good resume for law school

Application Toolkit: Resume

On this webpage, you will find our advice and guidance for approaching the resume component of the application., instructions.

We require a resume as part of the application. Please limit your resume to 1 – 2 pages in length.

The following links are sample resumes from successful applicants in prior years. You do not have to follow the formatting used in these resumes, but all three are examples of well-organized, easy-to-read drafts.

Application Insights: Resume

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Blog Advice

• Visit the Admissions Blog
• View All Resume Blog Posts

Overrated/Underrated Part 3

Continuing our Overrated/Underrated series, this week, we shift our focus to highlight some of the overrated approaches that we recommend applicants avoid as they craft their applications. 

November 17, 2021

Overrated/Underrated Part 2

This week, we continue our Underrated Approaches to the Application series with some additional advice.

October 21, 2021

Overrated/Underrated Part 1

The J.D. Admissions team recently came together to offer their thoughts on some underrated and overrated approaches that applicants might take towards their HLS application. We hope you’ll find some of these nuggets useful.

September 9, 2021

Real Talk: The Resume

This week’s entry in the Real Talk series covers the resume. 

August 25, 2020

Podcast Advice

Navigating law school admissions with miriam & kristi.

Miriam Ingber (Associate Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid at Yale Law School) and Kristi Jobson (Assistant Dean for Admissions at Harvard Law School) provide candid, accurate, and straightforward advice about law school admissions — direct from the source. They will be joined by guest stars from other law schools to discuss application timing, letters of recommendation, personal statements, and more.

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Resume Workshop

Our Resume Workshop provides applicants with straightforward advice on how to craft their resumes with a reflective activity and guiding questions to consider.

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Resume Advice & Samples

Resume advice and samples.

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• Review your resume with a CDO counselor prior to applying to jobs. 
• Your resume is a sales tool, not an autobiography. When making decisions about what to include, consider recency and relevancy to the job for which you are applying.  
• Be prepared to discuss everything on your resume in an interview. 
• Be scrupulously honest. Exaggerations or misrepresentation will damage your reputation and professional relationships. 
• Make your resume visually clean and clear. What will an employer see in 30 seconds? 5 seconds? 
• Keep your resume to one page.
• Use a standard font such as Times New Roman or Garamond.
• Select a font size of 11 point or 12 point.
• Create margins no smaller than .5 inches on all sides.
• Use bold, underlining, and italics consistently to enhance readability.
• Make deliberate style choices, then stick to them throughout.
• Ensure your resume is error free.
• Follow our advice, “ Resume Formatting: How to Use Tabs & Styles ” to give your resume a professional look.

Resume Construction

• Include your name, mailing address, cell number, and Yale email address.
• If you do not have a mailing address in New Haven, that is fine, as mailing addresses are becoming optional.
• Add your permanent mailing address to emphasize ties to that area when applying to positions nearby.
• List your gender pronouns if you wish.

Education Section

• List degrees in reverse chronological order.
• Include all courses of study: past, present, and future.
• List each educational institution, location, degree, and degree date (expected date if currently enrolled).
• Do not include high school or LSAT score.
• Think strategically about how much space you devote to each degree. What message are you sending to employers?
• Include at your option with a strategic mindset.
• YLS awards few Honors.
• Moot court/mock trial awards and paper prizes are Honors.
• List Yale Law Journal as an Honor, due to the competitive admission process. List other journals as Activities or create a separate Journal sub-section under Yale Law School.
• List those that are not based solely on financial need and are awarded through a competitive process.
• If space permits, provide a very brief description of the selection criteria.
• Examples: Tilman Scholarship; the Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowship for New Americans; and the NAACP LDF Earl Warren Civil Rights Scholarship.
• List scholarship or fellowship awards that are associated with summer or post-graduate employment with the position in the Experience section.
• Do not list need-based scholarships and fellowships, including SPIF funding, summer Mary McCarthy funding, and Kirby Simon travel grants.
• List the following positions as Activities or in the Experience section: Coker Fellow, Research Assistant, Deans’ Advisor, Student Representative, Peer Advocate, Tsai Leadership Program Fellow, and CDO Student Advisor.
• Use this section to emphasize relevant skills and interests including research and writing skills, oral advocacy, teamwork, and leadership.
• Narrow the list, if necessary, by selecting only one of several activities that are of the same genre.
• If applying for public service positions, include as many of your service-related activities as space permits to demonstrate your commitment to service.
• Move particularly relevant, intensive, or skills-enhancing activities to the Experience section. Example: clinics.
• Be clear about the timing of future commitments, however, describing the exact timing of past activities is not strictly necessary.

Optional Sections

• Create a Select Courses sub-section to highlight courses that reflect your interest in a practice area.
• Tailor this section depending on target your employer(s).
• List courses you have already taken and courses you intend to take in the future (with a parenthetical indicating that the course is expected).  
• Create a Study Abroad sub-section in your undergraduate education listing.  
• Create a Thesis sub-section in your undergraduate education listing.
• Include especially if the topic relates to the law.

Experience Section

• List experiences in reverse chronological order.
• Include experiences to which you have committed, but not yet begun; describe using future-tense verbs.
• Dates can be general (e.g., Summer 20XX).
• Omit job titles if unimpressive or do not clarify your responsibilities, however, be consistent about including/excluding titles throughout.
• List experiences that demonstrate knowledge and skills in areas relevant to legal employers, especially research, writing, and analysis.
• Emphasize professional skills including organizational ability, leadership, initiative, creativity, communication skills, common sense, and intellectual ability.
• List both paid and unpaid experiences.
• Include work associated with a scholastic experience, including legal clinic experience, research for a professor, and extensive work for a student organization.
• Rewrite past descriptions written for different industries and audiences. Eliminate jargon and terminology unfamiliar to a general audience.
• Summarize smaller or less relevant positions to fill gaps. E.g., “Held various positions as salesclerk, server, and receptionist while in college.”
• Be prepared to discuss significant gaps at interviews.
• Think strategically about the amount of physical space devoted to each experience. More space = greater emphasis.
• Use action verbs and rich detail in descriptions. E.g., “researched and wrote memoranda on issues of jurisdiction and venue,” rather than “involved in assisting attorneys in the researching and writing of…”
• Languages: List if relevant and/or skill level is high. May be useful to delineate written vs. spoken proficiency. Be scrupulously honest regarding skill level.
• Think strategically about employers’ impressions. Publications show writing skills, but a long list of publications may signal interest in an academic career which may not be well received by non-academic employers.
• Consider selective list or summary if publication list is long.
• Use Bluebook citation format.
• Be clear about co-authored pieces.
• Interests: Include a few special interests that may be compelling and serve as icebreaker topics during an interview.
• Other skills: list only relevant skills, eliminating those which are universal (e.g., MS Word) or unrelated to legal employers’ needs (e.g., C++ programming).

Do Not Include

• Objective or introductory statements.
• Personal information (e.g., marital status, parental status).
• Salary requirements.
• “References available on request.”

Think Ahead to Your Next Resume

Develop your skills and knowledge through career-related experiences

• Summer employment
• Student organizations
• Research Assistant positions
• Leadership positions

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Law School resume examples & templates

What good does a law school resume do?

Your job resume won’t cut it., what are law schools looking for, making long stories short, resume header, community involvement example in a law school resume.

What does a law school resume have in common with a job application resume? Other than their persuasive purpose, only a partial resemblance exists. The differences are important to understand, which is how this writing guide for prospective law students can help. It’s supported by an example of what admissions officers typically look for in a law school resume. 

Here’s what we’ll cover:

• What law students do, and how a successful law school resume demonstrates their fitness for this competitive field of study and practice
• How to write a law school resume — the fundamentals, framework and format
• Optimizing each resume section: header, education, experience, skills and more
• Getting every visual detail right

In addition to more than 350 occupation-specific resume examples with writing guides, Resume.io offers tips and tools for virtually everyone on the career continuum, from students to retirees.

What do law students do?

From court case research and brief preparation to contract analysis and mock trials, law students dive deeply immersed in the core legal knowledge and abilities they’ll need as practicing lawyers. 

It’s a career choice that’s already tested their competitive mettle in the law school application phase. Crossing that admissions hurdle foretells the kind of high-stakes job wins that could lie ahead. 

Of course, it takes more than an outstanding resume to get into law school. It’s not meant to be the sole law school application document, nor to replace any other. Some law schools don’t ask applicants for a resume, or it may be optional. 

But experts agree that the only valid reason not to submit a resume is if you are told not to. Otherwise, it’s a self-marketing opportunity no one should miss.

As encouraged by LSAT Engine , an online tutoring resource for law school hopefuls, a resume ideally portrays you as a well-rounded and involved member of your community. This can be beneficial when the admissions team is looking for reasons to accept, waitlist, or deny someone.

Gabriel Kuris, founder of Top Law Coach, provides this usnews.com perspective : “A good resume for law school should clarify the skills and experience you bring from work, school and other activities. It won't paint a full picture of who you are, but it should provide a frame for the admissions committees to understand the rest of the application.”

According to LawSchoolNumbers.com, an open-source database for law school applicants, resumes can have make-or-break importance . “The ideal situation is that an admissions officer comes away from your resume thinking that they would like to meet you, or read your personal statement.”

There’s no way to predict how much time or attention your law school resume will receive. But think about the edge-winning advantage you could gain over other applicants with underwhelming resumes, or none at all —  even GPA and LSAT rock stars. This incentive should not be taken lightly, so your law school resume should not be given short shrift.

Before getting started, here are some things to keep in mind. Relevance is relevant in each instance.

Remember — you’re not applying for a job; you’re seeking career entry. The resume you need is decidedly different, if not entirely rebuilt. 

Resumes from previous job or internship applications are a good starting point, however. They help jog your memory and flag information you could fine-tune for a law school. 

Job 1 is for you to find out and pay attention. Scrutinize the target law school’s application requirements, specifically resume guidelines.

What exactly do admissions officers want and expect? They might even ask you to exclude some resume content, or organize and label it a certain way. And be mindful of any resume length indications.

That brings us to the jury still being out on whether the standard one-page limit applies to law school resumes. Resume.io isn’t alone in advocating this restriction for all job resumes, with rare exceptions. For law school resumes, we also think a single page is best, and likely achievable for the vast majority of applicants. 

Having said that, we realize some law schools have no objection to resumes being two pages or even longer. Again — check the application guidelines.

Selective and specific As long as you’re satisfying the law school’s explicit requirements, here’s why a one-pager could be advantageous to demonstrate your worthiness as a lawyer-to-be:

• Being able to write concisely and precisely is essential for lawyers.
• It also reflects their ability to make relevance-based judgment calls by being selective and specific.

Consider the other elements in your law school application package — notably the separate requirement for a personal statement. 

Wait, what? Isn’t that supposed to be part of your resume — the top section, known as a summary , profile or personal statement? Yes, absolutely when you’re applying for a job. It’s a synopsis of who you are and why you’re the best hire. 

Law schools are also keen to know the person behind your resume — so much so that they request a companion document for that purpose. In essay format, this personal statement gives admissions officers a deeper, introspective insight into why you and law school are a good fit at this time in your life. Your resume should be compatible, consistent and complementary alongside the personal statement, but not redundant.

One less resume task With the provision a long-form personal statement — usually two pages — comes a free pass to exclude the summary altogether in your law school resume.

That’s right … more space for other crucial content!

How to write a law school resume

Let’s get down to basics, with an outline of essential law school resume sections:

Consider this the barebones framework of components. What the second and third sections include depends on individual circumstances. At least one activity-related section may follow, plus additional content deemed relevant. We’ll take a closer look later.

For more ideas, check out these resume examples and writing guides for other legal occupations: lawyer resume sample, attorney resume example, legal assistant resume sample, paralegal resume example, claims adjuster resume sample, immigration lawyer resume sample and legal resume sample.

Choosing the best resume format for law school

Within each section of your law school resume, bullet point listings should appear in reverse chronological order — from most recent to earliest dates. This is consistent with the most commonly used resume format for job seekers.

Otherwise, there’s one significant difference in the way law school resumes are organized: education comes ahead of experience, instead of vice versa in a job application resume.

For the same reasons we emphasize the importance of a distinctive header on job application resumes, law school applicants should not overlook this design detail. It makes your contact information prominent and accessible: name, phone, email and perhaps your LinkedIn profile URL.

Law school resume education example

This first-and-foremost section of a law school resume is usually more detailed than its education counterpart in a job resume. Starting with your most recent degree or certification , list them all in order from highest to lowest level.

Impressive GPAs belong here, along with cum laude distinctions and academic awards. Major and minor subjects might be worth mentioning too, and even coursework or thesis titles if they reflect pertinent expertise and interests.

High school information should be omitted. Below is the education section from a law school resume example.

Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy, Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, NY September  2017 - May 2021 

• Magna cum laude.
• President of the Philosophy Club.

Experience sample for law school resume

Often entitled “professional experience,” this part of your law school resume resembles the employment history section that would come first on a job application resume. Besides any work experience you’ve acquired —  whether in an established career or part-time jobs paying your way through school — be sure to include internships. 

Again, in reverse chronological order of dates for each employer, compose three to five bullet points describing your experiences. 

Use action verbs that speak to what you did, learned and accomplished ; avoid rattling off “responsible for” duty lists. And be selective — don’t bore admissions officers with a kitchen sink collection of all your previous jobs. Unless it’s relevant, skip it.

Facts and figures count

Just as we always advise job seekers in every resume writing guide, law school applicants should pinpoint aspects of their experience in measurable terms if possible. 

Peg Cheng, Prelaw Guru founder, shares this resume writing tip from the PowerScore Law School Admissions Guide : “You should list the number of hours worked per week for all jobs and activities. It helps the admissions committee gain a better understanding of the scope of work and activities you’ve been involved in.”

Depending on the nature and scope of your professional experience — especially if scanty — you might also want to highlight volunteer or community service work here instead of in a subsequent activities section.

These law school resume samples for employment history and internships can be modified.

Student Research Assistant at Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, NY  September 2019 - May 2020 

• Served as an effective student research assistant on the project: Social Analysis of Technological Human Interactions.
• Coordinated the collection of data and ensured its reliability.
• Administered strategies essential to the successful management of the research project.

Teaching Assistant at Vassar College, Poughkeepsie  September 2020 - April 2021 

• Worked closely with Professor Timothy Jones to develop learning materials for courses.
• Instructed a weekly class on Introductory Logic.
• Hosted office hours two afternoons per week to provide students with additional support and guidance.

Volunteer and community service service roles are sure to put law school applicants in a favorable light. As noted above, these bullet points could be incorporated into your resume’s experience or activities section, depending on how extensive and relevant.  In our law school resume example below, community involvement is highlighted on its own.

Cultural Center Volunteer, Poughkeepsie October  2019 - May 2021 

• Worked to enhance the center's multi-cultural program offerings, workshops, and events.
• Assisted with the planning for performances and exhibits.
• Wrote and submitted several articles to local news outlets regarding the latest events and programs open to the public.

CV skills example

Even if various skills applicable to your future law career are reflected elsewhere in your CV — which they should be if those sections are written effectively — creating a separate skills list adds prominence. 

The National Association of Colleges and Employers has identified the seven most relevant transferable skills for law students as the ability to: 

• Communicate with people inside and outside an organization
• Work in a team structure
• Make decisions and solve problems
• Plan, organize, and prioritize work
• Obtain and process information
• Create and/or edit written reports
• influence others

Check out a law school CV sample for the skills section below.

• Oral Communications and Listening
• Abilities Critical Thinking and Problem Solving
• Knowledge of Legal Terminology
• Adaptability
• Highly Organized

Other possible law school resume sections

Other potentially relevant information for a law school resume appears below. How it’s organized depends on the best fit — either in separate dedicated sections or under education, experience or activities subtitles.

• Extracurricular activities
• Affiliations
• Awards and honors*
• Leadership positions
• Publications
• Interests and hobbies

 * Below is an “achievements” example for a law school resume — an alternative to placing in the education section.

National Honor Society  2018 - 2021

Resume layout and design

Looking the part of a legal professional is imperative for a law school resume document. Readability is conveyed in an arms-length appearance of being immaculate, uncluttered and orderly.

Closer inspection reveals carefully thought-out layout and design details. One section flows logically into the next, offset by proportional amounts of white space in the margins and between lines. Fonts are carefully chosen to optimize body text legibility and bold impact in headings. Graphic touches are minimal. 

Aspiring lawyers could never go wrong using a resume template from Resume.io’s extensive collection — perhaps in our professional design category. Click to download your choice, then incorporate your own replacement text using the builder tool.

Key takeaways

• Law school applicants should always submit a resume unless they are told not to.
• A hallmark of law school resumes is the academic emphasis, with a more detailed education section preceding work experience.
• Relevance should determine what your resume includes and how it’s organized. Also be mindful of the law school’s application requirements and instructions.
• Apply the highest standards for professional appearance in your resume layout and design choices.

Beautiful ready-to-use resume templates

Law School Application Resume Examples and Templates for 2024

• Resume Examples

How To Write a Law School Application Resume

• Resume Text Examples

Writing a law school application resume is similar to writing a resume for a job. Start by determining key characteristics the law school might be looking for in students. Look at your own experience and accomplishments, and present those facts in a way that aligns with the law school’s focus or mission.

This guide provides actionable advice about creating professional experience and education sections. It also discusses the type of format and template you might want to use and what skills and action verbs might be relevant.

• Entry-Level
• Senior-Level

1. Write a dynamic profile summarizing your law school application qualifications

Your profile section may be your first introduction to an admissions officer or panel. This short blurb — keep it to four or fewer sentences — can serve a few purposes. It should highlight some of your best qualities or most impressive achievements, teasing them to persuade someone to read more of your resume or application.

Your profile can also express enthusiasm for a specific law school and hint at your reasons for wanting to attend. However, it should still be professional.

Profile Example #1

Recent college graduate with high academic honors and strong legal internship experience.

Profile Example #2

Paralegal with 8+ years of experience. Well-versed in legal terminology, with broad knowledge of procedures of law and court practices.

2. Outline your law school application experience in a compelling list

Focus on results and value in this section rather than simple lists of job duties or extracurricular activities. Use bullet points, action verbs, and actual measurements to create a story about why you’re an ideal candidate for a law school.

For example, you might write that you “contributed to research for dozens of legal briefs as an intern” or that you “suggested an updated filing process that reduced file room man-hours by 10%.”

Mine your volunteer, academic, and professional work for information for this section.

Professional Experience Example #1

Legal Intern,  Roth, Mayhern & Associates,  Pittsburgh, PA | January 2022 to May 2022

[Small firm focused on international law.]

• Reviewed discovery documents for principal lawyers
• Attended and observed court sessions with firm’s head litigator
• Researched and wrote a well-received court memorandum on environmental violation case
• Helped research and write 3 finding summaries

Professional Experience Example #2

Paralegal,  Cohen & Sons LLC,  San Francisco, CA | September 2016 to Present

• Draft various legal materials including client letters, pleadings, and memoranda
• Read, analyze, and interpret legal documents, case law, and statutory law
• Conduct legal research, gather data, and prepare reports for use in presentations and court
• Attend court hearings, and assist the firm’s principals as needed during trials

3. List any education and certifications relevant to law school applications

Education credentials enhance your value as an applicant and demonstrate you have the qualifications and experience to succeed in law school. Because law schools require previous degrees, ensure your education is clearly spelled out on your resume. Find easy templates for including your degree below.

Certifications are less common for law school applicants. However, if you’re making a career change and entering law school after working in another field, your certifications might help demonstrate your work ethic, leadership capability, or other traits. For example, a project management certificate positions you as an applicant who can multitask, problem-solve, and plan for large efforts.

• [Degree Name]
• [School Name], [City, State Abbreviation] | [Graduation Year]
• Bachelor of Science in Sociology
• Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA | 2022

Certifications

• [Certification Name], [Awarding Organization], [Completion Year]
• NALS Certified Professional Paralegal, The Associated for Legal Professionals, 2020

4. Include a list of skills and proficiencies related to law school applications

Adding relevant skills to your resume helps flesh it out and create a more impressive overall document. Pick some of your most impressive skills to list in their own section, especially if you can back them up with more information in your cover letter.

Also, work key skills into your profile summary and professional experience section. Think about how you can combine skills with accomplishments, such as “developed leadership experience as law club president” or “conducted research projects on various legal topics, including personal injury, criminal law, and labor laws.”

How To Pick the Best Law School Application Resume Template

It might be tempting to up the ante on your resume’s wow factor with unique design elements or an eye-catching font. However, these additions tend to make resumes harder to read. Instead, look for a template that presents a clean, professional design. Simple fonts and well-aligned resume components will please most admissions panels more than distracting visual flourishes.

Find a template that offers room for academic achievements and provides creative freedom in completing various sections. This makes it easier to add volunteer work and extracurriculars to your resume, if relevant.

Law School Application Text-Only Resume Templates and Examples

Mark Watney (384) 492-4029 [email protected] 812 Ridge Avenue, Mars, PA 14052

Bachelor of Science (BS) in Sociology, Pre-Law Concentration, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA | 2022

• 3.8 GPA | magna cum laude
• Honors Thesis: “Environmental Considerations of Transnational Corporate Law”

Co-Curricular Activities

Pre-Law Club | 2018 to 2022

• Vice President (2021 to 2022)
• Member (2018 to 2022)

Writer / Assistant Editor, The Legal Brief | 2020 to 2022

[Monthly newsletter produced by the CMU Pre-Law Department for students, faculty, and staff.] 

Volunteer, Pre-Law Department Job Fair | 2019 to 2022

Work Experience

Legal Intern, Roth, Mayhern & Associates, Pittsburgh, PA | January 2022 to May 2022

Office Assistant, Bertolli & Mathers, Inc., Pittsburgh, PA | January 2019 to December 2021

[Large corporate law office.]

• Filed documents and correspondence for past and current cases in the firm’s law library
• Assisted front desk staff with clerical duties such as copying, answering email queries, and directing phone calls
• Legal Research & Analysis
• Task Prioritization
• Teamwork & Collaboration
• Time Management
• Writing, Editing & Proofreading

Mary Russell (203) 384-0394 [email protected] 221 Baker Street, San Francisco, CA 10394

Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA | 2017 | 3.7 GPA

• Coursework included American Foreign Policy; American Political Processes; International Relations; Legal Frameworks for Change

Associate Degree in Paralegal Studies, Bryant & Stratton College, San Francisco, CA | 2014 | 3.6 GPA

• Coursework included Civil Litigation; Contract Law; Criminal Law & Procedures; Law Office Management & Technology; Legal Research & Writing

Paralegal CORE Competency Exam (PCCE) Certification, National Federation of Paralegal Associations | 2019

Professional Experience

Paralegal, Cohen & Sons LLC, San Francisco, CA | September 2016 to Present

Paralegal, Miltock & Benson, Inc., San Francisco, CA | June 2014 to September 2016

• Researched, analyzed, and summarized past cases related to corporate and business law
• Maintained calendar and other confidential materials for senior partner
• Collaborated with business office manager to process and maintain billing and accounts receivable
• Helped draft and file legal documents and correspondence in support of upcoming cases
• Reported directly to firm’s senior partner
• Legal Documentation
• Public Speaking & Presentations
• Writing & Proofreading

Alona Twelvetrees (584) 394-3029 [email protected] Helena, MT 10928

Administrator with 13+ years of experience in Montana state government. Passionate about upholding the sovereignty and legal rights of Native Americans. Naturally curious and committed to learning new legal topics and concepts.

Governor’s Office of Indian Affairs, Montana State Capitol, Helena, MT | October 2009 to Present

Assistant to the Director (September 2015 to Present)

• Promoted to serve as liaison between state and tribal governments, attending and speaking at meetings for both
• Research and write white papers, reports, memoranda, and more on issues of Native American sovereignty and legal rights to be presented to the governor and other state officials
• Work with director and other state officials to resolve individual complaints and legal issues faced by tribes
• Seek consensus among tribes, and work toward including their shared goals in state initiatives

Office Manager (October 2009 to September 2015)

• Public-facing role focused on addressing all in-person visitors’ questions and concerns
• Handled phone queries and mail correspondence including letters from constituents
• Helped director troubleshoot and resolve issues consistently and fairly
• Proposed system improvements that raised filing efficiency by 50%

Associate Degree in Criminal Justice, Legal Studies, Blackfeet Community College, Browning, MT | 2009

• 3.6 GPA | cum laude
• Coursework included Federal Indian Policy & Government; Legal Research & Writing; Tribal Criminal Law & Procedure
• Completed office management internship at Blackfeet Tribal Government Headquarters (Browning, MT)

Frequently Asked Questions: Law School Application Resume Examples and Advice

What are common action verbs for law school application resumes -.

Law schools know you’re attending to learn, but when you can position yourself as an active candidate who provides value to others, you may impress admissions panels. Including action verbs on your resume helps you create a more dynamic narrative about your accomplishments and experience, which can set you apart from other applicants.

The right action verbs also make your resume easier to read and scan, ensuring admissions professionals can get right to the important elements of your application.

Some action verbs to consider using on your resume include:

How do you align your resume with a potential law school? -

When sending resumes with law school applications, do a little homework to ensure your document makes the grade. Read through the law school’s brochure or website to understand what type of student tends to succeed there. Look for terms that are repeated or seem important to the faculty or school, and consider how you might work those terms into your resume naturally.

The job market for attorneys is expected to grow by 8% through 2032, a pace that’s faster than average, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Aligning your resume with a potential law school’s needs or mission is a small step toward joining the ranks of lawyers in the future.

What is the best law school application resume format? -

For potential law school students, the combination resume format is a good choice. This format provides plenty of room for work experience as well as skills lists. It creates a well-rounded document that captures your knowledge and the effort you put in to build it.

A combination format also leaves room for creatively capturing accomplishments. For example, you may want to include specific coursework or academic achievements, volunteer work, or experience unique to a student, such as work-study efforts.

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A cover letter allows you to show enthusiasm and passion for the next step in your career. You can use our lawyer resume cover letter examples as a guide for how to write and format this letter. Be personable but also concise and professional. In a few paragraphs, tell the admissions office or other relevant personnel why you’re a great option for their school.

Jacob Meade

Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW, ACRW)

Jacob Meade is a resume writer and editor with nearly a decade of experience. His writing method centers on understanding and then expressing each person’s unique work history and strengths toward their career goal. Jacob has enjoyed working with jobseekers of all ages and career levels, finding that a clear and focused resume can help people from any walk of life. He is an Academy Certified Resume Writer (ACRW) with the Resume Writing Academy, and a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) with the Professional Association of Resume Writers & Career Coaches.

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11 Resume Rules Every Law Student Should Follow

April 27, 2021

[Learn more about how Bloomberg Law can help law students excel in class and  jump-start their careers .]

In today’s virtual world, it is even more important for law students to get their resume right.

“A bad resume is far more detrimental to your job search than a good resume is beneficial – many potential employers view bad resumes as disqualifying,” said Mike Wippler, member of the national law firm Dykema. “Your resume should look professional, be easy to read, tell an accurate and truthful story, and highlight your readiness and skills for the position.”

Learn the top resume rules from the experts to stand out from the crowd and land the legal job you want.

1. Keep It Short.

A good legal resume doesn’t need to be long. In fact, it should be one or two pages at most.

“As a hiring manager, I want candidates to be able to eloquently and succinctly articulate their experience and career goals – this is especially critical for someone who wants to be a trial lawyer,” said Noel Edlin , managing partner of San Francisco-based law firm Bassi Edlin Huie & Blum.

Similarly, “use bullet points effectively – state what you did and how you did it in a way that demonstrates your experience, skills, and the results you achieved,” said the University of Miami School of Law Career Development Office.

“For students or junior lawyers with minimal experience, try to keep it to a single page and succinctly summarize your experience, linking it to qualities that you want to highlight – for example, analytical abilities, taking initiative, [and] attention to detail,” said Katten chief talent officer Melanie Priddy.

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2. Keep It Traditional.

Traditional legal resumes for law students are structured in three to four sections in the following order: Heading, Education, Experience, and an additional optional section, such as Interests, Languages, or Skills, according to the University of Miami School of Law Career Development Office.

“Do not go crazy with color or design – black type on a white background is preferable, and do not include your photo or other graphics. Pick one font and stick with it,” Edlin said.

Ensure a consistent layout, too. “Use a resume format that is simple, professional, and easy to read,” Priddy said. In this vein, “Formatting should carry through the entire page – bold/italics, font, spacing, indentations, etc., should be consistent throughout.”

3. Proofread Everything.

“A resume is the first example of your ‘work product,’ and it can be hard to overcome a negative first impression if there are errors,” Priddy said. “Proofread your resume and make sure it is free of grammatical errors and typos, including the law firm [name].”

Finally, in proofreading, review abbreviations. “Use abbreviations only if they are universally understood,” said the University of Miami School of Law Career Development Office.

4. Update Contact Information.

“This seems like a no-brainer but be sure you’re providing updated contact information – full legal name, address, email, phone, and LinkedIn profile link,” Edlin said. “It helps save administrative time if we decide to extend an offer of employment.”

Similarly, “add a professional voicemail message that confirms who a caller has reached and clear your voicemail inbox regularly so employers can leave you messages,” Priddy said.

5. Boost Your LinkedIn Presence.

In parallel, “complete your LinkedIn profile and add it to the contact section of your resume,” said the University of Miami School of Law Career Development Office.

“Make sure [it includes] a banner image, a good headshot, an about section, and links to any articles you have published,” Edlin said. Similarly, “Be active on the platform by posting/liking content and recognizing the accomplishments of contacts. Try to acquire at least 500 contacts,” Edlin said. “It helps to paint a picture of who you are and stay on the radar of employers.”

[Learn more about how to network effectively and use LinkedIn to get ahead in our Essential Career Toolkit .]

6. Be Truthful.

“Do not include anything that you do not want to discuss in an interview,” said the University of Miami School of Law Career Development Office. Similarly, “do not overexaggerate your language skills – you may be asked a question in whatever language you claim fluency.”

The same holds true for hobbies. “Make sure that any hobbies or interests on your resume are truthful – interviewers will likely ask for details,” Priddy said. “Even if you get hired, it may cost you the job later,” Wippler added.

7. Do Not Assume Reader Knowledge.

“Don’t assume that everybody assumes you have technical skills – if you have them, make sure you point them out,” said Chris M. Smith, partner and co-head of DLA Piper’s New York real estate practice.

“If you’ve done anything that is a little bit different, make sure it shows on your resume,” Smith added. “And if you have a connection at the firm, have them try to put in a good word for you.”

8. Customize the Content.

“Customize your resume for different employers by highlighting experiences relevant to the particular job an employer is seeking to fill,” said the University of Miami School of Law Career Development Office. The same holds true for the cover letter.

“Add something to your cover letter that relates your application to the organization or the law firm in a way that stands out from the generic cover letter,” said Efrén Olivares, deputy legal director of the Immigrant Justice Project at Southern Poverty Law Center. “That’s going to make a difference, and it’ll send your resume to the top of the pile.”

For further customization, “include a two- to three-sentence summary at the top [of the resume] that directly aligns with the job posting,” Edlin said. “Customize this section using keywords in the job description in a way that makes it clear you are a strong candidate for the opportunity.”

9. Reach for “Power” Words.

“Replace generic words with power words and action verbs – ‘advised,’ ‘advocated,’ ‘resolved,’ ‘advanced,’ ‘enhanced,’ ‘maximized,’ ‘achieved,’” said the University of Miami School of Law Career Development Office.

“Oftentimes, your resume is being scanned by machine learning/natural language processing programs that have been programmed to search for keywords, so include keywords you’d find in the job you want,” Edlin said. “Even if your CV is being reviewed by a decision-maker, it may get a one- to two-minute scan, so leverage that time by including keywords that will stand out.”

10. Focus on Relevant Experience.

“When describing prior work experience, include details that highlight your ability to lead and work with a team, collaborate with others, and provide client service,” said Lauren Marsh, director of attorney recruiting at Akin Gump.

“Some students may assume they have no relevant skills if they did not work before attending law school – however, they should be sure to highlight the comparable experience they gained through internships or college activities,” Marsh said. “These are skills we highly value in our candidates, and an indicator they have developed skills that will enable them to be successful at the firm.”

Also, “Where you went to school is not as important to me as what you did there, how you engaged with the community, organizations, and leadership development,” said Jason Starr, litigation director of Human Rights Campaign. “A strong academic record [is important], but what else about you demonstrates a real passion and a real willingness to dig in?”

11. Be Clear About Your Licensing Status.

“Depending upon where you are in the process, you can indicate it in several different ways, and update your resume as you move from one category to the next,” said Shauna C. Bryce, who practiced law and served on a law firm hiring committee before starting  Bryce Legal Career Counsel .

“If you’ve been admitted to practice, are active and in good standing, then your bullet point is simple – something like this: ‘Bar Admission: California.’ If you have not yet applied to take the bar exam but are eligible to take it: ‘Eligible for July 2021 California bar exam.’”

“If you’ve submitted your application to sit for the exam but have not yet sat for the exam: ‘Candidate for July 2021 California bar exam.’ If you have sat for the exam but have not yet received the results: ‘Candidate for July 2021 California bar exam (results pending).’ If you have passed the exam, but not yet been sworn in: ‘California (admission pending).’

[Log in to Bloomberg Law to read the full article: Ask the Hiring Attorney: How do I show my bar status on my resume? ]

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How to Write a Successful Law School Resume (+Examples)

How do you write a law school resume? 

That’s what you’ll learn today. After all, a law school resume is one of the most underestimated and underused aspects of law school applications. 

Want to learn more? Read on!

What is a law school resume? 

Your law school resume lists sections that cover your education, legal and other professional experience, and possibly categories including personal interests or community involvement. 

The length depends on your experience. But at the same time, the length of your law school resume hardly matters. 

What matters is how you  position  your resume. And that’s what you’ll learn today.

But first, let’s find out – is a law school resume the same thing as any other resume? 

How is a law school resume different from other resumes? 

Here’s the thing: 

Law school resumes differ from other resumes. Your audience isn’t an employer, but instead, you’re looking to persuade the admissions committee that  you  are the applicant they want. 

And law schools want to see a broader and more diverse array of experiences than a job would. 

So there’s a big difference between a law school resume and any other resume. 

But how important are law school resumes, really? Here’s what you need to know. 

Does a law school resume matter? 

When I send back a client’s resume with a million-one edits (only slightly exaggerating), I am often asked  “Does my resume matter for law school?”  

After all, you might already have talked about your activities and work experience in your essays. So then, what’s the point of the law school resume? Why do law schools still ask for one?

Your law school resume is your opportunity to share with law schools:

• How you have spent your time
• What your qualifications are
• What kind of interests you have developed

In my opinion, the law school resume is an underused asset.

As I said, it is an  opportunity . How you structure your resume, what you decide to include, and how you describe your activities and experiences, are all strategic decisions in crafting your own personal narrative.

A well-written resume will highlight the traits, experiences, and qualifications law schools are looking for—like: 

• Analytical and writing abilities 
• Community engagement
• Self-financing your education
• Athletic talents
• Cultural or volunteer activities
• Language proficiencies
• Juggling multiple responsibilities
• Creativity & innovation 

And by having a resume that highlights these aspects of you already, your personal statement can avoid the  biggest mistake of being just a glorified cover letter .

So yes, your resume does matter for law schools. 

Now that you know what a law school resume is and why you should focus on writing one that really stands out, let’s move on to  how  to write a winning resume. 

How do you make your law school resume stand out? 

Now you might be wondering: 

What should be on a law school resume? 

The simplest explanation is this: 

Your resume is often an undervalued strategic part of your application. How you frame your experiences and organize your resume  should go to the broader theme  that you’ve curated for your entire application. 

Your resume needs to be  unique to be an asset  – in fact, I spend a lot of time with my clients figuring out how to strategically frame their resumes. 

For instance, if a client wants to go into legal academia, we organize and describe their experiences to highlight the traits and skills they need for that job. 

Overall, your resume will generally contain some combination of these main headers, depending on your background:

• Professional Experience and/or Employment
• Community Engagement
• Publications
• Accomplishments
• Skills/Interests

Let’s look at each of these below. 

Before we dive into the individual law school resume elements, how long should your resume be? 

Your resume can be  one or two pages.  Law schools don’t really care about the length, as long as you’re not using a tiny font to keep it to a single page, or adding in unnecessary details to make it two pages. 

A two-page resume is not necessarily better than a one-page resume, and vice versa. 

Also, even if you are recently out of undergrad, if you have a lot of things to include, a two-page resume is fine. 

Similarly, on the flip side, if you’ve been at the same job for the past decade, just because you’ve been out of school for a while, doesn’t mean you have to have a two-page resume.

Next, let’s take a look at what to include under each header. Scroll down to see examples of resumes, but use these sections to fill out your own template. 

Unlike other fields or jobs, law schools (and law in general) care a lot about your education, so  put this section first. 

You should include all your  degree institutions  and  certificates , but you do not need to include things like every summer school you attended. 

If you transferred during undergrad, you would want to include both schools. You could include a study abroad institution either separately, or under your undergraduate institution.

You will include schools in  reverse chronological order , up until high school. Remember, law schools do not care about high school so don’t include it at all!

You can see how to format this via the samples law school resumes at the end of this post, but you’ll want this section to include the following information for each educational institution:

• Name of institution, city, state
• Official name of degree (B.A., B.S., M.S., etc.), date conferred or anticipated
• Major & minor
• GPA (only if near or above the law school’s median,  if you have a low GPA , don’t include)
• Honors (such as magna cum laude, thesis title, Dean’s list semesters, honor societies, scholarships/awards received)
• Activities (this is only if you have so many activities that you don’t have room in the body of your resume. You can include minor activities here that you devoted less time to).

Professional experience and/or employment 

What you include in this section will depend on your background.

If you apply straight from undergrad or within a few years of graduating: 

You can include any jobs or internships you’ve held during (and after) college. (Just not work experience from high school.)

Even if it was just waitressing or working at the local Target, law schools want to see how you spent your time. And they will applaud the fact that you worked while also managing your college courses. 

For work experience while in college, I always suggest including the number of hours you worked per week. You can see one of the samples at the end of this blog post on how to format it. But law schools really value this kind of work ethic and real-world experience.

If you apply after working for a while: 

You can leave some jobs out that don’t necessarily fit within your field. Though generally, you’ll still want to include most jobs in order to account for your time.

Consider creating two separate categories if your work experience seems to be all over the place. For instance, you could have all your internships under “Professional Experience” and your summer jobs working at Old Navy, or your during-college waitressing gig under “Other Employment” or something along those lines.

Similarly, if you’ve had more than one main career, divide up your headers by career topic, rather than strictly going in chronological order. So if you had a career as an educator and then shifted, you might write your headers as “Teaching Experience” and “Biotechnology Experience.”

How to describe your work experience

Even “unglamorous” jobs will boost your application. 

Law schools don’t only care about applicants with “professional” work experience or those with prestigious internships. Applicants who had to support themselves by working at the local coffee shop or scooping ice cream in the summer are seen as applicants who have grit and determination.

Admissions officers also focus mostly on  what  you did in your role. So don’t talk about the company selling billions of dollars in x widgets, but instead, how you managed an account of x clients by doing xyz. Get as specific as you can about the tasks you performed there.

Instead of saying something like “acquired the skills of managing and leading,” you want to show how you acquired those skills through action descriptors. So you would want to instead write, “Supervised two field canvassers across 20 districts.”

What to include 

Include the following information for this section:

• Employer name, job title, city, state, dates of employment.
• One to four bullets describing accomplishments and responsibilities. Start each bullet with an action word (e.g., led, supervised, coordinated, planned).
• If the purpose of the organization/company isn’t obvious to the admissions officer, explain it.
• If employment while also in school, include the number of hours worked per week.

Include your college and post-college extracurricular activities, and a description of your involvement and responsibilities for each. Do not include anything from high school (have I said this enough?!).

The point of this section is to demonstrate your interests and passions, and most importantly, to show that you had focus and commitment. If your level of involvement wasn’t enough to have much to say, then include it under your Education section as a single bullet. (See the sample law school resumes below). 

If you were only involved in an activity for a short period of time, you can help it not look like just a resume filler by describing how you participated extensively. You might say something about how you “attended weekly events” or “assisted in planning weekly events for fellow students.”

Community engagement 

You could also title this “Community Service,” or “Volunteer Work” whichever you think most applicable. This can include volunteer activities, involvement in religious organizations, fieldwork for elections, and so on. 

Your community engagement doesn’t have to be something official to be worth including on your resume. If you, on your own, volunteer at the local library every weekend, even if it’s not part of some organization, definitely include that!

If you’ve only volunteered for a single day, like Relay for Life, or if you’ve only done one or two community service events organized by your sports teams or your fraternity/sorority, don’t include that volunteer work as a separate section.

You can put that you did this under your Greek life description (if Greek life even merits its own entry in the body; often I tell clients to just put it under your Activities section as a single bullet). 

If you don’t have any volunteer work, don’t try to exaggerate something. It will only bring attention to the fact that you don’t have much volunteer experience. Let admissions officers instead focus on what you do have, not what you’re missing or what your weaknesses are.

Publications 

If you did research or wrote a paper that got published, where you were the author or a co-author, include the citation and if the title doesn’t make it obvious what it is about, include a single bullet briefly describing the project.

I’ve also had clients use this section to note podcasts they’ve won awards for, or significant speeches they’ve given.

If you have a series of publications, list them separately like you would on a CV, even if that means your resume has a third page.

Skills/interests 

Skills and interests typically go in a single section and include just one or two lines. 

For skills, you can include things like language fluency (and listing out your level of competency), musical abilities, computer languages, etc. Do not include things most other applicants will know how to do (e.g., word Office, social media, Adobe, etc.). 

For interests, make these very specific. Don’t just say general (cough, boring) interests like “reading, traveling, cooking.” What specific kind of books do you like to read? What things do you cook? 

Your interests should be ones that you consider significant, and it is ok to demonstrate that you have a specific religious or political affiliation. Think about things that make you unique, memorable, and likable, and include those.

What mistakes should you avoid when creating your law school resume? 

What are the top mistakes you should avoid on your resume? Let’s find out. 

First and foremost, your law school resume isn’t the same thing as a job resume, so skip: 

• An Objective
• Summary of Qualifications
• Relative Coursework 

Your resume also has to be readable. Don’t use a font size that’s smaller than 11 pt or make margins tiny. 

You can narrow margins  slightly , but only if you have to. Instead, try to be more concise in your descriptions.

Also, you don’t have to stick with a chronological order of your experiences or activities. You can be creative with how you group your different experiences. 

For instance, I had a client who had two very involved passion areas: education and gender violence. 

So instead of going in chronological order of when she did all the activities, we instead made two separate headers (“Education” and “Gender Violence”). Within each header, we then put her activities in chronological order. This showed her focus and well-built passion, instead of just making it look like she had scattered interests.

Language 

Don’t use jargon or acronyms (unless they’re obvious) when describing your roles and responsibilities. You want to make sure that no matter the background of the admissions officer, he/she knows what you’re talking about.

Also, don’t embellish your experiences. Any embellishment will set off an admission officer’s alarm bells and undermine your entire application. 

If you did something above and beyond, by all means, include it. But don’t try and make your filing work as a front desk associate sound like you were the one drafting the files.

A common mistake is to include high school activities and experiences. But law schools do not care about what you did in high school. You are applying for a professional degree now. They want to see you are mature and can thrive without the support of your parents or high school teachers. 

So unless you did something extremely out of the ordinary for your age in high school—like were in the Olympics at age 16 or part of a professional adult symphony, —leave off your high school experiences.

On that same note, don’t include skills every law school applicant will have. Every law school applicant can use Word, Excel, and Powerpoint. Every law school applicant can type. You don’t need to tell law schools you have these (or other similarly obvious) skills.

Now you know what to include and what not to include in your resume.

But what are some real-world examples of law school resumes? Here you go!

Law school resume examples

These law school resume examples are real examples of some of my clients’ resumes. 

Use what we talked about above to understand why they’re written and formatted the way they are.

   The college senior with a lot of experience

  The applicant with over a decade of professional experience

  The college senior with more minimal experience

Helpful resources

Finally, here are a few helpful resources – top law school resume pages: 

• University of Pennsylvania
• Harvard Law School
• Stanford University
• Yale Law School
• University of Chicago 

Over to you!

There you have it! Now you know how to create a law school resume. 

What it comes down to is using your resume as an opportunity to build on your application and stand out from the masses.

Want to get a curated strategy for getting into law school, even if you don’t have the perfect GPA, LSAT score, or resume? 

Read more about working with me here.  

Learn more: 

How to Write a Law School Personal Statement

How to Write a Diversity Statement for Law School

Hope you enjoy this blog post! Want to know how to use the power of your personal statement to get into your dream law school, even if you aren’t the “perfect” applicant?

Get the three exercises that have helped countless law school applicants craft a wildly successful personal statement

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How to Stand Out & Get Admitted to the Law School of Your Dreams

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The journey to becoming an attorney at law is a long, tedious, and strenuous one. It involves years of secondary education, being near the top of your class, and extreme attention to detail. However, if a candidate wishes to practice law in the United States, they’ll have to create a law school  resume  which will help them gain entry to this specialty university.

Like any other resume, the quality of your law student resume can make the difference between being denied or gaining entry. While there are several similarities between a resume for law school and any other higher-level university, sometimes it’s a good idea to review legal resume examples before you get started.

If you are wondering how to write a resume for law school, this article is for you.

In the information below, we’ll show you a law student resume that was written by using a law school resume template. We will show you which sections you should include in this resume, how to format any resume for law school and some best practices for creating the content that will help you shine over the competition.

Example Law School Resume

Today’s top-tier law schools will only admit the cream of the crop. Candidates need to showcase exceptional educational credentials, a dedication to learning the US legal code, and the ability to multitask. These skills and attributes should be articulated on your entrance resume. You can review a great sample law school resume directly below to see how our candidate Candace accomplishes these objectives.

Download this resume example - Law school

Create your professional resume now

Candace’s law school application resume is clean, neat, well-structured, and easy to read. You can see that each section is formatted using the same font, is listed in reverse chronological order (newest to oldest format) and is grammatically accurate. She used a law school resume builder to format every section in a clean and easy-to-review manner. 

She has written an opening statement in the sample law student resume specifically to the school she is applying for, versus writing one, generic objective. The law graduate resume tells a story from start to finish, showing the admissions team why she is an exceptional candidate for their prestigious law school.

Let’s break down each section included in this resume for law school application in the information below.

Law School Resume Tips: How to Make a Resume for Law School in 2024

Most law school resume examples are written quite well. However, they lack practical tips that are specific to the type of resume - or give you structure on how to write that law school graduate resume. Like any other endeavor, writing a law school admissions resume is easier when you start with a plan of attack.

The organization is the key, which is possible when you start by creating a master resume. Essentially, a master resume is a working word document, that permits you to write details about each relevant section, edit the content, organize the layout and structure, and fine-tune the content.

So – let’s start writing your law school resume.

The first item for law school resumes writing checklists is to create one. While most law schools will communicate with you about their admission requirements, there are some important sections you’ll want to include in your resume.

• Contact Information
• College Education
• Professional Experience / Internships
• Community Involvement
• Personal Hobbies & Activities

1. List Your Contact Information

Consistency in writing a legal school resume starts by listing accurate and updated contact information. This will include your full legal name (that matches your application exactly), mailing address, email address, and a good contact phone number. We recommend listing your mobile phone, as several college admissions members will send text alerts to students to inform them of their application status.

When you utilize a law school resume template, inserting your contact information will be seamless and organized professionally.

You’ll notice that we don’t recommend inserting a resume objective. There is a reason for this. When you’re applying to a specialty, higher-level educational facility, candidates invited for an interview will be selected on their qualifications. Your opportunity to sell yourself to the school will be in person. So, don’t worry about writing a resume objective or personal statement for a law school admissions resume.

2. College Education for Law School Resume

For a law school application resume, the college education section is extremely important. In most job application resumes, listing the basics about your education is good enough – simply write the location, degree earned, GPA, and date of graduation. It's also advised to include your LSAT results when submitting a resume and application to the admissions committee.

When you’re applying to admissions officers from your law school, remember this key point - they're looking for relevant information. They've likely supplied you with the requirements, so make sure you follow their lead in the education section.

The legal school admissions staff needs to verify that you’ve taken the required courses that will prepare you for the specialty education of law school. As such, your law school resume format for this section should follow our sample resume to the “T”. There is no need to include your high school – just insert the relevant information required by your law school.

How to Format this Section

When it comes to your law school application resume format, here are some specifics.

• Start with your highest degree earned. (Bonus Tip* - If you’ve graduated with great distinction or at least the top 10 to 15 percent – and have earned Magna Cum Laude or Summa Cum Laude designation – a list that next to your degree, as we did in the sample resume above).
• List the location and date of graduation.
• List the awards earned.
• Showcase your affiliations. This would include honors society, Greek houses, or others.

3. Professional Experience for Law School Resume

Contrary to popular belief, the professional experience section within a law school resume template does not need to be filled with multiple law firm positions. Most law school admissions experts suggest that showcasing previous experience that focused on the candidate’s ability to articulate – both oral and written communication are just as crucial.

If you are creating a law student resume with no legal experience, focus on those jobs where you’ve showcased positive legal skills – such as written and oral communication. Work experience is important - but a law school wants to see relevant professional experience. While listing applicable legal experience is crucial – it’s not the end of the world if you don’t have that professional experience.

When you review Candace’s law student resume to Harvard Law School, you’ll notice that she focuses on two jobs – one was her law clerk position, the other is as a professional writer of online content. Within each job listing, she provides the name of the employer, dates of employment, and then bullet points of her key tasks.

The bullet points in law school application resumes will extrapolate on critical skills that are vital for an attorney at law. Some of these skills include persuasive communication, attention to detail, organizational skills, research abilities, and analytical thinking.  Formatting for this section is crucial, as you want them to review your ability to organize content.

4. Community Involvement & Extracurricular Learning

If there is one section in Candace’s law school resume example that truly stands out – it’s her community involvement and extracurricular learning. The best law schools pay a lot of attention to the extracurricular activities – or community involvement of their candidates.

Social responsibility is a crucial component of serving as an attorney in the United States – and should be a natural objective of anyone who wishes to practice law. However, those candidates who spend their time improving their understanding of the legal process, becoming advocates for others, or supporting non-profit organizations will stand above those who do not.

Your community or social involvement section should be formatted similarly to your professional experience. List the name of the organization, dates of involvement, and bullet points of your responsibilities – or tasks completed.

As you’re applying to a law school, it’s a solid idea to include several key power words or buzz terms that will showcase your soft skills (or interpersonal skills).

5. Personal Hobbies & Activities

Consider this section as an optional one – or the cherry on top of the resume for law school application sundae. Today’s attorney is personable and needs to showcase charisma, and the ability to engage in social situations. Nothing better showcases these attributes than adding some personal flair to your law school resume.

In this section, feel free to share some of the personal hobbies or activities you are passionate about participating. Keep it simple with the format, such as listing the activity, the dates, and some key bullet points of accomplishments.

6. References

The reference section is essentially an opportunity for you to share personal or professional peers that can vouch for your work ethic and personal integrity. You should select references that may have legal or professional experience. If not, make sure to gather references from undergraduate or graduate college professors, previous employers, or one listed in your professional experience section.

Like any section of your resume, consistency is crucial in the reference section of a law school resume. Always verify their contact information and ensure it’s up to date. More importantly, make sure you have their permission to be contacted if needed.

How to Format This Section

The reference section should only list the name and place of employment of your reference. You don’t want to list their private contact information on a resume – as that would be a violation of their privacy. Simply write “available upon request” and provide that information if the hiring manager requests. You can indicate on your cover letter that you have references available on request as well.

Final Points on Writing a Law School Application Resume

One of the most difficult professional schools to receive admission to is a law school. Whether you’re applying to Harvard Law, Yale, or a local law school, writing a powerful and organized law school resume is a vital component to becoming accepted.

We’ve provided a roadmap – not only with Candace’s law school resume example but also each section in the content above. The key is to use perfect grammar, the correct language, and take advantage of a law school application resume template. When you edit all your content in a master resume document, paste it in a text file, then paste in the template, you’ll save time, and ensure the resume appears clean, neat, and organized.

Beyond documenting the relevant experience and customizing your resume for the specific job you’re applying for, make sure to follow these crucial tips.

• Make sure your law school resume is reader-friendly and flows from beginning to end.
• Always write your resume on a plain white background with black font.
• Edit the document SEVERAL TIMES – through Grammarly.com and visual inspection.
• Ensure its well-spaced, organized, and professional.
• List all education, professional experience, and community involvement in chronological order.
• Verify your reference's contact information and use ones that support your resume.
• Finally, read it out loud a few times before you’re ready to paste the content into a law school resume template.

Starting the job search for an attorney at law position begins once you graduate from law school and pass your bar exam. However, you need to gain entry to the law school. Mainly - your academic achievements are going to do most of the work for you. But academic performance is not the only entrance criteria.

When you take time to review every word your write, choose the right tone, select action verbs that make sense, and ensure the document flows from start to finish, you’ll provide the admissions team with a clean and organized resume that will support your application to law school.

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Prepping Your Resume for Law School

Published December 10, 2018 This content is archived.

Guest blogger Ashley Wilson-Rew is Content Strategist & SEM at protocol 80, Inc.

With everything you need to submit for law school -- you shouldn’t let your resume fall through the cracks. How can you be sure your law school resume highlights your best attributes?

It may seem like there are an endless amount of materials you need to submit to get into law school --  LSAT scores, letters of recommendations, and a personal statement are just a few among them. A resume could easily get lost in the midst.

However, a resume is a crucial element to your law school application process. It’s not something that is always required, but if it is, you’ll want to take some time creating it. You won’t want to throw it together the night before it’s due.

How is a law school resume different from a career resume?

A law school resume emphasizes your academic achievements.

An important thing to keep in mind is that your audience is the admissions committee, and not a future employer. You’ll have to be careful about your specific word choice, the skills you present, and the accomplishments noted. These all need to match the qualifications that law schools are looking for.

It’s important to note your passions while illustrating how you spent your time in college. Any leadership positions, professional responsibilities, and volunteer experiences could be beneficial to highlight.

Another thing to keep in mind when writing your resume is to make sure it matches your personal statement. You want to be transparent and cohesive about who you are. Your resume and personal statement should compliment one another.

These are just a few tips to help you craft your law school resume. Below is a list of law school resume templates you can follow to help you get into your dream school!

5 Law School Resume Templates & Examples

1. this example from redrocketresume has all the necessary information to impress the admissions committee..

It includes:

• Academic experience (education AND any research, writing, or teaching experience)
• Relevant employment (including non-law employment that demonstrates desirable qualities in a lawyer)

2. This template from International Student highlights leadership experience & special skills.

Learn more about the law school admissions process and School of Law community through an individual meeting with one of our staff members.

[Learn More]

3. Here’s a fantastic example template from U.S. News & World Report.

4. The Girl’s Guide to Law School provides a before & after law school resume example.

5. This resume template from Calling All Questions goes into depth with plenty of outside experiences.

You might want to follow this if you’re already in law school or soon-to-be graduating:

Office of Admissions University at Buffalo School of Law 408 O'Brian Hall, Buffalo, NY 14260 716-645-2907 [email protected]

Submit this form to receive an application fee waiver.

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3 Law Student Resume Examples Proven to Work in 2024

Law Student Resume

Professional law student resume, formal law student resume.

• Law Student Resume Writing 101

It’s time to get your foot in the door with a stellar law student resume that shows off your ability to vary between a few specialized litigation areas, process case records, and uphold regulations.

But how exactly do you do that? What resume template should you select, what job skills should you include in your resume sections, and what sections should you even have on your resume page?

Don’t worry. We’ve helped many professionals in legal roles find their dream jobs. After years of experience, we’ve developed three law student resume examples and a cover letter maker to help you launch your career in the courtroom!

or download as PDF

Related resume examples

• Legal assistant
• Entry-level paralegal

What Matters Most: Your Skills & Work History

Okay, so as a law student, you might have your Juris Doctorate . . . but not much work experience yet. If you’re fresh out of law school, remember instances from other jobs or internships (related or unrelated to the legal field) that helped you develop translatable skills.

Skills like data entry, communication, and organization transfer nicely to a legal role—but don’t list them in your skills section like that! Hone your skills into things like “case management” and “legal records” instead.

Lean as technical as possible while developing your skills list. Which programs do you use to keep client records in order? What are the profession-specific specialties that fall under the umbrella of your smooth communication abilities?

9 most popular law student skills

• Case Review
• Debate and Advocacy
• Client Records
• Legal Writing
• Time Management
• Legal Research
• Wills and Trusts

Sample law student work experience bullet points

Impressive work skills ! But recruiters want to see some courtroom-related actions. How did you leverage those skills to create success for clients, attorneys, and peers? Recruiters want to see what you did, how and why you did it, and what kind of positive differences you made.

How did you transform your bookkeeping experience from an old job into more efficient client record keeping? As a law student, remember how many skills from unrelated jobs can transfer over to benefit your new professional role.

Just make sure you provide quantifiable data to back up your impact in the legal office or courtroom. Recruiters want percentages, dollar amounts, and ratings that support your efficacy and readiness to advance in your legal career.

Here are a few examples:

• Instructed Debating 101 class each semester, increasing Debate Club membership by 119%
• Streamlined the processes for legal research, drafting, and creation of self-help materials for pro se clients, decreasing research time by an average of 4 hours per case
• Supervised weekly schedule to adhere to labor guidelines and reduce employee burnout, decreasing turnover rate by 7% and boosting employee satisfaction rates to 4.8/5
• Assisted the managing attorney in foreclosure, debt buyer defense, and bankruptcy cases, improving work efficiency and reducing weekly labor hours by 11 on average
• Designed all in-house promotional displays and digital advertisements, increasing revenue by 16% and client acquisition by 9%

Top 5 Tips for Your Law Student Resume

• Keep your specialization goals in mind while you build your resume. Do you have a passion for commercial or family law? Taxation or civil litigation? If you’re applying for a firm specializing in just one or a few legal areas (most do), your resume should give examples of how you’re primed for that particular role.
• At the same time, we understand that limited job experience as a student and a broadly-themed legal internship might not convey your personal niche. And that’s okay! You can angle internships and unrelated job experiences toward your desired specialization and still provide a variety of accomplishments that show your adaptability with litigation.
• If your resume’s feeling a bit “patchwork,” you can always spotlight your specialized career goals in an objective statement . Briefly outline why you want that specific job, how you’ll benefit the role, and what qualifies you to deliver.
• Your example points should be as streamlined as possible. Again, state what you did, the context for why you did it, how you did it, and your final quantifiable impact . Stick with quality over quantity and avoid fluff.
• Additional certificates can be the cherry on top of your Juris Doctorate and land you that dream job! So don’t leave out other stuff like an Accredited Legal Professional (ALP) or Certified Paralegal certification.

If you only have one or two additional certifications as a law student (which is understandable if you’re just starting out!) then you can place them by your degree. If you have several, they’re worth having their own column!

Definitely! If you’re a fresh law student who’s new to the working world, an internship can provide invaluable work experience points that enhance your credibility. Just make sure you pick the most impressive points that are most similar to those you’d encounter on the job!

If you’re looking for other ways to boost your desirability as a legal candidate, try to think of memorable professors from law school, or even bosses from previous jobs. If any of them are willing to write you a professional reference, take them up on it!

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12 Law School Resume Tips + Example

Law student resume example + writing tips.

The top law schools have time and resources to  handpick the best applicants for admission . The committee will pay attention to your  LSAT score, GPA, letters of recommendations, and a resume . The latter often becomes a stumbling point even for the top students. The thing is,  writing a resume for law school is different  from writing one for employment. You have to emphasize whole  different characteristics  and use a  different writing style .

Whether you are looking to get accepted in Yale, Harvard, University of Chicago or other prestigious law school, you need to refine your resume so that it meets the high standards of such schools. Today, the experts of our online resume services will reveal the tips and tricks for writing a  persuasive resume  for your school application.

Give your career a head start with a professional resume

When applying for the top legal jobs, you'll be competed with candidates who are just as ambitious and accomplished as you are. Thus, a persuasive, result-driven resume can inspire the recruiter to choose you over other candidates. At ResumePerk, we create custom resumes for law students and professionals. We cater to all your needs and tailor the resume for your target position to help you get noticed faster.  Order today  with a 15% welcome discount!

Law student resume example

Here is a good example of a law student resume so you could get the idea of how to organize yours and what sections to include:

Image:  https://resumelab.com/resume-examples/law-student

Why is this a good resume?

• This resume is one page long, which is the ideal length for a student resume. It is neatly formatted, and all sections are clearly divided. Resumes with clear professional formatting have a higher chance of getting noticed.
• In the objective statement at the top, this student lists the degree in progress and academic awards. They also list professional achievements (recruiting clients worth $150,000) and career goals.
• This candidate briefly lists experience, quantifying their responsibilities whenever possible, which is valued by hiring managers. The education section includes school names, degrees, a GPA of 3.9, and relevant coursework.
• This law student resume also features relevant skills, such as legal research, deductive reasoning, and business document preparation. They also mention language proficiency.

You can use a similar law student resume template, but remember to list your unique educational background, work history, and achievements that will distinguish you from the competition. Here are some pointers to help you out.

10 Tips to write a law student resume that will get you noticed

1. use the traditional resume sections.

In a law school resume, main sections are the same as in a typical job search resume (however, it doesn't mean that the content should be the same – we'll talk about it later). These must-have sections include summary of qualifications, education, experience, and awards/accomplishments. Any other sections are optional – for instance, you may wish to include a Skills section if you have valuable or rare skills that can set you apart for the committee.

2. Capitalize on your law student skills

If there's plenty of space left in your law student resume, add relevant skills. You can find the needed skills in the job description or other industry resources. The skills section can help you pass the ATS screening, as skills often work as keywords.

The exact list of skills to include depends on your specialization and the target position. Here are some skills that are nice to have:

• critical thinking
• customer service
• legal research
• criminal law
• interpersonal skills
• legal documents
• negotiation
• corporate law
• time management

3. Highlight your academic accomplishments

What all schools pay attention to is your education section. Degrees, academic achievements, honors, scholarships, GPA, and thesis – all this adds points to your candidacy. List the degrees starting from the most advanced ones, and leave the high school information out. Include achievements such as Dean's list, honor societies, student awards and contests, and more. You might want to include some coursework (such as Federal Income Tax, International Law or Business Associations) if relevant. List accomplishments under each degree, or create a separate “Honors/Awards” section if there's plenty of them.

4. Emphasize other academic engagements

Do you have journal articles published, have you receive a grant or maybe, you were doing research work in the university and beyond? If these academic activities are relevant for your target law specialization, include them on a resume. Some schools pay attention to your academic and research background, so adding these details can influence your chance of getting admitted. If you want to achieve stellar career success, read our post where  women in business share their success tips .

5. Focus on legal experience

If you already have relevant experience (for example, as an intern or an administrative assistant), leave your irrelevant summer jobs out. Expand on your legal jobs, listing both your daily duties and achievements with figures. Have zero legal experience? Consider adding academic projects, such as doing a research for your professor, participating in student organizations, or volunteering in a law office or a non-profit organization.

If you haven't had even a law internship yet, you may add one or two irrelevant jobs. Be sure to highlight transferable skills that are important for a law firm.

6. Keep the length reasonable

For students, a one-page resume will suffice. This length allows you to present professional and educational history comprehensively. Yet, if you have extensive work experience or were involved in lots of relevant student activities, go for a second page. Keep the content highly relevant, and if the second page is absolutely necessary, use it.

7. Add a law student resume objective

The objective statement is nice to have in any student's resume. It lets you introduce the highlights of your education and skills, plus it explains to employer what position you're after and how you can contribute if hired.

Remember to keep your objective to 3-4 sentences. You can add the law degree, academic achievements, and professional highlights. Don't make it all about you - instead, think about the contribution you'd like to make in the law firm.

8. Put achievements and awards above the fold

Your law student resume is supposed not only to list your degree in progress and a couple of internship. You also need to boast a few accomplishments that showcase your ability to meet the highest standards and achieve ambitious goals.

Be sure to list academic achievements, such as the Dean's List, high GPA, or a student award. If you've had internships or relevant jobs, be sure to include numbers and percentages to illustrate your contribution. If you have plenty of achievements, consider creating a separate section for them.

9. Add professional accomplishments

The descriptions of your past jobs shouldn't consist of job duties only. You also need to mention at least a few specific achievements. Instead of writing “Generated new business”, say “Increased business with existing clients by 25%”. Such specific details show your ambition and orientation on results, which is important both in the workplace and in academia. Moreover, such achievements set you apart from other applicants whose experience and education is similar to yours.

10. Attach a law student cover letter

Submitting a cover letter with your law student resume is basic etiquette. Moreover, it is a chance to express your enthusiasm and your fit for the role. Send a short-and-sweet letter expanding on your achievements in law school and the hands-on skills you've acquired on internships and entry-level position. Keep it to 3-4 sentences and absolutely relevant to the organization you are applying to.

If you're writing a resume for the first time , it will be helpful to get an external opinion about it. Send your resume to our experts, and we will critically evaluate your resume and tell what could be improved about it to maximize your chances for interview. This service is free of charge.

Tips to organize your resume

Now that you know what information to add to your law student resume, it's time to organize it effectively. Here are the formatting tips to follow:

• Put your name and contact details at the top. Avoid fancy resume builders that place these details at the bottom or don't include them at all. The hiring manager won't spend time looking for ways to contact you.
• Don't add personal info, such as marital status, age, ethnicity, or religious beliefs. In the US, it is considered unprofessional and will result in rejecting your application.
• Write in bullet points. Today, presenting your projects and achievements as a bullet point list is considered a standard. Plus, bullets make your resume easier to read.
• Use a reverse chronological order. List your degrees and jobs starting with the most recent one.
• Include hard and soft skills. Mention job-related skills like in a sample law student resume above. Make sure to adjust the skills and all resume content for the target job ad.

How to compose a law school application resume?

Writing a law school resume is different from composing a resume for a job. You should't use the resume you use for job application to apply to a law school because they have different purpose.

When applying to law school, you don't need to impress recruiters in seconds. Law school admissions evaluate candidates thoroughly and pay attention to your overall background and values, not just the skills you have. Here are some pointers to guide you.

• Emphasize any details that distinguish you, such as community engagement, research interests, and volunteer work in addition to you education and work history.
• Keep it to one page. A one-page resume is a standard length for law school application. If your school has guidelines for formatting and content to include, follow them precisely.
• Adapt to the values of your law school. All top schools have values and expectations from the prospective students. For example, some prefer admitting experienced professionals, whereas others may pay more attention to community engagements, voluntary work or athletic accomplishments. Figure out what matters most for your school – and revolve the resume content around these details.
• Leave out irrelevant experiences. While an employer might appreciate your experience in McDonalds, admission officers wouldn't be much interested.

A resume isn't the only decisive factor for a law school committee. Yet, a thoughtfully written and well organized resume will certainly attract their attention. If you need a concise and effective resume, we can help. Our writers know the specifics of writing resumes for law schools and will help capitalize on your strengths.

Bonus: How to succeed in law school?

Your study in a law school can be an extremely rewarding experience if you approach the studying process right. To become an effective student, follow the recommendations below:

1. Read all the assigned materials

More importantly, do the reading on time. Law schools have extensive curriculum, so if you delay the reading for a week or two, you'll find it very tough to catch up with your classmates. Take notes as you read – it helps you prioritize the information and remember more.

2. Revise before class

Revise the notes you've taken as you read textbooks or during the previous lectures. This will help your brain focus even before the lecture begins. As a result, you'll feel more concentrated and involved in the discussion during the lecture.

3. Pay attention and take notes

At times, lectures can be boring. Yet, procrastinating and surfing the web isn't the most effective way to spend the lecture time. Pay attention to what the professor is saying and ask questions at once if something isn't clear. Take notes of the key concepts, books and learning strategies the tutor recommends.

4. Treat networking seriously

Studying in a law school isn't all about classes. It's also a tremendous opportunity to build your professional network early on and establish your reputation. Take your time to get to know your peers, tutors and senior students better. Once you graduate, you'll find it easier to land a job or an internship if you know many professionals in your field.

5. Stay organized

The number of classes and written assignments can overwhelm. To stay on top of everything, get a planner or use an app. Keep track of your assignments, projects, exams, and other important activities. In this case, you won't forget anything and will organize the learning process effectively.

Stand out with a professional law resume

The competition for legal jobs is tough, and having an effective resume can make all the difference. If you are not happy with the way your resume looks, entrust it to professionals. Our dedicated writers will highlight the exact qualifications that employers look for, boosting your chances to be shortlisted.

Our experienced writers can create a powerful resume suitable for each position. However, you may also request a specific resume depending on the job you are applying for, thus it will be tailored individually for your profession:

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Resume title

Law School Resume Examples and Writing Guide

Law school resume examples are hard to come by, even though they can be a useful resource when trying to create your own. One of the main reasons for this is that applicants often don't realize that there's a difference between a regular work resume, a CV for graduate school , and a resume for specific programs such as an MBA resume or law school resume. In this post, we will go over those differences, show you some top-tier law school resume examples, and give you some tips for creating your own.

>> Want us to help you get accepted? Schedule a free initial consultation here <<

Article Contents 10 min read

What is a law school resume.

A law school resume is a required document in applications to most law schools in Canada and the United States. Applicants often focus on perfecting law school personal statements , figuring out how to study for the LSAT , and reviewing potential law school interview questions , and while these are essential components of the law school application, a strong resume can be just as important. Law schools like to get a sense of who you are as a person and what you've done outside of the classroom, so a good resume can significantly impact your ability to gain admission.

Furthermore, most admission committees use your resume as an initial screening tool. They will start by reviewing your resume before reading your essays or any other application components to find out about your general background, achievements, and overall profile. This helps them decide if your application is worth considering. If you are called for an interview, the admissions board will usually ask questions related to your resume, so it's a good idea to learn how to prepare for your law school interview with your resume in mind.

When done correctly, your law school resume should showcase your accomplishments, experience, and skills in a way that will stand out to the admissions board.

Most law school applicants already have a resume that they use to apply for work or volunteer positions. It is important to understand that there are key differences between this resume and the one you need to submit with your law school application. Much like the other components of your application, your resume needs to be specifically designed for the reader. In this case, you are addressing the admissions boards of the school you are applying to. You need to keep in mind that the information they're seeking is different from what a potential employer would be interested in.

Both documents should result in a compelling, accurate, and flattering portrayal of your background. However, while your job-seeking resume needs to show your aptitude for a specific line of work, your law school resume should show your readiness for law school and your fit for your chosen institution. A hiring manager typically has a specific list of technical skills or qualifications that they are scanning for on a resume. For example, if they are hiring a graphic designer, they'll be looking at the resume to see how familiar the candidate is with the industry, if they have any experience in graphic design, or if they are trained to use a particular software. In contrast, law school admissions committees will probably spend more time thoroughly reviewing your resume and trying to determine if your background has prepared you for their law school. They will be looking for evidence of the qualities that the school values and focusing on things like your academic achievements and communication skills.

To put that into context, take a look at the two resumes below. Both of these resumes belong to the same person, so they obviously showcase a similar background. That said, you can clearly see that they have chosen to highlight different parts of their experience on the different documents. The first resume is designed for a potential employer. It includes a resume objective or summary at the very top and has a list of specific skills that the employer is likely to be interested in. The second resume is better suited for a law school application as it has more information about the applicant’s academic background, and instead of listing skills, they have highlighted some awards/honors that showcase transferable skills which can be useful in law school.

Would you first like to see a summary of some key tips we discuss later in this article? Check this out:

Law resume example #1

Now that you have a better idea of what a law school resume is and what it needs to communicate, let’s talk about how you can craft a strong one for yourself:

Law school resume format & layout

Your law school resume needs to be clean, professional, concise, and well-organized. The aim is to make it as easy to read as possible. It's important to check the requirements of the law school you are applying to, as they may have specific instructions for your resume. If that is the case, you should make sure to follow those instructions as it shows the admissions board that you take your application seriously and that you can take directions.  

Unless otherwise specified, these are our recommendations for the format of your law school resume:

Your law school resume needs to communicate a substantive amount of information in a very precise manner. To make it easy to read and to provide only the most pertinent information, we recommend sticking to bullet point lists that convey the key achievements for each experience and project you worked on. Each bullet point should have a maximum of three lines to avoid cluttering up the page.  ","label":"Writing style","title":"Writing style"}]" code="tab1" template="BlogArticle">

Law school resume sections & content

There is no golden resume template to get you into law school. The key to success is making sure that your resume is structured in a way that is easy to follow and read. That means keeping everything neat and separated into clearly labeled sections. Your resume should include the following sections:  

• Contact Information 
• Education 
• Work Experience (professional experience and volunteer experience) 
• Additional Achievements/Information (Such as awards and honors, special projects, certifications, Skills, Interests/Activities)  

Now, let’s go over what needs to be included in each section. It may seem obvious, but the truth is that applicants often make mistakes when it comes to the content of their law school resume. You have to carefully decide what to include and, just as importantly, what you leave out.

This is, without a doubt, the easiest section on your resume. As suggested by the section's name, you should keep it simple and provide that they need to contact you. We've provided a basic list of information to include below, but of course, you can tweak this list for your specific profile. 

You should include the following: 

TIP : While including a LinkedIn profile is optional, it does give admissions officers another opportunity to learn more about you, so including it may be to your benefit. 

2. Education

Remember that you are applying for an academic program, so your academic background is very important. You should write your education section in reverse chronological order, meaning that the most recent education should be listed first. If you are still completing a degree, you should still list it with your anticipated date of completion. 

For every degree, you should have a new entry. Each one should include the name of the degree, the university you attended, your graduation year, your major and minor (when applicable), your GPA (if it is competitive), any honors or significant achievements, key projects, research work, and meaningful coursework.  

That said, if you have been working for a significant number of years and have more work experience, then you can opt to keep these entries brief and make your work experience the focus of your resume. In that case, your education entries should only mention the name of your degree, the institution, the year of graduation, your major and minor, and key achievements that highlight the qualities that your chosen law school values.  

3. Work experience

Often, this is where applicants err by trying to cram in too much information. Depending on your level of experience, this section can take up to 3/4 of your resume, but you need to make sure that it only includes relevant information. You should stick to the following:

Write your summaries in bullet points, with each point having one to three lines, and use action verbs such as "improved", "managed" or "modified". Be specific and quantify your achievements whenever possible but remember that you can provide more information about the skills you gained and what you learned in your personal statement. You can look at law school personal statement examples to get a better idea of how to do that. 

As with the education section, you should write it in reverse chronological order and divide it into different subsections. For example, you can include a subcategory for research experience or volunteer experience, depending on your background.   

4. Additional achievements and information

This is the section where you get to highlight some of the things that do not fit into the other categories that we've discussed. This includes significant extracurricular achievements, relevant skills and certifications, awards and honors, associations/clubs with leadership roles, and interests. If you only have something to add in one of these subcategories, then you can make that your main category and list the relevant information.

You should only include high-stake accomplishments and information that is relevant to your application, which showcases abilities or qualities that would make you a stronger candidate for law school. For example, if you are a chess club member, you don't need to add it to your resume because it doesn't add much to it. On the other hand, if you created a chess club and led members to an important tournament, you should mention that because it shows your leadership potential. To make your resume more enticing, you can separate the information into different subcategories, as done in the example below: 

ADDITIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS AND INFORMATION:

Honors and awards

Doe Senior Society - March 20xx

• One of thirty members of the Class of 20xx to be inducted into University of X's oldest Honor Society

Research project Smith Scholarship Finalist – March 20xx

Founding member of New City Chess Tournament (NCCT) - Oct 20xx to present

• Recruited chess players in xx community
• Organized and supervised an annual tournament for over 36 players 

Do you need to prepare a law school personal statement as well as your resume? This video provides helpful examples:

Be consistent with the rest of your application:

Your resume is just one component of your law school application. It is supposed to give the admissions board an overview of your academic and professional background, which your essays and other application documents will then explain in detail. The easiest way to achieve this is to be honest, avoid exaggerations and thoroughly proofread all of your documents.  

For example, suppose you’ve chosen to write a law school diversity statement in which you mention that you’ve spent a significant amount of time volunteering for Big Brothers Big Sisters to help children who come from the same socioeconomic background as you, but then your resume shows that you were only a volunteer for one month. In that case, your word choice may cause the admissions board to be confused or, even worse, suspicious. It is important to pay attention to the details and stick to telling the facts in a flattering way rather than trying to embellish your experience.  

Focus on actions and results

Instead of listing tasks and functional responsibilities as you would for a job-seeking resume, you should try to focus on actions and quantifiable results. You want your resume to highlight your skills and the best way to do that is to use action verbs such as ‘created’, ‘led’, or ‘performed’. Whenever possible, you should also mention measurable results and long-term achievements as they are more memorable and help put things into context for the reader. The aim is to show the admissions board the impact that your achievements had and qualities that will serve you well in law school. 

For example, instead of saying 'Was responsible for converting paper filing system into a digital system,' you should say 'Overhauled office paper filing system and digitized it, thus increasing efficiency.' The second sentence tells more of a story than the first one, highlighting your ability to take a project, see it through and effect change.  

Skip the technical jargon

When you are applying for a job, you want your potential employer to know that you are knowledgeable about your industry. You also know the likelihood of them understanding your line of work's acronyms and technical jargon is relatively high. In that case, you should feel free to use certain technical words. However, on your law school resume, you should avoid all jargon that is not legal.  

Keep in mind that the admissions board will be looking at the content of your resume and your communication skills. Suppose they have to look up every other word or acronym on your resume because it's particular to the industry you were working in at the time. That experience will not only be unpleasant for them, but it will also tell them that you do not know how to communicate effectively.   

Prioritize adult education and work experience

We're not saying that your high school accomplishments are unimportant or that you shouldn't mention them at all but this isn’t a high school resume , so try to keep these to a minimum. Your law school resume should only mention significant experiences and prestigious accomplishments from high school. Like if you achieved a distinctive honor like being valedictorian, for example.  

On the other hand, things like your high school GPA or involvement in the chess club do not need to be mentioned. Law schools are more interested in what you've done and who you are as an adult. For example, a 3.7 GPA from one of the best undergraduate business schools will be more impressive than a 4.0 GPA in high school.  

Proofread thoroughly

After you've finished the final draft of your law school resume, you should step away from it and come back to check it with fresh eyes. Make sure that there are no grammatical errors or typos, that your format is consistent throughout, and that it follows the school guidelines (if any). You can also invest in a law school admissions consulting  service to maximize your chances of having a solid resume and getting into law school.  

Law resume example #3

Law resume example #4.

A law school resume is a short document that provides a snapshot of the applicant's academic and professional background. It is an integral part of most law school applications.

We do not recommend that you do this. Your work resume is supposed to grab an employer's attention, and they're looking for specific technical skills that show them that you can perform in a particular line of work. On the other hand, your law school resume is part of an application to an academic program, which means that the admissions board will be looking for a different set of transferable skills to see if you are ready for law school.

In short, yes! Law school resumes can be used as a screening document for some admissions committees. Furthermore, they give you a chance to showcase your background in a way you may not be able to in the other documents that comprise your application.

Ideally, one page long, but this will depend on your experience level. You should try not to have more than two pages.

Your resume should give the admissions board of your chosen school an overview of your academic and professional background. Therefore, it should consist of your contact information, education, work experience, and any relevant additional information (Such as awards and honors, special projects, certifications, Skills, Interests/Activities) 

It's completely optional. That said, you should keep in mind that the aim is for the admissions board to get to know you, so if your LinkedIn has additional information that can strengthen your candidacy, then you should include it.

You should list any volunteering, internships, and campus leadership roles. Furthermore, you can expand your education section by including relevant coursework or projects.

You can include some information about your high school experience but keep this short because law schools are far more interested in the adult version of you. You should only include your high school's name, your graduation year, and significant achievements.

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The best work experience for law school.

Reviewed by:

David Merson

Former Head of Pre-Law Office, Northeastern University, & Admissions Officer, Brown University

Reviewed: 01/18/23

If you’re beginning your law school journey and want to know what work experience looks good on law school applications, read on!

With the LSAT , personal essays, letters of recommendation, and the rest of the lengthy application process , applying to law school truly is a marathon, not a sprint.

On top of worrying about getting the right extracurriculars and ensuring you maintain a high GPA in your undergrad, another aspect to consider when applying to law school is gaining relevant work experience.

With everything else on your plate, it may feel like you can barely catch your breath during your marathon to become a lawyer!

This guide will discuss the best work experience for law school, explain the skills law schools are looking for, and how to best describe these skills on your law school application.

How Does Work Experience Help Your Law School Application?

Top-ranking schools only recently began focusing heavily on work experience after realizing that students with work experience tend to perform better in law school.In fact, 82% of the 2021 Harvard Law students arrived on campus with at least one year of work experience, and 90% of the 2021 students at the Pritzker School of Law did. 

Having relevant work experience shows that you have already begun developing the skills required of a law student and lawyer and also shows your genuine dedication to and focus on becoming a lawyer.

While this guide will provide some examples of jobs that can provide you with the best work experience for law school, it is crucial to note that there are no “wrong” jobs for law school. So long as you can demonstrate that you acquired the right skills and experience through your jobs, they can still help you stand out.

The Skills Law Schools Are Looking For

While legal experience such as working as a paralegal, legal assistant, legal clerk, or court representative will undoubtedly look good on your law school application, gaining work experience in other fields is just as worthwhile. 

The significance of gaining law school work experience is to demonstrate you have skills transferable to law, which you can do with most jobs!

You’re probably wondering what specific skills you should be able to demonstrate through your work experience. Read on to find seven essential skills law schools look for and examples of jobs you can work to develop these skills.

Communication

To be the absolute best advocate for your clients, you’ll have to be able to present your ideas clearly and communicate persuasively. 

Luckily, practically every job requires communication! However, to ensure you can adequately demonstrate your communication skills, you may want to work in a field that relies heavily on interpersonal relationships.

Teaching and tutoring positions are excellent jobs to demonstrate this skill, as your entire job revolves around you interacting with students in different ways to help them learn.

Other customer service and administration jobs can also prove you have great communication skills. For instance, receptionists are generally the first point of contact for clients, meaning they have to be able to maintain good interpersonal relationships.

The Ability to Work Under Pressure

Lawyers are required to work long hours and handle difficult clients under high-pressure environments. Law school is also extremely demanding and requires students who can handle the rigorous curriculum.

Gaining legal experience is an excellent way to demonstrate you can handle the specific pressures you’ll be expected to deal with as a lawyer. But gaining this type of experience is often easier said than done.

Camp counselling or lifeguarding are some accessible options to demonstrate this skill. Similarly, work experience in retail and hospitality can test your ability to work with demanding clients and meet strict timelines.

Since lawyers often work independently and lead their clients by preparing them for cases, you’ll need to hone your leadership skills. 

While it would be ideal for you to have some managerial work experience, other options to demonstrate your leadership skills could be teaching, coaching, or working for a start-up company.

Emerging companies are always eager to hire bright, energetic, and often less experienced individuals to begin growing their business.They also often have fewer employees, meaning you’ll likely have to juggle different roles. This will give you several opportunities to gain leadership experience, like training new employees. 

Commitment and Compassion

While these two skills can be separate, Your law school work experience should demonstrate both skills simultaneously. As a lawyer, you’ll be working in what’s bleakly called the suffering business ; most clients come in with some form of conflict: crime allegations, disputes, bankruptcy, divorce, injury, and more.

As such, you’ll need to be committed to your clients, compassionate, and considerate regardless of your own opinions on the case.

The best jobs to show these skills involve community work, preferably serving vulnerable populations. Most of these jobs tend to be understaffed, exhausting, and emotionally draining. However, you gain valuable perspective and experience that will not only boost your application but can make for some moving personal statements!

Jobs involving community work can also help you figure out what type of law you’d like to practice!

You can also demonstrate this skill through volunteer experience, which you’ll want to include on your law school resume.

Problem-Solving

As a lawyer, your entire job is to solve people’s legal problems. So, it would be best to  gain work experience that helps you develop your problem-solving skills.

Fortunately, every job requires some level of problem-solving, which means any job could work for this skill. 

Customer service jobs are known to require good problem-solving skills. Working as a bank representative can be specifically helpful for those interested in the business or financial side of law.

Attention to Detail

Lawyers are required to read lengthy documents and take note of every detail to sufficiently represent their clients.

Some possible job options for prospective law students to develop their attention to detail skills are data entry or proofreading jobs.

Luckily, many data entry jobs don’t require any prior experience and have flexible hours, making this an excellent job for students to have while still in school. Also, since most companies require some form of data entry, you may be able to enter data for a law firm or legal research company.

Before you stress about having to beg your professors to let you in on their research projects, this skill is beneficial to have when applying to law schools.

While it is not necessary to have formal research experience, it is worth mentioning this skill. As a law student and a working lawyer, you will be conducting research on cases, making research experience an asset. 

Aside from actual research assistant positions, teaching or tutoring are also excellent ways to demonstrate this skill, especially if you are in charge of creating your own lesson plans. Many summer circles and camp programs involve this type of independent teaching.

In these positions, you’ll have to research different curriculums and resources while observing your students to determine what learning strategies work best for them.

How To Describe Your Work Experience In Your Law School Application

Getting the best work experience for law school is only half the battle. What’s even more important than the work you do is your ability to describe this work experience perfectly.

Describing Work Experience on Your Resume

Most law school applications require students to submit resumes detailing all of their post-secondary work and volunteer experience.

As previously discussed, there is not a set list of jobs that you should list on your resume. Applicants from different backgrounds can still be outstanding candidates if they can describe their work experience sufficiently!

Most people are advised to humbly describe their work experience rather than show off their accomplishments. Forget this while you write your law school resume -- think of it as a highlight reel of all of your experience and accomplishments. The biggest mistake most candidates make in J.D. application resumes is underselling themselves.

While you definitely want to highlight your skills, you also want to remain realistic. You don’t want the admissions committee to look at your resume and roll their eyes at your exaggerated claim to have increased profits by 300% at a company you only worked at for two months.

It might seem a little confusing to both oversell yourself and avoid exaggeration. To understand how to best describe your law school work experience, here is a real law school resume that got a student accepted into Harvard Law .

Looking at this resume has probably sent a wave of panic through your body because of how many words it has and how different your work experience is from this student’s.

Remember, this resume is simply one template and not the only way to write your resume. That said, it does have some excellent qualities that you can easily incorporate into your resume, regardless of your experience.

Let’s break it down into some tips:

Organize Your Resume

In this student’s resume, they’ve separated their education from their professional experience.While it may seem like a relatively simple formatting choice, this separation is an excellent way to keep your resume readable and organized.

It also eliminates any confusion over your different accomplishments. Law schools like to see you’ve done well in your academics and personal life, so the best way to show you’ve excelled in both is to separate these accomplishments.

Another critical section this student has included is “service learning.” Alternatively, other students have titled this section “volunteer experience” instead. It is essential to keep this section separate from your work experience to show your genuine commitment to your community (since you’re willing to give back to it for free!).

Most law schools want to see that you consistently keep busy working/volunteering. Some schools will even ask you to write an appendix if you have any long gaps in your resume.

So, you want to include precisely how long you worked at each job by listing the month, and year you started and ended.

Be Descriptive: Use SAM

This student has multiple bullet points for each job they worked, and each bullet point is two lines long.

Strong descriptions are vital to provide evidence of your skills and adequately explain all of your roles. When writing your resume, aim to write at least one full line per description and avoid vagueness.

If you’re trying to describe a specific achievement (which you should aim to do in each job and volunteer description), remember your new friend SAM :

Let’s see SAM in action using an example from the Harvard student’s resume: 

“reduced resume turnaround time by 2-7 days through the introduction of an Additional Information Form used to provide requested documents prior to draft completion.”

Solution: reduced resume turnaround time

Accomplishment: by 2-7 days

Method: through the introduction of an Additional Information Form

The order in which you add these components to your descriptions doesn’t matter. For instance, the following quote from his resume takes on more of an MSA format:

“Updated case logs with pleas and sentencing, eliminating a 2-month backlog of over 500 cases.”

Method : updated case logs with pleas and sentencing

Solution : eliminated a 2-month backlog

Accomplishment : of over 500 cases

Your description should be specific enough as long as you incorporate these three elements logically.

Use a Second Page

This Harvard student’s resume is two pages long, and yours can be too.

While the idea that resumes must only be one page has been drilled into all of our heads, this isn’t the case with law school application resumes.

Since you want to showcase your best work experience for law school, you might need to extend your resume to fit everything. This is completely fine to do if you have relevant and exceptional work experience.

Describing Work Experience in Your Personal Statement

Another way prospective students can explain their law school work experience is through their secondary essays or personal statements.

If you have a lot of unconventional work experience that is unrelated to law, this can be the perfect opportunity for you to focus on why you decided to choose law over your other career options.

By focusing on your career change, you can demonstrate the relevant skills you gained from your previous jobs while explaining what inspired you to pursue law.

However, you should always avoid reiterating your resume in personal statements! These essays are meant to humanize you and provide deeper insight into who you are and what you value.

Describing Work Experience in Your Interviews

If you make it to the interview stage of the law school admission process, they may ask questions about your work experience.

Possible job-related interview questions the admissions committee can ask are:

• What type of responsibilities have you had in your past work experiences?
• Why did you choose to work at these specific organizations?
• What did you like/dislike about that work?
• Why did you leave your past jobs?
• Tell me about your interest in x field of work.

When answering these questions, it is essential to highlight the skills and roles previously mentioned in this guide that will transfer well into a law career. You want to use strong and confident language when describing your roles. This proves you made an impact and were a valuable team member.

Also, why you left a particular job comes into question; ensure you do not speak poorly about past employers. Instead, speak on the formative experience that resulted from these positions and how they helped you discover your passion for law. Alternatively, you can say you wanted more challenging roles that better aligned with your law goals.

Law School Work Experience FAQs

The following frequently asked questions may answer any concerns you still have.

1. What is the Best Work Experience For Law School?

There is no perfect resume for aspiring law students. While legal education looks good on law school applications, any jobs that showcase relevant skills will work.

2. Do I Need Law Experience to Get Into Law School?

No, you do not specifically need law experience to get into law school. Many law students have no experience in law but have significant experience in other fields that they can prove are relevant to law.

3. What If I Have No Work Experience?

If you have no work experience, you can still gain admission into law school, especially if you have a lot of volunteer and extracurricular experience.

You can also take a gap year after your undergrad to gain relevant work experience that will help you stand out and give you a better chance of gaining admission into a top-ranking law school.  

4. What Should I Include On My Law School Resume?

You’ll want to include your education, work, and volunteer experience on your resume. Don’t limit yourself to only one page -- you want to sell yourself to the admissions committee.

Include any jobs where you demonstrated exemplary leadership, communication, commitment, dedication, and flexibility. Even if you only worked at McDonald’s throughout your undergrad, you can still prove you’ve gained these skills through this job.

5. What Should I Avoid On My Law School Resume?

Avoid underselling yourself, but also avoid exaggerating and making unrealistic claims. You also want to avoid vagueness when describing your skills and accomplishments, so there is no reason for the admissions team to doubt you.

6. How Many Jobs Should I Have Before Law School?

There is no magic number of jobs you should have before entering law school, but it is essential to prioritize quality over quantity.

Having a bunch of jobs that you only stayed at for one or two months will make the admissions committee wonder why these roles were so short-lived. Also, it will be harder to demonstrate the impact you made and the skills you developed at these jobs.

If you’ve only had one or two jobs but have been working there for months or years, that’s great! Not only does this show loyalty, but you can easily demonstrate your impact at these jobs and how much you have learned from them.

Final Thoughts On Law School Work Experience

Have you caught your breath? After going over the best work experience for law school, the skills law schools look for, and how to describe your work experience, you should hopefully feel less stressed about figuring out what law school work experience you need.

Whether you’re an experienced legal assistant who has worked in the law industry for years or just recently decided to go to law school, you can demonstrate the relevance of any job and stand out as a candidate!

See you at the finish line. Good luck!

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Updated: Apr 17, 2024, 8:06am

Law schools are known for their demanding admissions requirements. To apply to law school, aspiring law students typically write a law school personal statement , polish their résumés and send test scores to demonstrate their readiness to succeed in a rigorous curriculum.

The only standardized test accepted by every American Bar Association accredited law school is the Law School Admission Test (LSAT)®. The LSAT tests your reasoning, reading comprehension and writing skills as they apply to concepts covered in law school. Law schools use the LSAT to determine whether applicants are well-suited for a J.D. degree program. While the test is not a legal aptitude test, law schools rely upon it because of its ability to predict academic performance in the first year of law school.

Find out what to expect from the LSAT in this guide, which explores the test’s subject areas, its structure and how to prepare for the LSAT.

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What Is The LSAT?

The LSAT—offered by the Law School Admission Council (LSAC)®—is a standardized test for prospective law school students. The test examines your skills in reading, writing and reasoning, measuring your potential success in a law program. The LSAT features multiple-choice questions and a writing portion.

LSAT Questions

The multiple-choice section tests your critical thinking and reading comprehension skills through four 35-minute blocks of questions. The questions cover the following topics:

• Reading comprehension. This section includes reading material typically found in law school. The questions gauge your ability to dissect information, draw conclusions and understand key points. The LSAT includes four reading passages, each with a series of follow-up questions.
• Analytical reasoning. This section presents scenarios featuring facts, rules and relationships. You’ll answer questions using problem-solving skills to assemble the puzzle of each scenario while adhering to relevant rules or limitations. Starting in August 2024, this section will be eliminated, and instead the exam will include two sections dedicated to logical reasoning.
• Logical reasoning. The LSAT’s logical reasoning portion includes source-based passages, each with up to two follow-up questions. The questions cover analogies, argument flaws and logical reasoning patterns.

The test also includes one unscored question section covering one of the above topic areas. LSAC uses these questions for quality assurance to strengthen the accuracy of future tests.

LSAT Writing®

LSAT Writing consists of a scenario prompt with two positions the writer can take. This section requires you to choose a side of an argument and use your reasoning and logic skills to support your choice in a persuasive essay. You complete this section separately from the rest of the LSAT, and you have 35 minutes to do so. LSAT Writing is monitored through live proctoring software, allowing test takers to complete it from their own homes, a development that came about, initially, in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

LSAT Scoring

The LSAT counts each question you get right rather than subtracting questions you get wrong from a cumulative score. (In other words, there is no penalty for guessing.) LSAC does not score LSAT Writing samples.

The LSAT scoring scale ranges from 120 to 180. The final score report includes your score, your percentile rank compared to other test takers and a score band that highlights your proficiency in each area of the exam. LSAC sends your LSAT score report and writing sample to your law schools of choice.

Common Questions About the LSAT

How long does the lsat take.

The LSAT takes about three hours to finish, including all five sections and a break. You can take the 35-minute writing portion up to eight days before the day you take the multiple-choice portion of the LSAT.

The LSAT includes two 35-minute sections of multiple-choice questions, followed by a 10-minute break. The test then continues with its final two 35-minute multiple-choice sections.

You can request additional breaks between each section if you qualify for accommodations.

How Many Times Can You Take the LSAT?

You can take the LSAT up to seven times. However, you are limited to five tests per five-year reportable scoring period. These rules only apply to tests taken from September 2019 to the present. Therefore, any LSATs you took before that time don’t count toward your limit.

You can’t retake the LSAT if you receive a perfect score in the current or past five testing years.

Is the LSAT Required for Law School?

The LSAT isn’t required for all law schools. Some schools also accept the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE)® or the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT)™. Law schools that accept the GRE or GMAT also accept LSAT scores.

What Can You Expect on LSAT Test Day?

The LSAT is administered online with a remote proctor and in person at professional testing centers. You get a 10-minute break halfway through the test. You can leave the room during your break, but you may not use electronic devices and you must check in with your proctor before beginning the second half of the LSAT.

LSAC allows you to have earplugs, tissues, water in a transparent container and medication on your desk if needed. The test no longer allows scratch paper except as an approved accommodation, but the LSAT Writing interface includes a digital scratch paper section.

You can take the written portion before or after completing the standard LSAT. The LSAT Writing takes place online with a live proctor only.

What Is a Good LSAT Score?

LSAT scores range from 120 to 180, and the median LSAT score is about 152. However, each law school determines its minimum LSAT score for applicants, with more competitive schools preferring scores of 160 or higher.

Common Questions About LSAT Writing

Is lsat writing required for law school.

LSAT Writing is not required for law schools that do not require the LSAT for admission; you may instead take the GRE for these schools. However, if your school does require the LSAT, you’ll need to complete LSAT Writing. Your school will not consider your LSAT complete if it doesn’t include LSAT Writing.

Is LSAT Writing Scored?

No, LSAT Writing isn’t scored. LSAC sends your writing sample to the law schools to which you apply. Those schools evaluate your writing sample based on their own requirements.

Do Law Schools Actually Read Your Writing Sample?

Law schools that require LSAT scores read each applicant’s writing sample. A school can weigh the importance of LSAT Writing samples however they’d like when determining whether an applicant qualifies for admission.

Does LSAT Writing Have a Minimum or Maximum Word Count?

LSAT Writing does not set a minimum or maximum word count. Instead, test takers should focus on writing a well-planned, organized and thorough essay during the 35-minute testing portion.

Common Questions About LSAT Prep

When should you start preparing for the lsat.

Anyone preparing for the LSAT should study relevant content for at least several weeks. If you have a lot of time to study, you might feel ready after just one or two months of preparation. However, some test takers might need three months or more to feel better equipped for the LSAT.

What’s the Best LSAT Prep Strategy?

Preparing for the LSAT is an intensive process and systems like memorization that might aid in a college exam do not help when taking the LSAT. As a result, preparing for the LSAT is a process that normally requires months of study, rather than weeks. For example, a preparation cycle of three to six months is very common.

A good starting point is to simply take a full practice test, often called ‘a diagnostic’ so that you can establish a baseline score. In addition to working through a formalized curriculum it is important to remember that taking practice tests after completing that curriculum will form the backbone of your preparation and will also help you objectively assess your readiness to take the test formally.

Are There Free LSAT Prep Resources?

Yes, there are several free LSAT prep resources, including official LSAC LawHub practice tests. Khan Academy also provides a free online LSAT prep course. However, given the correlation between your LSAT score and the cost of attending law school, test takers are strongly encouraged to invest in their test preparation, although spending thousands of dollars is rarely necessary.

LSAT Prep Resources to Consider

Studying for the LSAT and practicing under test conditions should acclimate you to the test and the conditions you will encounter on test day, the idea being that it will help you counter test anxiety and properly understand this very difficult exam. Below are some of the most popular resources for LSAT preparation.

LSAC’s LawHub is free for test takers who want extra practice before taking the exam. The plan includes exam-like testing modules and four official practice tests with instant scoring to determine critical study areas. However, it is important to remember that the level of instruction is going to be very different from that experienced in commercial test preparation offerings.

LawHub Advantage

LawHub Advantage is a paid version of the LawHub free study program, priced at $115 annually. It includes about 60 practice exams, educational resources and a status tracker for law school applications. This is an excellent resource for someone who has learned how to understand the test and needs to practice the test under increasing amounts of time pressure, and under test conditions.

LSAT eBooks and Prep Books

LSAC provides several official eBooks and test prep books for purchase on Amazon and other online retailers. One of its most comprehensive books, “The New Official LSAT TriplePrep Volume 1™,” includes three recent practice tests with answer keys, a scoring conversion table and three LSAT Writing prompts.

Other books include a single or bundle of practice tests. Each book generally costs between $10 and $25, with lower-priced e-book versions available. However, experts note that learning the test through the use of a book alone can lead to learning bad habits that can cause plateaus and which can be difficult to break.

Khan Academy Official LSAT Prep

The Khan Academy Official LSAT Prep program is a free study resource that identifies which exam areas you may need to develop. It then uses that information to create a custom plan with lessons and skills practice. Khan Academy is an excellent starting place, but with law school tuition costing hundreds of thousands of dollars, even at average schools, investing in quality LSAT preparation is strongly encouraged.

The Cost of LSAT Prep

The cost of LSAT preparation programs varies widely and depends on the experience of the tutor, whether the content is provided in person (more costly) or online and the level of student to tutor interaction. For instance, some providers offer subscription fees under $100 but with minimal interaction. Others range from anywhere between $1,000- $5,500 but spending such a large sum is rarely necessary. Test takers will also be encouraged to note that many providers allow waivers for those with an LSAT approved fee waiver.

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A Law Degree Is No Sure Thing: Some Law School Graduates Earn Top Dollar, but Many Do Not

A law degree is no sure thing, some law school graduates earn top dollar, but many do not, find your school, full report, press release.

Is law school worth it? A Juris Doctor (JD) offers high median earnings and a substantial earnings boost relative to a bachelor’s degree in the humanities or social sciences—two of the more common fields of study that lawyers pursue as undergraduate students. However, graduates of most law schools carry substantial student loan debt, which dims the financial returns associated with a JD.

A Law Degree Is No Sure Thing: Some Law School Graduates Earn Top Dollar, but Many Do Not finds that the return on investment (ROI) in earnings and career outcomes varies widely across law schools. The median earnings net of debt payments are $72,000 four years after graduation for all law school graduates, but exceed $200,000 at seven law schools. By comparison, graduates of 33 law schools earn less than $55,000 net of debt payments four years after graduation.

Find Your Law School

To see how your law school stacks up, explore our sortable table of 186 law schools ranked by ROI metrics, including median monthly debt payments, median annual earnings, and median annual earnings net of debt payments.

– Median Monthly Debt Payments

Monthly debt payments are based on data from the College Scorecard. Note that these data only include federal student loans and do not capture loans from other entities such as institutions, states, or private lenders.

– Median Annual Earnings

Earnings refer to graduates’ median yearly earnings four years after graduation.

– Median Annual Earnings Net of Debt Payments

This dollar figure represents graduates’ annual earnings net of debt payments four years after they graduate from law school. We take debt payments into account in addition to earnings because a significant debt load can offset high earnings.

Source: Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce analysis of data from the US Department of Education, College Scorecard, 2023.

Note: When computing monthly loan payments, the Department of Education assumed a 10-year repayment period and an interest rate of 7.54 percent for graduate programs.

Student Loan Debt

High debt levels can negatively affect the financial returns of a law degree. Law school graduates accumulate a median of $118,500 in debt in the pursuit of their degree, which translates to high monthly loan payments for graduates of many schools. However, lower earnings and lower debt payments do not necessarily go hand-in-hand: at some institutions where graduates have the lowest earnings, monthly debt payments exceed or match those of graduates from law schools with the highest earnings.

Gender and Race/Ethnicity

Law schools have become increasingly diverse; however, disparities in earnings persist by race/ethnicity and gender. For example, since 2016, women have outpaced men in law school enrollments, accounting for 56 percent of all law school students in 2023. Nevertheless, women are underrepresented in the legal profession: women account for only 39 percent of all practicing lawyers. Additionally, among working lawyers, ages 25–54, the gender pay gap favors men by $28,000: female lawyers earn a median of $113,000 while male lawyers earn $141,000.

Earnings vary by race/ethnicity as well. Asian American lawyers, ages 25–54, have the highest median earnings ($132,000), followed by white ($131,000), multiracial ($125,000), Hispanic/Latino ($113,000), and Black/African American lawyers ($108,000).

Source: Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce analysis of data from the US Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS), 2009–19.

Note: This analysis is based on 25-to-34-year-old, 35-to-54-year-old, and 25-to-54-year-old lawyers working full-time, full-year. American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander (AI/AN/NH/PI) lawyers are not included in this analysis due to small sample size.

Bar Passage

Passing the bar exam is a critical step before law graduates can become practicing lawyers. In 2022, 78 percent of first-time test takers passed the bar exam, and the two-year bar passage rate was 92 percent. Law schools with higher median earnings net of debt payments for graduates generally have higher bar passage rates, while law schools with lower earnings net of debt payments for graduates tend to have the lowest bar passage rates. For example, the first-time bar passage rate in 2022 was 91 percent at law schools where net median earnings exceed $100,000 four years after graduation. By comparison, at law schools where net median earnings are less than $55,000 four years after graduation, the average first-time bar passage rate was 59 percent.

Source: American Bar Association, Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar, 2023; Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce analysis of data from the US Department of Education, College Scorecard, 2023.

A Law Degree Is No Sure Thing: Some Law School Graduates Earn Top Dollar, but Many Do Not finds that not all law schools result in comparable outcomes.

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Election latest: First Tory casualty as former minister loses seat - but it's 'looking difficult' for Labour in fight against Jeremy Corbyn

Follow the latest election updates as results come in across the country. Labour is set to win a landslide, according to the exit poll - and a minister tells Sky News he expects to be "swept away in this tsunami".

Friday 5 July 2024 01:29, UK

• General Election 2024

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• Labour set to win a landslide of 410 seats, exit poll projects
• Results trickling in - with former Tory justice secretary losing seat
• 1am snapshot: Everything you need to know | Timings tonight | Key seats to watch
• Exit poll: Tories to collapse in worst ever result | Check the forecast in your constituency
• Beth Rigby: Starmer has climbed Everest and taken off into orbit
• Hunt among cabinet big names projected to lose seats
• Senior Tory: I'm expected to be swept away in this tsunami
• 99% chance Farage will win Clacton, exit poll says
• Results as they come in: All the numbers in every constituency
• Live reporting by Ben Bloch , Jess Sharp and Ollie Cooper

That's the message from Conservative Dame Andrea Leadsom. 

She tells Sky News the party will need to regroup and rethink quickly after the election. 

"A lot of people are very angry with the Conservatives and I think Reform have done very well out of it," she says. 

"People feel that we have not dealt with the issues that concern them. Migration I think has been a big issue.

"We have not been conservative enough."

The turnover of leadership has also been a problem for voters, she adds.

In hindsight, she says, her party should have "gone after" Reform in the early days of the campaign trail. 

We've just been hearing from Rachel Reeves, who could well be the UK's first female chancellor by tomorrow lunchtime - presuming she wins her seat of Leeds West and Pudsey (which she is projected to with 99% certainty).

She told us: "If the results unfold in the way that the exit poll suggests, then Labour are on course for a historic victory.

"But it's still early hours yet, and we'll see how the results unfold as the next few hours go by."

Our chief presenter Kay Burley put to her that their euphoria could be short-lived, given the scale of the financial challenges facing the UK.

Ms Reeves said: "I am under no illusions about the scale of the challenge that I will face, that Labour will face, if we get the opportunity to form the government tomorrow.

"The severity of the inheritance from the Conservatives is truly awful. But we will get to work, starting to rebuild our economy, returning stability to the economy, and improving our health service and our schools after 14 years of chaos, division, and decline."

Asked how long she thinks the electorate will give them to turn things around, Ms Reeves said the election is still unfolding and to wait to see to form the next government.

But she said Labour's manifesto has pledged "a decade" to implement their plans in full and turn things around.

Asked by our  political editor Beth Rigby  asked if she can give us any idea of what Labour will do in their first few days in office, she said they will get started on growing the economy, for which reforming the planning system is "essential".

She also said that becoming the first female chancellor would be a "huge privilege".

By Joely Santa Cruz , data journalist 

The first few results of the night were Labour holds in the North East - Sunderland Central, Blyth & Ashington, and Houghton & Sunderland Central.

It's not an unexpected result, as polling did predict Labour were likely to hold these seats. 

But Reform have overtaken Conservatives to become the second places party in all three, while the Conservative vote share is down 18 points in Blyth & Ashington, 19 points in Houghton & Sunderland South, and 21 points in Sunderland Central.

So how did the exit poll perform?

Conservatives have been underestimated in each of these seats, and by as much as eight points in Houghton & Sunderland South.

The exit poll had been very close on Labour's vote share for two of these seats, predicting 49% and 46% respectively in Blyth & Ashington and Houghton & Sunderland South compared with the actual results of 50 and 47. 

However it overestimated their performance in Sunderland Central by eight points.

And the exit poll has slightly overestimated the Reform vote in these seats – particularly in Houghton & Sunderland South where it predicted five points more than they ended up with.

Further to our 12.48am post, Jeremy Corbyn may be heading towards another successful run as MP for Islington North. 

A Labour source has told our  political editor Beth Rigby   "it's looking difficult for us" there.

The former opposition leader is now running as an independent - against the man who replaced him as the Labour candidate for the area, Praful Nargund.

The exit poll has the constituency down as "too close to call". 

The Liberal Democrats are declaring victory in 12 seats (so far), labelling them "Davey's dozen".

The list of seats the party is now confident of winning is:

• ⁠North Cornwall
• ⁠South Cambridgeshire
• ⁠Hazel Grove

A Liberal Democrat source said: "We are declaring victory in Davey's dozen, the first 12 of many wins we're expecting tonight.

"From the West Country to Greater Manchester, the map is being painted gold as Liberal Democrats sweep to victory in the Conservative Party's former heartlands."

The party has also said it thinks it has won Tunbridge Wells, which has been held by a sitting Conservative minister since 2005.

A senior Lib Dem source has also told our political editor Beth Rigby that they think they'll take Harpenden - for the first time in 100 years - and Esher, Dominic Raab's former seat.

We're bringing you snapshot summaries on the hour, every hour tonight. 

It's 1am - here's what you need to know:

• The Labour Party - projected to win a landslide in the exit poll - have won all six seats to declare so far, including one taken from the Tories;
• It was former Conservative justice secretary Robert Buckland who lost his seat in Swindon South;
• Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and the SNP's top representative in Westminster, Stephen Flynn, face "too close to call" votes in their constituencies;
• Nigel Farage celebrated the exit poll's projection that Reform UK would win 13 seats, claiming "the revolt against the establishment has begun";
• Read our midnight snapshot here .

Check the rest of the exit poll predictions by constituency  here :

It's all about the numbers tonight - here are some of the main ones you might come across...

• 7 - The number of cabinet ministers who lost their seats in 1997 - the highest number ever. Tonight, seven sitting cabinet ministers are in danger of losing their seats, according to the exit poll, while many more are too close to call.
• 8 - The lowest number of seats won by the Liberal Democrats (in its current form) at a general election, which was in 2015. The exit poll suggests they are on course to win 61 seats tonight - and their highest total ever was 62.
• 12.7 - The percentage point swing (under the new boundaries) Labour needs to win a majority (10.2pp is the post-war record, achieved by Blair).
• 80 - The size of the majority Boris Johnson won in 2019.
• 83.9 - The highest percentage turnout ever, which was in 1950 (the lowest was 59.4% in 2001).
• 125 - Labour needs a net gain of that number of seats for a majority.
• 156 - The Conservative Party's worst ever seat performance, which was in 1906. The party is forecast to break that record tonight, with the exit poll predicting it will win just 131.
• 179 - The size of the majority Tony Blair won in Labour's 1997 landslide victory. Sir Keir Starmer's Labour is predicted to fall short of that by just nine seats.
• 203 - Labour’s lowest seat total since the Second World War, won under Jeremy Corbyn in 2019.
• 326 - This is the number of seats a party needs to win a majority in the Commons and enter government.
• 419 - The total seats Labour won in 1997. Labour is predicted to win 410 seats tonight.
• 650 - The total number of constituencies in the UK - and therefore seats in the House of Commons.
• 4,515 - The number of candidates contesting this election - a record.

Two names you're certain to recognise are set for a nervous few hours, with their votes too close to call according to the exit poll.

Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, who is standing as an independent, is waiting to hear whether he will continue to represent Islington North. 

The exit poll said the constituency was too tight to call, and a Corbyn campaign source has told Sky News it's looking "very close". 

He's facing stiff competition from the man who replaced him as the Labour candidate for the area - Praful Nargund. 

The SNP's leader in Westminster, Stephen Flynn, is also facing a tight call in Aberdeen South. 

The exit poll also said the constituency was "too close to call" at this stage. 

 Standing as the Tory candidate in Wycombe is Cabinet Office minister Steve Baker - but the exit poll suggests he has a 99% chance of losing his seat.

Mr Baker himself has told Sky News he expects to be "swept away in this tsunami". 

The exit poll is "clearly a devastating result" for the Tories, he said. 

"I feel great, but the people I feel sorry for are the staffers who are going to lose their jobs and don't deserve to," he said. 

"I'm expected to be swept away in this tsunami, and many of your viewers will rejoice in it, I'm sure." 

He added he's "not angry" with his party, and it has been "a hell of a 14 years". 

"If I lose, it will be the best thing that could happen to me and my wife," he said. 

Nigel Farage has celebrated the exit poll's findings, declaring "it means we're going to win many, many seats" in a video on X.

The poll projects Reform UK will win 13, though the final tally is "highly uncertain".

Mr Farage also turns on the media in the video, claiming the TV coverage has been "almost comical". 

"There's not a single representative on there from Reform UK, mainstream media are in denial just as much as our political parties," he says.

Sky News spoke with Reform's deputy leader, Dr David Bull, for just under 10 minutes live on air shortly after the exit poll was released. 

He said the projected figures, if confirmed, would mark "an incredible result for us", but that the party was also taking a close look at vote share.

"We believe that our vote share is much higher than that of the Liberal Democrats... even though that is the case, we may only get a quarter of the seats."

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