Resumes: What to Include

Keep the following in mind as you build your resume.

Name	You should place your name at the top of the resume.
	Nicknames are not acceptable.
	If you prefer to be called by your middle name, use an initial for your first name. For example, Christopher Scott Jones may list C. Scott Jones or Scott Jones.
Contact Information	Your contact information should include your address, phone number with area code, and email address. (It is important that you provide a telephone with an associated voicemail, and be sure to create a professional message.)
	Street names, etc. are spelled out, not abbreviated.
	If you have two addresses, such as "School" and "Permanent," use the address where you wish to be contacted. This is especially important if you plan to look for employment in your hometown or if you plan to be away from your school address over the holidays and vacations.
	An e-mail address makes you easy to reach. Include an e-mail address only if you check your account at least once daily.  Be sure to use an appropriate email address (i.e. name@law.capital.edu , not "lawchic@" or "lawenforcer@"). If you do not have a professional email address, you may want to make a new account using some variation of your name on one of the “free account” websites such as Gmail [www.gmail.com] or Outlook (www.outlook.com).

Education	This section should include all post high school education.
	The information should be presented in reverse chronological order (starting with the most current) and should include names of institutions, locations, degrees awarded, dates of graduation, (dates attended, if appropriate), and college major and minor.
	This section can include honors and activities (e.g., scholarships, book awards, law review, and moot court), GPA, and class rank.
	As a Capital student, list your degree as a “Juris Doctor” not “Juris Doctorate.” You can also list the “expected” date of your graduation, such as “Juris Doctor, expected May 2013”
	If you are a law student or a graduate with less than four years' experience, your education should be one of the first two sections of your resume.
Experience	If you have career-related experience, you may wish to include that information in a separate category titled, "Legal Experience."
	All other work can then follow under "Other" or "Additional" Experience. This information should also be in reverse chronological order.
	Descriptions should begin with active verbs.
	Be concise and truthful, highlighting achievements when possible.
	Be sure to include dates of employment.
	Jobs such as Server, Bartender, and Painter can be listed to show experience generally. You need not explain your position by bulleting your responsibilities and tasks.

 

You may want to include additional sections in your resume. Consider the following.

Professional Profile or Summary of Qualifications	This section is typically recommended only for individuals with extensive pre-law school experience.
	It is essentially a three-to-five phrase commercial explaining your strengths and how your previous career skills translate to the career you are seeking.
	This section should be located at the top of your resume.
Licenses or Certifications	In this section, include bar admissions, CPA certification, engineering certifications, and any other license or certification that may be of interest to an employer.
Skills	This is an excellent section to indicate fluency in language, special licenses or certifications, expertise in another educational area, etc.
	Include skills a legal employer can utilize.
	Computer literacy is useful to a firm that utilizes computerized legal research systems.
Skills	If not related to law, list special skills that are interesting and can differentiate you from other candidates.
	If you have no prior legal experience, you may choose to include a "Legal Skills" section. This will include skills gained through class work in legal writing and research.
	Include training in LexisNexis® and Westlaw® when appropriate.
Interests or Community Service	Do not include personal data such as marital status, height or weight.
	Think about including serious, ongoing hobbies or interests (have played piano since the age of four) that provide insight into your non-academic side.
	In an interview, the employer may ask you about your interests as a means of building rapport.
	Interests may include published poet, avid fly fisherman, marathon runner, etc.
	This is one place on the resume to show your individuality.
Military Service	Military service can be a separate topic or included under employment.
	Indicate the branch of service, organization, rank at the time of discharge, duty station, etc.
Publications	If you have published any law and/or law related articles, list them on your resume.
	Include any significant research paper published or accepted for publication.
Memberships	Include any ACTIVE memberships in bar associations or professional organizations.