meant to represent the perfect resume. The perfect resume for you is one that presents your background and what you have to offer in the most clear and readable way possible. Resume Updates Your resume should be updated continually while you are in law school to reflect changes in GPA, work experience, externships and extra curricular activities. Refer to the Updating Your Resume document on page 13 for tips on updating your resume. Resume Review One of the services offered by the Career Center is resume review. Before you send your resume out, please take advantage of this service. Schedule an appointment by contacting our office at lawcareerservices@asu.edu or One day prior to your appointment, please make sure to forward a copy of your resume to the counselor you are scheduled to see. 11

12 LIST OF USEFUL RESUME ACTION VERBS Use action verbs, adjectives and adverbs to describe accomplishments, positions and attributes. Below is a list that may prove helpful in your description. accelerated checked discovered grossed modified accomplished chose drafted guided monitored accounted for classified dramatized handled motivated achieved closed dropped hastened moved acquired combined earned heightened named added communicated edited helped negotiated adjusted compared educated highlighted netted administered completed elected hiked observed advised composed employed housed opened aided conceived encouraged hunted operated alphabetized concluded enjoyed identified ordered analyzed conditioned enlarged implemented organized anticipated conducted enlist improved overcame appointed constructed ensured included oversaw appraised continued entered incorporated paid arbitrated contracted established increased painted argued controlled estimated indicated participated arranged convinced evaluated initiated perceived assessed coordinated excelled innovated performed assisted copied executed inspected persuaded assumed corrected exercised instructed pioneered assured counseled expanded insured placed attended counted expedited interpreted planned authored crafted explained interviewed played authorized created explored introduced policed awarded critique familiarized investigated prepared began dealt filed kept presented bolstered debated financed labored prevailed boosted decided forecast launched processed bought defined foresaw lectured produced briefed delegated formulated led profited brought delivered forwarded licensed programmed budgeted demonstrated fostered located prohibited built designed found looked projected calculated determined gained made promoted cataloged developed gathered maintained proofed caught devised gave managed proved caused digested grabbed mapped out purchased chaired diminished graded maximized put changed directed greeted met qualified 12

13 quickened revised spearheaded targeted unearthed Ran saved specified taught unfurled Rated saw spoke tested updated realized scouted started tighter upped received screened stated took welcomed recognized scrutinized straightened totaled won recommended selected streamlined toured worked reduced sent strengthened tracked wrote related served stripped trained renovated set studied transferred reported shipped submitted transformed rescued showed suggested translated researched sifted summarized traveled resulted in simplified supervised treated returned smoothed supported tutored revealed solved surmounted typed reviewed sought surveyed uncovered 13

14 UPDATING YOUR RESUME: SUMMER UPDATE (Developed by The George Washington University Law School Career Development Office) Selling Your Summer Experience At the beginning of the fall semester you have an opportunity to put your best foot forward to employers eager to consider ASU Law School candidates for employment. In the initial stage, your resume, exhibiting your strengths and experiences, is the sole standard by which employers select interviewees. The importance of accurately and effectively reflecting academic performance and job experience cannot be overstated. All summer legal employment is valuable for the knowledge and experience it provides you. Whether you have worked for a law firm or a judge, supported a professor in summer research, or obtained temporary legal work, you have been successful in acquiring knowledge about the legal process. It is common knowledge, however, that whatever the experience, many law clerks (if not most) spend the majority of their time conducting legal research and drafting memos and/or briefs. The system fosters conformity of experience. As a result, it is very difficult to portray a summer experience as unique. The most effective way to express your summer experience is to be straightforward about the functions you have performed. Here are some guidelines and samples to assist you in updating your resume. Please contact career services if you would like your resume reviewed. Description of Summer Legal Employment on Your Resume Conducting research is conducting research, however you look at it. A statement about this function may be enhanced by briefly explaining the areas of law that you researched or the purpose for this research, i.e., conducted research in international law to support the professor s upcoming publication on (topic). Writing experience is viewed by employers as key to your future success and should be highlighted on your resume. Be specific about the type of documents you have prepared and, if possible, elaborate on their ultimate use. Be cognizant of confidentiality while writing your descriptions. Details about cases can be disclosed only if that case is of public record. Client contact of any sort implies that the employer trusted your judgment and your interpersonal skills. It is always worth mentioning. Descriptions of summer legal employment should be brief but descriptive and thorough enough to allow the reader to envision the type of position you held and to assess the depth of knowledge you may possess. Lengthy descriptions are acceptable in cases of unique opportunities of responsibility. If you are writing a job description for an externship, be sure to review the formal description listed in the Externship Handbook. 14

15 Study Abroad If you spent the summer or part of the summer participating in a study abroad program it should be represented in the Education section of your resume within your law school information. Study Abroad: The University of Oxford and the George Washington University Joint Programme in International Human Rights Law, Oxford, England Summer 20 Internships and Part-Time Positions for the Fall Many students choose to supplement their legal experience with internships or part-time employment during the school year. The students may secure positions prior to the beginning of the semester, but typically will not have an opportunity to begin work prior to the Fall Interviewing Program (FIP). Nonetheless, this experience may be legitimately represented on the resume used for FIP. Listed below are samples of descriptions. Functions may be appropriately described in either the present or future tense and they need not be very specific. Much of the information will pertain to the nature of the organization s practice and anticipated functions. By the time most interviews take place students will have already started their jobs and will be better able to discuss the job duties. Resumes should be updated after beginning Fall jobs and brought to each interview during FIP. Cohen, Milstein, Hausfeld & Toll, P.L.L.C. Law Clerk Washington, DC Fall 20 Employment in the antitrust, securities and labor departments will begin in September 20. Job duties will include conducting legal research and drafting pleadings, motions, briefs and memoranda. U.S. Department of Justice Legal Intern Washington, DC Fall 20 Accepted into the Antitrust Division for the Fall 20 Internship Program. Will prepare litigation materials to be used in formal civil investigations and grand jury proceedings. D.C. Law Students in Court Student Trial Attorney Washington, DC Fall 200 Will represent indigent persons in D.C. Superior Court primarily in landlord-tenant actions, as well as in small claims, negligence, and other civil matters. Will handle all aspects of litigation under supervision of clinical instructor. Job duties will include interviewing witnesses, preparing pleadings, engaging in settlement negotiations, and conducting investigations, motions, hearings and trials. Legal Aid Small Business Clinic The George Washington University Law School Legal Fellow Washington, DC Fall Semester 20 Will assist small businesses and non-profit organizations in drafting partnership agreements, documents of incorporation, contracts, commercial leases, and in resolving disputes. 15

16 Sample Resume Job Descriptions EXPERIENCE Pettis, Tester, Kruse & Krinsky Irvine, CA Summer Associate Summer 2010 Researched and drafted memoranda in areas of law such as bankruptcy and creditors rights. Drafted memoranda of points and authorities for a summary judgment motion and a motion to compel further responses to discovery. Prepared discovery including requests for production of documents and special interrogatories. Researched and drafted an ex parte application for an order shortening time in which to notice a deposition. Assisted in preparation of fee application in large Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Irell & Manella LLP Newport Beach, CA Summer Associate Summer 2011 Researched and wrote memoranda addressing topics in environmental law, general litigation and labor law. Prepared a speech on environmental crimes. Drafted client correspondence. Attended three settlement conferences and an arbitration. U.S. District Court, Central District of California Los Angeles, CA Judicial Extern to the Honorable John S. Rhoades Summer 2011 Researched various topics, including apportionment of liability among co-sureties, bifurcation of business tort and antitrust issues, use of foreign conduct in sentencing, and habeas corpus procedure. Drafted bench memoranda evaluating sufficiency of parties' arguments. Prepared preliminary orders. Observed case management conferences, hearings, and trials. Sullivan Smith & Johnson, LLP, Tempe, AZ May 2010 Present Law Clerk Draft memoranda regarding practical implications of Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 on health care providers, including potential revisions to system-wide education, policies, and employee codes of conduct. Review and recommend revisions to compliance policies and procedures, including conflicts of interest, gifts and gratuities and compliance hotline. Revise compliance and HIPAA/privacy education for all students/registry employees and draft annual education materials for all staff. Define material deficiency relating to reporting overpayments to the Office of Inspector General. Mathias Law Firm, Scottsdale, AZ January 2011 May 2011 Law Clerk Researched state securities regulations and drafted memorandum on licensure requirements for dealer-brokers. Prepared successful defense to multi-count summary judgment motion in wrongful termination action. Analyzed and created chronology of events from trial transcripts and discovery in securities fraud and breach of fiduciary duty action to prepare for expert testimony on behalf of attorney charged with legal malpractice. Sharp HealthCare, San Diego, CA August 2009 December 2009 Legal Affairs and Compliance Intern Educated over 13,000 employees on all legal issues as member of five person legal team. Drafted and reviewed lease, sublease, licensing and trademark agreements. Researched and advised supervising attorney on defenses to unlawful detainer suit. Drafted motion to strike amended answer and opposition to motions to compel discovery. Drafted interrogatories, requests for admission and production in multi-million dollar breach of contract claim. Analyzed federal Stark and anti-kickback laws and monitored referral practices of Sharp HealthCare. 16

17 Thompson & Thompson, LLP, Mesa, AZ Clinical Internship January 2010 April 2011 Researched and investigated issues in labor and employment law, relating to unfair labor practices, sexual harassment and wrongful termination, as well as personal injury, civil rights, medical malpractice and contracts law. Drafted motion for summary judgment relating to constructive discharge. Researched and drafted motion to change venue, motion for removal, interrogatories and requests for production of documents. Wrote correspondence to clients and opposing counsel. Prepared settlement brochures. United States Attorney s Office, Civil Division, Phoenix, AZ Law Clerk Summer 2009 Drafted memoranda on family medical leave, disability discrimination and wage and hour violations. Drafted answers, motions to dismiss, motions for more definite statement and motions in limine for federal employment law defense. Attended depositions, motion hearings and settlement conferences. Summarized depositions, prepared trial notebooks and proposed cross examination questions. Employee Rights Center, San Diego, CA Law Clerk January 2009 April 2009 Interviewed new clients with wage claims and unemployment disputes. Drafted motion for summary judgment, motion to compel discovery and research memoranda on issue of overtime wages. Represented clients at Labor Commissioner settlement conferences and unemployment insurance appeal hearings. California Department of Fair Employment and Housing, San Diego, CA Law Clerk Summer 2012 Investigated claims of employment discrimination. Analyzed and summarized employment contracts, time records, performance reviews, witness statements and deposition testimony. Interviewed employer and employee claimants. Researched and drafted memoranda of law including findings of fact and conclusions of law. 17

18 BASIC RESUME OUTLINE JANE SMITH Current Address Permanent Address 4430 East Michigan Avenue 210 McDonald Road Tempe, AZ Denver, CO (480) (303) (Only use if seeking out of state employment) BAR MEMBERSHIP: EDUCATION: EXPERIENCE: State of Bar; Pass date; License number (for graduates only) Law School, Location J.D. Candidate - date received or expected to receive G.P.A/Class standing (Recommended inclusion for top one third of class) Honors: List Activities: List Undergraduate School, Location Degree received, major, graduation date G.P.A. (Recommended inclusion only if law school grades are listed.) Honors: List Activities: List Employer name and location (City, State) Position title, description, and employment dates This is section includes paid and non-paid experience listed in reverse chronological order (most recent first): Entries can include jobs (part-time/full-time), volunteer work, internships, externships, clinical experiences, summer jobs, etc. Describe your responsibilities using action verbs to begin sentences. OPTIONAL HEADINGS Interests Special Skills Languages Publications Community Activities Professional Affiliations Licenses Additional Information References and Writing Sample Available upon Request (not recommended); prepare separate Reference Sheet. (See page 25) 18

19 First Year Resumes: Example 1 SAMPLE RESUMES NAME 4507 Pine Street Scottsdale, AZ escott@asu.edu EDUCATION Sandra Day O Connor College of Law, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ Candidate for J.D., May 20 Legal Research and Writing Grade A- (Recommended for inclusion if A- or above) Honors: Pedrick Scholar Dean s Recruitment Committee College of Law Scholarship University of Houston, Houston, TX B.A. Political Science, Cum Laude, May 20 GPA: 3.5 Honors and Activities: EXPERIENCE Transco Energy Company, Houston, TX Records Supervisor President s Scholar - Full Tuition Waiver for Academic Excellence President s Honor Roll - Six Semesters Intercollegiate Varsity Soccer Summer 20 Managed production of over 30,000 documents in connection with pipeline acquisition. Oversaw a three-person team responsible for accurately categorizing, cataloging, and copying documents. Worked closely with in-house and outside counsel and handled their information requests. Completed project in advance of deadline and under budget. Cougar Student Volunteer Program, Houston, TX Student Coordinator Directed student organization that matched volunteers with non-profit corporations. Facilitated matches between 500 students and 50 local groups. Harold Jones & Associates, Houston, TX Property Manager Resident manager of 5-unit apartment complex. Handled light maintenance, collected lease payments, and prepared and leased vacant apartments. Independently resolved tenant complaints. Language Skills and Interests Conversational Spanish, Triathlons, Mountain Climbing 19

20 Example 2 NAME Street Address State and Zip Code Telephone EDUCATION Sandra Day O Connor College of Law Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ Candidate for J.D. May, 20 GPA: Rank: Top 33% Honors: Arizona State Law Journal Pedrick Scholar Graduate Academic Scholarship Activities: Student Bar Association, Treasurer Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Volunteer (VITA) Homeless Legal Assistance Project, Director University of California, Los Angeles, CA B.A. English May, 200- G.P.A cum laude Honors: Dean s Award Hemingway Award - Best Short Story Activities: Poet s Corner Group, Chairman Varsity Swim Team, Captain EXPERIENCE Judge Taylor Green, Maricopa County Superior Court, Phoenix, AZ Fall 20 Legal Extern Observed proceedings in civil and criminal trials. Researched and wrote memoranda for use in the judge s rulings on motions, jury instructions and evidentiary questions. Drafted summary judgments, orders and municipal court appeals. Harris & Harris, Phoenix, AZ Summer, 20 Law Clerk Researched and wrote memoranda, briefs and pleadings involving commercial and bankruptcy cases. Participated in client conferences and assisted with trial preparation. State Farm Insurance, Los Angeles, CA Supervisor - Customer Service Started as a customer service representative and after one year was promoted to supervisor. Supervised a staff of six. Conducted training classes on communication skills and customer relations. Developed and wrote the department policy and procedure manual. INTERESTS Snowboarding, camping, and mystery novels. 20

21 Example 3 NAME Street Address City, State and Zip Code Telephone EDUCATION Sandra Day O Connor College of Law, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ Candidate for J.D., May 20 GPA: Rank: Top 15% Honors: Activities: Winner, Jenckes Cup Closing Argument Jurimetrics: The Journal of Law, Science, and Technology Willard H. Pedrick Scholar Graduate Tuition Scholarship Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity Women s Law Student Association President (20 Domestic Violence Volunteer Northwestern University, Chicago, IL B.S. Communication Studies, May 20 G.P.A. 3.5 Honors: George M. Sergeant Award, Recipient chosen by faculty for excellence in Communication Studies Smith & Jones, Phoenix, AZ Law Clerk EXPERIENCE September 20 -Present Research and write memoranda in areas of personal injury, medical malpractice and family law. Attend client and interoffice conferences and depositions. Assist attorneys at trial. State Farm Insurance, Phoenix, AZ Law Intern Summer 20 Negotiated and settled bodily injury and property damage claims, interviewed clients and witnesses, and evaluated coverage issues. The Gap, Chicago, IL Assistant Manager Managed the daily operations of the store. Supervised a staff of ten. Directed training sessions on customer relations and sales techniques. Scheduled, interviewed and hired staff. Created marketing and motivational programs designed to increase company business. FOREIGN LANGUAGE Fluently speak, read and write Spanish; learned language while living in South America. INTERESTS Competitive golf, jazz music, travel, and crime novels. 21

22 Example 4 NAME Address City, State and Zip Code Telephone EDUCATION EXPERIENCE INTERESTS: Sandra Day O Connor College of Law, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ Joint Degree: J.D./M.B.A. May 20 GPA: Rank: 79/233 Honors: Activities: National Moot Court Competition: Finalist Regional Moot Court Competition: Best Appellate Brief Chicano/Latino Law Students Association (CLLSA) Chairperson, Student Grievance Committee University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado Bachelor of Arts, English Literature, 20 Maricopa County Superior Court, Phoenix, AZ Civil Division Legal Extern, Civil Division Spring 20 Researched and wrote memoranda for the Honorable Michael C. Franks. Participated in court proceedings, briefed cases scheduled for oral argument, and drafted jury instructions. Evans and Pert, Phoenix, AZ Law Clerk Summer 20 Researched and wrote memoranda, appellate briefs, motions and pleadings involving contract, corporate, and real estate issues. Attended client meetings and negotiation sessions. Offered associate position with the firm. Saul Realty & Investment, Inc., Mesa, AZ Real Estate Broker Fall 20 Organized the corporation; served as Vice-President and as a member of the Board of Directors. Recruited and trained new sales associates. As a real estate agent, actively marketed and sold real property. Named Salesperson of the Year. Century 21 Realty and Investment, Inc., Mesa, AZ Sales Manager Summer 20 Created and implemented office policies and procedures. Trained and directed the sales force. Acted as liaison between the sales associates and management. Member of the Century 21 Million Dollar Club. Conducted creative financing seminars for other Century 21 offices. Scuba diving, skiing, art history and oriental cooking. 22

23 Example 5 JANE DOE Street Address City, State and Zip Code Telephone Number BAR ADMISSIONS Arizona, 2010, Bar No California, July 2012 Bar Examination, Awaiting Results EDUCATION EXPERIENCE Sandra Day O Connor College of Law, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ Candidate for J.D., May 20 Honors: National Moot Court Competition Regional Competition, Champion Best Oral Advocate, Moot Court Competition University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI B.A. in Political Science, May 20 Honors: Waddell Scholarship The Legal Aid Society, Civil Division Summer 20 San Francisco, CA Law Clerk Conducted legal research and assisted attorneys in the areas of landlordtenant and government benefits law. Drafted pleadings, administrative appeals and trial motions. Counseled tenants bringing affirmative suits in housing court. INTERESTS Sandra Day O Connor College of Law, Arizona State University Clinic, Tempe, AZ Spring 20 Student Attorney Certified to practice law under Rule 38. Represented clients under faculty supervision. Conducted discovery including taking depositions and interviewing witnesses. Wrote and argued motions in Superior Court. Mediated and negotiated settlements. Arizona Attorney General, Civil Division Fall 20 Phoenix, AZ Legal Extern Prepared complaints, summaries, motions, discovery requests and memoranda. Researched legal issues including, civil rights, employment law, tort litigation, and environmental law. Assisted attorneys in their preparation for trials. Black and white photography, fitness training and classical music. 23

24 EDUCATION JOHN DOE N. 5 th St. Tempe, AZ (555) john.doe@asu.edu Sandra Day O Connor College of Law, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ J.D. Candidate, May 2012 Activities: Homeless Legal Assistance Project Muslim Law Students Association Phoenix School of Law, Phoenix, AZ Attended , transferred after first year Rank: 7/250 Honors: CALI Award, Top Student in Torts Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS B.S. Political Science, Minor Biology, May 2009 Honors: National Model United Nations Delegate Activities: Student Ambassador Hiking Club EXPERIENCE Law Offices of Jane Doe, Phoenix, AZ Summer 2011 Intern (Commercial Litigation and Family Law) Conducted legal research and drafted memoranda regarding whether court may award attorneys fees pursuant to A.R.S on breach of contract claim. Drafted Rule 26 Initial Disclosure Statement regarding breach of contract claim. Attended expert witness deposition and drafted deposition summary. Fake Attorney General, Consumer Law Division, Phoenix, AZ Spring 2011 Legal Intern Conducted legal research regarding identity theft laws and protections for senior citizens. Gave presentation regarding identify theft prevention at senior centers. Yummy Restaurant, Manhattan, KS Assistant Manager / Server Trained new servers in product knowledge, wine and food pairing, and steps of service. Created and oversaw schedules of 50 employees. Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS Resident Assistant Oversaw all aspects of dorm life including discipline, socializing, and safety. INTERESTS Hiking, scuba diving, and collecting baseball cards. 24

25 SAMPLE REFERENCE SHEET REFERENCES: Of JOHN Q. STEVENS 1000 Orme Road Mayer, AZ Professor Jared Green Mike Kowallis, President Sandra Day O Connor College of Auto Express Inc. Law, Arizona State University 1048 S. Lebaron P.O. Box Mesa AZ Tempe AZ (480) (480) Mkowallis@auto.com Jared.Green@asu.edu Former Employer Torts Professor Paul Beecroft, Law Clerk Amber Williams, Attorney at Law Maricopa County Superior Court Maricopa County Attorney 101/201 W. Jefferson (ECB-CCB) Juvenile Division Phoenix AZ N. Scottsdale Rd (602) Scottsdale AZ PBeecroft@mc.sc.az Supervising Attorney (480) Williams@atty.law.com Supervising Attorney Provide all recommenders a copy of your resume and writing sample. This will assist the recommender in writing a strong recommendation for you. 25

26 A GUIDE TO WRITING COVER LETTERS During your job search, much of your communication with legal employers will be by mail or . Cover letters are often your first contact with an employer and offer an excellent chance to make a good first impression. Don t waste this golden opportunity! A well-prepared cover letter will: Spark the employer s interest in you Introduce you and your qualifications Show why you are sending your resume to this particular employer Persuade the reader to pay attention to your resume Show how your credentials match the employer s needs Indicate your interest in a geographic area, if not apparent from your resume Above all, show an employer what s in it for them - why they should take the time to read your resume and consider hiring you. The Four Types of Cover Letters There are four general categories of cover letters you are likely to send. Each will have a slightly different tone. Response to a Posted Job Opening: A cover letter will accompany every resume or application you send in response to a job advertisement, unless the employer specifically directs otherwise. The letter will state your interest in the opening, highlight your qualifications for the position, and establish a logical connection between you and the employer. A Personal Letter to Someone You ve Met or Been Referred to: This is a very powerful type of letter. Starting a letter with [Mutual acquaintance] recommended that I contact you almost guarantees you will get a response. After this beginning, the letter will go on to explain why the reader should meet with you and what you want to happen next (generally, an interview). Targeted Mailers: If you don t have the name of a mutual acquaintance with which to open your letter, the next best thing is a targeted mailer. This is a letter that is carefully targeted to a small group of employers that you have identified through research. The letter will show the employer, based on what you know about them, that you have skills they will be able to put to use. Mass Mailers: These letters are an old law school stand-by. A generic cover letter is sent to 50, 100, or more employers. Although sending out such letters may make you feel like you ve done something concrete to find a job, they are the least effective type of letter to send. Employers recognize mass mailers immediately and often do not give them the courtesy of a reply. Although 26

27 there will always be some people who find a position by using this technique, they are the rare exception. Your time will be more fruitfully spent in researching employers and conducting a targeted mailing. A Word About Networking Letters: An entirely different letter will be used to network and expand your contacts and to gain information but not ask for a job. This is a very valuable strategy to use in your legal job search. For example, you might send a letter to an ASU alum in Boise seeking information about the legal market there. Although the letter will be similar in many ways, it will not be identical. A sample networking cover letter is included in this handbook. Drafting a Cover Letter A cover letter should accompany your resume whenever you mail it to a prospective employer and when you are submitting a resume through the on-campus Career Services programs. Keep the letter short and sweet no more than one page, however, remember this letter represents you and is a sample of your ability to write and to convey ideas. This writing sample will be evaluated by the reader. These guidelines may assist you in formatting your cover letter. Individualize: Type each letter individually - do not Xerox. Paper: Cover letter paper and envelope should match your resume. Proofread: Check your letter for grammatical, typographical or spelling errors. Signature: Sign your name to each letter. Many students forget to do this. Heading: Always direct your letter to a person, not a title (i.e. Dear Hiring Partner. ). If you are responding to an advertisement, this person will generally be identified in the ad, otherwise, you will have to do some research to find the right person. This may be the hiring partner, an ASU alum, or someone you have something in common with, such as your undergraduate school or home town. Check in Martindale-Hubbell, on Westlaw or Lexis, or other materials in the Career Services office. You may also call the employer to ask who handles employment inquiries. The Career Service s Maricopa County Employer Directory also lists the names of firm hiring contacts. The only exception to this rule of sending your letter to a particular individual, would be if the advertisement to which you are responding directs you to send your materials to Personnel Department, Hiring Committee, etc... In such case, always make sure your salutation is gender inclusive, such as Dear Sir or Madam. You do not want to send letters to a female hiring partner that begin Dear Sir. 27