PURPOSE ORGANIZATION. Organize your resume chronologically, starting with the most recent school or employer.

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2 PURPOSE A resume is a promotional piece. It should pique the employer s interest in you. Most importantly, it should answer the employer s question, What can this person do for me? ORGANIZATION Resumes should generally be organized into three or four sections. 1) Name, address, telephone, 2) Education 3) Experience 4) Other categories, such as Volunteer, Community, Personal, Special Skills, Interests Organize your resume chronologically, starting with the most recent school or employer. Special note for students with extensive pre-law school work experience For students who spent a number of years in the workforce before coming to law school, a skills-based resume may be more useful in attracting the attention of a legal employer than a traditional resume, as described here. An example of a skills-based resume is included at the end of the packet. Education Your education information should always come first, as your law school information is what will draw a legal employer s attention. State when you are expecting your J.D. in month, year format. Include your GPA and class rank if you are in the upper third of the class. If you are below the top third of the class, you have options: Show an upward trend in grades o Examples: 2 nd year GPA: 3.5/4.0, 20 th out of st year GPA: 2.5/4.0, 170 th out of 250 Cumulative GPA 3.1/4.0, 90 th out of 250 Include grades for courses you ve excelled in, if relevant to the employer o Example: For a position in the D.A. s Office, Criminal Procedure A List awards, honors, scholarships and activities associated with school. Include: Anything dealing with academics Scholarships Any activity you ve taken part in during law school, such as SBA, BLSA, Moot Court, or Mock Trial Anything showing excellent writing ability Anything showing responsibility or leadership abilities Examples: o Financed 100% of law school expenses through summer and part-time employment. o Organized First Annual Halloween Blood Drive for Law School.

3 Experience Start work on this section by listing all of your experience on a piece of paper. On the left, list the name of the organization or company that employed you, your location, your title, and your duties and responsibilities. On the right, list your accomplishments how well you did that job, and what made you better in that job than someone else. Your goal is to convey these accomplishments and the skills you gained to a potential employer. Consider listing legal, non-legal, and volunteer experience. Don t discount volunteer and community activities. These can show commitment, skills, and networking ability. Be sure to highlight activities and experiences where you have been accomplished or shown leadership. Also, highlight legal skills and skills that are transferable to the law. The order in which information for each job appears on your resume is important. The following is a ranking of the type of information you want to include for each job, with accomplishments being the first item you want to list. For each job or volunteer activity, start with the accomplishments category, then proceed to the next category until you have something to list about each one. Accomplishments This section shows what you did in your job. Example: Developed new chemical process which received patent. Began as a volunteer; hired on basis of performance. A date range may help show an accomplishment. Examples: Employed up to 30 hours per week on third shift while attending school full time. On Dean s List six of eight semesters. Upon withdrawal of college, founded software company. Within 10 years, created multibillion dollar fortune. Skills and abilities If you don t feel you have any accomplishments to state, you can show the skills you ve gained or the abilities you ve improved through your employment. Examples: Shop Foreman, Widget Co., Fort Worth, TX Worked in a union environment and developed ability to vary communication style to suit audience, from chemists to assembly workers. Received formal training in grievance procedures, negotiation techniques, and anger defusion. Journalist, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth, TX Developed quick, concise writing style under strict time constraints. Approach emphasized fact-gathering and distillation, multiple angles in stories ranging from public health crisis to international stock market trends.

4 Duties and responsibilities List your duties and responsibilities using active verbs. Example: General Litigation Paralegal, John Doe LLP, Fort Worth, TX Performed legal research. Drafted briefs which were largely accepted with little revision. Drafted traditional and No-Evidence Motions for Summary Judgment, Pleas in Abatement, and answered discovery requests in insurance defense cases. Other Categories This can be a catch-all. Include any information you think an employer may find relevant, interesting, or that would make you stand out. Examples are professional licenses, certifications, athletic accomplishments, activities and hobbies. If you speak a foreign language, include that here, but be sure to be honest about your skills. Don t say you re fluent in a language if you re not you never know when you may have an interviewer who is fluent and will test you on your knowledge! RESUME DOS When describing your qualifications and achievements, use active verbs. A list of active verbs is included at the end of the handout. To emphasize accomplishments, start sentences with the results of your efforts. For example, Reduced overtime by 23% while increasing productivity by crosstraining all staff instead of Cross-trained all staff, which resulted in increased productivity and reduced overtime. Quantify the things you have done as much as you can. Don t just say Drafted pleadings. Instead, say Drafted Motion for Summary Judgment; Motion to Compel Documents; and five Requests for Production of Documents in complex medical malpractice case. Be honest. Make your accomplishments sound as impressive as possible while still being truthful. Highlight accomplishments and skills that are useful in the legal profession. Any time you researched, negotiated, drafted, wrote, managed clients, or learned laws in a certain field, be sure to mention that in your job description. Play around with the format until your resume is easy to read. Make sure your format is consistent. If you are unhappy with your grades, find some other accomplishment to talk about. If employers won t hire you for pay, then volunteer. Play an important role in a law student organization. Those things look good on a resume.

5 RESUME DON TS Don t use an objective section or a personal statement. Don t be too general. Don t forget to proofread. Don t lie or mislead. Don t be cute. Don t leave off valuable information. Don t include personal information that could hurt you. Don t use avant-garde visuals. Don t obsess over minutiae. NOTE ABOUT POTENTIALLY CONTROVERSIAL ISSUES Steer away from mentioning potentially controversial topics, such as religion or politics on your resume if you feel the value of the experience is less important than the potential downside for the specific employer. If you ve researched your employer, you may know if the issue would be a liability or an asset. Use your own judgment when addressing these issues on your resume. FORMAT The standard length of a legal resume is one page. If you have a great deal of work experience, your resume may stretch to two pages. If your resume is too long, try the following: Delete the least important information. Condense information from several lines to one line. Adjust the margins, change fonts, or change font size (no smaller than 11 point). Change the space between tabs. If your resume is too short, try: Playing with the format. Adding white space by increasing margins or adding more space between sections. Changing font size.

6 SAMPLE RESUMES ALAN A. APPLICANT 444 Atlas Drive (817) Dallas, Texas EDUCATION Texas A&M University School of Law Fort Worth, Texas J. D. Candidate May 2016 Top 25% of the class Phi Alpha Delta Legal Fraternity, Treasurer Family Law Student Association, Vice President Tarrant County Bar Association, Active on CLE Committee Texas Christian University Fort Worth, Texas Bachelor of Arts in Geography May 2013 Awarded Fort Worth Rotary Club Honor Scholarship LEGAL EXPERIENCE Sunil Patel, Attorney at Law Fort Worth, Texas Legal Intern 2014-Present Research and draft legal documents for filing such as motions, complaints, answers, discovery, and decrees. Assist in trial preparation including organizing trial notebook, research materials, document review, and deposition summaries. Interview and establish on-going communication with clients. WORK EXPERIENCE MoneyGram International Fort Worth, Texas Accounts Payable Clerk Completed payments and controlled expenses by receiving, processing, verifying and reconciling invoices. TCU Department of Alcohol and Drug Education Fort Worth, Texas Research Assistant for Dr. Alice Cho Introduced and maintained a campus-wide Substance Abuse Inventory database. Administered Substance Abuse Inventories to clients. COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES Panelist for Children s Literature Festival, 2013 Red Ribbon Week keynote speaker Paschal High School, 2012 Authored book and education video, ABC Productions, 2010 LANGUAGE SKILLS Proficient in Spanish

7 Veronica Mars 112 Neptune Drive Fort Worth, TX (817) EDUCATION Texas A&M University School of Law, Fort Worth, Texas J.D. Candidate May 2017 GPA: 3.3; A+ in Criminal Law Sam Houston State University, Huntsville, Texas B.S. with honors in Photography and Criminal Justice, May 2014 Presidential Scholarship recipient Financed 50% of education expenses through work LEGAL EXPERIENCE Tarrant County District Attorney s Office, Fort Worth, Texas Intern, Summer 2015-present Observe court proceedings, participate in DWI jury trial and conduct direct examination of lay witness. Assist the investigative staff assigned to specific cases. Duties include gathering information, data entry, file tracking, phone contact and follow up work, and assistance with trial preparation. Echolls Law Firm, Fort Worth, Texas Law Clerk, September 2014 May 2015 Assisted solo practitioner with all aspects of criminal defense practice, including researching statutes and case law, document review, and answering phone calls from clients. OTHER Mars Investigations, Huntsville, Texas EXPERIENCE Administrative Assistant, Maintained confidential client files, performed background checks using the Internet and public records, composed business letters and answered telephones for a private investigation firm. ACTIVITIES The Houstonian - student newspaper photographer, Golden Key International Honor Society Habitat for Humanity SKILLS INTERESTS Read and write Spanish; proficient in HTML and Javascript Web programming languages. Photography, mystery novels, dog training.

8 Abigail Mills 1776 Sleepy Hollow Lane Fort Worth, TX (817) (h)/ (817) (c) EDUCATION Texas A&M University School of Law, Fort Worth, Texas Juris Doctor Candidate, sitting for Texas Bar Exam July 2016 GPA: 3.7, Top 5% of class Law Review, August 2014-May 2016 Highest class grade in Criminal Appellate Procedure August 2013-Present Cornell University, Ithaca, New York Bachelor of Science, Management Information Systems, magna cum laude May 2013 GPA: 3.25 Phi Alpha Delta pre-law society Merit Scholarship recipient LEGAL EXPERIENCE Texas A&M University School of Law, Fort Worth, Texas Intern, Mediation Practicum Summer 2015 Learned techniques of mediation through lecture and role play. Reached a successful resolution in three community disputes. Received mediation certification after completion of coursework. Crane Law Firm, Dallas, Texas Law Clerk Summer 2014 Conducted legal research and drafted motions and memoranda involving civil litigation for a boutique litigation firm. Drafted and filed pleadings, including traditional and no-evidence Motions for Summary Judgment and Pleas in Abatement, in complex medical malpractice cases with little or no revision by the partners. Answered discovery requests. Regularly communicated with clients by phone and in person. SKILLS AND INTERESTS Fluent in French and Russian. Interests include travel and collecting fine wines.

9 Education Jack Harkness 1121 Bad Wolf Way Fort Worth, Texas (817) Texas A&M University School of Law, Fort Worth, Texas J.D. Candidate 2015 Dean s List, Spring 2013 Academic scholarship recipient American Institute of Banking, Cleveland, Ohio Certificate of Completion, June 2008 The University of Texas, Austin, Texas B.S., Economics, December 2000 Business Development Managed assets of $3 billion corporation. Increased company growth by 12% over a two-year period. Negotiated contracts with suppliers, both domestic and foreign. Participated in litigation, including giving depositions and testifying in court. Administration & Management Directly managed staff of nine people, achieving zero employee turnover through two mergers within a 3-year period. Cut hours of part-time staff by 33% through efficient scheduling without reducing hours or customer service. Budgeting Exceeded budgeted goals every year, consistently above the average increases of other departments in the company. Kept non-interest income on target while keeping noninterest expense below budget during same period. Experience Vice President, TARDIS Corporation, Austin, Texas ( ) Assistant Vice President, TARDIS Corporation, Austin, Texas ( ) Manager, Time Agency, Austin, Texas ( ) Other Skills and Interests Fluent in French and Spanish. Proficient in numerous computer programs and programming languages. Interests include aviation, skydiving, and collecting World War II memorabilia.

10 ACTION VERBS FOR USE IN RESUME Research & Technical Skills Analyzed Correlated Evaluated Indexed Located Solved Assessed Critiqued Examined Interpreted Organized Sorted Catalogued Diagnosed Extracted Interviewed Rectified Summarized Clarified Detailed Formed Invented Researched Surveyed Collected Discovered Gathered Investigated Revised Systematized Compared Earned Generated Justified Reviewed Tailored Conducted Effected Identified Litigated Simplified Tested Communication & Language Skills Addressed Converted Authored Clarified Collaborated Composed Consulted Contacted Corresponded Designed Directed Distributed Drafted Edited Elicited Explained Formed Formulated Influenced Interpreted Keynoted Lectured Mediated Moderated Negotiated Persuaded Presented Promoted Publicized Reconciled Recruited Resolved Spoke Translated Wrote Management & Organization Skills Administered Directed Approved Arranged Assigned Attained Chaired Contracted Controlled Coordinated Delegated Devised Engineered Enhanced Established Evaluated Executed Founded Governed Increased Implemented Improved Initiated Installed Instituted Led Managed Maintained Motivated Organized Planned Prepared Presided Prioritized Produced Recommended Reorganized Reviewed Scheduled Strengthened Supervised Verified Interpersonal & Achievement Skills Achieved Created Advocated Demonstrated Aided Arbitrated Assisted Awarded Coached Consolidated Constructed Counseled Developed Diagnosed Educated Encouraged Enlarged Expanded Expedited Experienced Facilitated Familiarized Grouped Guided Innovated Inspired Integrated Intervened Provided Motivated Operated Originated Overcame Performed Pioneered Reduced Referred Rehabilitated Represented Resolved Sparked Structured Succeeded Supported Trained Transformed Unified Volunteered