There are tens of thousands of law students every year who are preparing to look for internships, clerkships, and entry-level legal positions.  Many have to put together their law student resume for the first time to land an internship job with a private firm, business, public interest agency, judicial clerkship, government, or the military.   So what does a standard law student resume look like?

In this sample law student resume, we included education at the very top.  When professional experience is light, which is the case for most law students, education remains one of the most important elements of a law student or even a recent law graduate’s resume.

It is very important to highlight all professional experience, including internships, whether paid or unpaid.  Internship or volunteer experience can be very valuable for candidates with little job experience, particularly if it corresponds to the position sought.  This is an opportunity for a law student to highlight his or her legal skills and demonstrate potential for a position.

We also recommend adding a section on the law student resume that highlights one’s specific skills or strengths at the top.  This allows a time-pressed resume reader to pick-up on the essential elements of the law student resume without having to read through the entire document.

If you are planning to sit for an upcoming bar exam, include that fact on your law student resume.  Employers will want to know when you will be admitted to practice, and will be reassured that you are taking active steps to be licensed as soon as possible.  While it is generally not recommended for more experienced lawyers, including your various computer skills can be valuable, especially as they relate to your research capabilities.

Here is a law student resume sample:

 

JANE DOE

123 Pine Street
Forest Hills, NY 11375
Cell: (212) 555-1212
name@adress.com

---

OBJECTIVE {Optional}

To obtain a legal internship position where I can use my excellent research, writing, analytical, and interpersonal skills.

SKILLS

•    Strong research and organizational skills
•    Excellent analytical and problem solving skills
•    Outstanding written and verbal communication skills
•    Established interpersonal skills

EDUCATION

FORDHAM UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW, New York, NY   
Juris Doctor, to be completed by May 2010
G.P.A.:  3.49

STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK AT BINGHAMTON, Binghamton, NY
Bachelor of Arts, magna cum laude, May 2007
Major: English
G.P.A.:  3.73
Honors: Dean’s list 2004 – 2007; Member of Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society

EXPERIENCE

LAW OFFICE OF JOHN F. JOHNSON, New York, NY   
Research Assistant, January 2009 – April 2009           
Conducted legal research in civil litigation matters.  Conducted legal research, drafted memoranda and opinions in civil and criminal matters, and attended court proceedings.

NASSAU COUNTY SUPREME COURT, COMMERCIAL DIVISION, Mineola, NY             
Judicial Intern to the Honorable Bertrand Strauss, January 2008 – April 2008
Conducted research into recent developments in New York State Law and drafted changes for the 2007 Edition of the New York State Trial Judge’s Bench Book.

COMPUTER SKILLS

•    Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint
•    WordPerfect, Westlaw, Lexis/Nexis
•    Microsoft Windows 3.1