Investigation
Law firms are not all alike. They have different criteria, different specialties, different structures. You are an attorney. Investigate. Find the big picture and the small details.
- What are the firm’s key practice areas?
- What is its strategy for growth?
- How serious is its training for new hires?
- What is the culture?
- What is its professional reputation?
- Are there any news stories spotlighting the firm?
Opening Statement
Study the posting. What are the firm’s priorities? Write your opening statement against those points, matching your education, skills and best work to what the firm needs.
Write Your “Brief”
Be concise. Be specific. Tell the whole story, your education, your skills, your experience, and make every word carry weight. Focus on how that story answers the firm’s needs. A good attorney knows how to dig for the truth, how to tell a story with the pertinent details in it, and how to persuade the reader that one course is the right one.
Deliver the Evidence
Show that your skills and abilities, including soft skills, match their position.
- Keep it easy to read.
- Include the skills, awards, publications and matters that align with the requirements.
- Include specific examples of past work and the resulting success.
- Keep your information up-to-date.
- Ensure accuracy. Honesty is not optional in a resume.
Pull at the “Jury’s” Heartstrings
Do not limit yourself to the cold facts. Show that there is a person here. Share interests and volunteer work, briefly, and choose the examples that say something about how you work.
Be Ready for the Cross-Examination
Be able to speak intelligently about everything the resume lists. If you are invited to interview, you will be asked about it.
The Final Proof . . . Read
Proofread the whole document, then ask someone else to. A fresh set of eyes finds the mistakes yours missed because you knew what you meant to say.
In Conclusion
Use the skills that make you a good attorney to write the resume, then talk to OnBoard Legal. We know the firms, and we know which opportunities are worth your time. Contact us.