Corporate Attorney Resume Examples

Crafting a corporate attorney resume can feel like navigating a legal labyrinth. You know how to argue a case, but showcasing your career might leave you feeling lost. The complexities of your profession don’t always translate easily onto paper. From selecting the right accomplishments to choosing the best format, the resume process can be daunting. Skipping key details could mean missing out on your dream job. This guide will help you sidestep those pitfalls and create a compelling resume that effectively markets your skills and experience. Ready to take your resume from "objection" to "sustained"?

Selecting the right resume template is crucial. It ensures your valuable experiences and skills are showcased professionally and clearly. An impeccable layout can emphasize your strengths and streamline the reader’s attention to your most impressive feats.

We offer more than 700 resume examples to guide you in crafting a standout resume, tailored specifically for corporate attorneys. Don't let your next opportunity pass you by—explore our resources now and take the first step towards your career advancement.

What to focus on when writing your corporate attorney resume

A corporate attorney resume should convey your expertise in legal matters, attention to detail, and dedication to corporate governance. Highlight your ability to negotiate, draft contracts, and solve complex legal issues. Demonstrate a track record of successful transactions and compliance initiatives. Consider including proficiency in legal research, experience with mergers and acquisitions, knowledge of regulatory frameworks, and strong communication skills to boost impact.

Must have information on your corporate attorney resume

A corporate attorney's resume should be clear, concise, and well-organized to make a strong impression. Key sections you must include are:

• Contact Information
• Professional Summary
• Core Competencies
• Work Experience
• Education
• Certifications and Licenses

Additional sections like Publications, Professional Affiliations, and Volunteer Experience can further highlight your expertise and commitment to the field. These sections provide more depth and showcase your well-rounded professional profile.

Which resume format to choose

For a corporate attorney resume, the reverse-chronological format is typically the best as it highlights your experience and career progression clearly. Opt for modern fonts like Rubik and Montserrat over the traditional Arial or Times New Roman to give your resume an updated look. Always save and send your resume as a PDF to ensure it maintains its formatting across different devices and operating systems. Make sure your margins are set to 1 inch on all sides for a clean, professional appearance. Use clear section headings like “Professional Experience” or “Education” to improve readability for both hiring managers and Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS).

A corporate attorney resume should include a few key sections to showcase your qualifications effectively:

• Contact Information
• Professional Summary
• Work Experience
• Education
• Skills
• Certifications
• Professional Affiliations
• Publications (if applicable)

Remember, Resume Mentor's free resume builder takes care of all these details, making it easy for you to create a polished, professional resume.

How to write a quantifiable resume experience section

Writing the experience section of a corporate attorney resume can be a challenge, especially when you want to make an impact but keep things simple and easy to read. Start with the most recent job and work backward. Usually, go back 10 to 15 years, unless earlier experience is highly relevant. Include job titles that clearly state your role and, if possible, align them with the job you’re aiming for. Tailoring your resume to each job is essential. Focus on action words like "led," "designed," "managed," and "generated" to demonstrate achievement, not just responsibilities.

Experience Example:

This example is poorly written. The job responsibilities are too generic and do not showcase any unique achievements or quantify success. The use of vague action words also fails to highlight any impact.

Now, let's look at an outstanding corporate attorney resume experience example:

This version is excellent. It uses specific action words like "led," "reduced," and "managed." Each bullet point includes quantifiable achievements, which showcase your effectiveness and drive. This approach not only proves you did the work but also that you did it exceptionally well.

Corporate attorney resume experience examples

Ready to lawyer up your resume? Read on for a collection of experience sections that will make your qualifications stand trial and come out on top!

Achievement-focused

Highlighting your key achievements can show employers what you can bring to the table. Focus on notable outcomes and ensure they align with what the employer is looking for.

Skills-focused

Emphasize key skills relevant to your role, like contract negotiation, litigation, or corporate governance. Use specific examples to demonstrate your abilities.

Responsibility-focused

Detail your primary responsibilities to illustrate the depth and breadth of your role. This helps potential employers understand your experience and areas of expertise.

Project-focused

Describe specific projects you have worked on that showcase your capabilities. Include project goals, your role, and the outcomes.

Result-focused

Focus on the results you have achieved in your roles. Quantify these results when possible to give a clear picture of your impact.

Industry-Specific Focus

Tailor your experience to the specific industry you're in, highlighting relevant expertise and roles. This demonstrates your specialized knowledge and experience.

Problem-Solving focused

Showcase your problem-solving abilities by highlighting instances where you identified and resolved significant issues. Ensure your solutions had a positive impact on the organization.

Innovation-focused

Highlight your ability to innovate within your legal practice. This could be in terms of new processes, technology implementation, or unique strategies that had a beneficial outcome.

Leadership-focused

Detail your leadership roles and the impact your leadership had on your team or organization. Include information about team size, objectives, and any notable successes.

Customer-focused

Show how you put your clients first by describing ways you ensured client satisfaction and trust. Focus on relationship-building and responsive service.

Growth-focused

Focus on instances where you contributed to the growth of your organization or client base. Provide specific examples that showcase your role in achieving this growth.

Efficiency-focused

Highlight techniques and processes you developed or implemented to improve efficiency. Show how these changes positively impacted the organization.

Technology-focused

Illustrate your proficiency with legal technology and how you have used it to benefit your role. This will show employers your ability to leverage modern tools for better productivity.

Collaboration-focused

Emphasize your experience working in teams and collaborating across different departments or with clients. This shows employers your ability to work well with others.

Training and Development focused

Detail your experience in training and developing others in your field. Show how your guidance improved their skills or benefited the organization as a whole.

Write your corporate attorney resume summary section

When crafting your resume summary as a corporate attorney, aim to provide a snapshot of your skills, experience, and accomplishments. The summary should paint a clear picture of who you are and what you bring to the table. It should be concise, compelling, and tailored to the job you're applying for.

A great way to describe yourself in a resume summary is to use action-oriented language. Include specific skills and experiences that are relevant to the role. Mention your years of experience, key achievements, and any specializations that make you stand out.

There is a difference between a resume summary and other resume sections such as a resume objective, a resume profile, or a summary of qualifications. A resume summary gives a brief overview of your career and key strengths. A resume objective focuses more on your career goals and how they align with the company’s objectives. A resume profile is a short paragraph highlighting your most relevant experiences. A summary of qualifications lists bullet points of skills and achievements.

Here are two examples of a corporate attorney resume summary:

This example is poorly written. It lacks specifics and does not highlight unique skills or achievements. It’s generic and doesn’t convey a strong sense of expertise or value.

This example is well-written. It specifies years of experience and areas of specialization. It highlights significant achievements and expertise, making it clear why you are a strong candidate.

Listing your corporate attorney skills on your resume

When crafting your corporate attorney resume, the skills section can play an essential role. Your skills can be showcased in a standalone section or incorporated into other parts like your experience and summary sections. Highlighting your strengths and soft skills can make you stand out, as they show your ability to work well with others and handle diverse situations.

Hard skills are specific, teachable abilities or knowledge sets that you have acquired through education or practical experience. They are measurable and often specifically relate to the job you’re applying for.

Skills and strengths act as keywords in your resume. These keywords are often critical because they align your qualifications with the job description and help get your resume noticed by applicant tracking systems (ATS) and hiring managers.

This example of a standalone skills section is effective because it provides a clear and organized overview of your expertise, making it easy for hiring managers to see your qualifications at a glance. It includes a mix of essential hard skills relevant to a corporate attorney, demonstrating a comprehensive and well-rounded skill set.

Best hard skills to feature on your corporate attorney resume

Corporate attorneys should possess hard skills that communicate their technical competence and ability to handle legal tasks effectively. These skills ensure you have the expertise to navigate the complexities of corporate law:

Best soft skills to feature on your corporate attorney resume

Corporate attorneys should also have soft skills that demonstrate their interpersonal abilities and professional demeanor. These skills indicate how well you work with others and manage various situations:

How to include your education on your resume

The education section is an important part of your resume as a corporate attorney. It shows your qualifications and sets the foundation for your professional career. It should be tailored to the job you are applying for, so avoid including any irrelevant education. When listing your degree, clearly state its title and the institution where you earned it. If you have a good GPA or graduated with honors like cum laude, you should include this information. However, you should only include your GPA if it is impressive, usually above 3.5.

This example is poorly written because it includes a degree in Biology, which is not relevant for a corporate attorney role. Additionally, a GPA of 3.0 is listed, which does not stand out.

This example is a strong education section because it lists a relevant law degree from a prestigious institution. Graduating cum laude and having a high GPA of 3.8 are impressive achievements that will catch the employer's eye. This clear, focused presentation of your education makes your qualifications obvious and pertinent to any corporate attorney position.

How to include corporate attorney certificates on your resume

Including a certificates section in your corporate attorney resume is essential. This section can significantly enhance your qualifications by highlighting relevant achievements. You can even showcase your certifications in the resume header for immediate visibility. For example, "John Doe, JD - Certified Corporate Counsel (2021)".

List the name of each certificate clearly. Include the date you received it. Add the issuing organization for credibility. Ensure each certificate mentioned is relevant to corporate law.

An exemplary certificates section might be as follows:

This section stands out due to the precision and relevance of each certificate. Both certificates directly relate to corporate law, making your qualifications clear to potential employers. Having certificates from reputable organizations adds further credibility. This structured approach ensures your resume is concise and impactful.

Extra sections to include in your corporate attorney resume

When crafting a resume for a corporate attorney, it's essential to highlight relevant qualifications and experiences that set you apart from other candidates. Including various sections beyond the standard work history and education can make your resume more dynamic.

• Language skills — Showcase your fluency in multiple languages to demonstrate your ability to handle international clients or cross-border transactions.
• Hobbies and interests — Display your personal interests to give hiring managers a better sense of your personality and how you might fit within their corporate culture.
• Volunteer work — Highlight your volunteer activities to show your commitment to social responsibility and community engagement.
• Books — Mention legal texts you have authored or contributed to, establishing your expertise and thought leadership in the field.

Pair your corporate attorney resume with a cover letter

A cover letter is a personalized document sent alongside your resume when applying for a job. It introduces you, highlights your qualifications, and demonstrates your genuine interest in the position. By tailoring your cover letter to the job you're applying for, you can stand out to hiring managers and show why you'd be a great fit for their team.

For a corporate attorney, a cover letter should emphasize your experience in legal practices, such as contract law, mergers and acquisitions, and compliance. Mentioning your ability to handle complex legal issues and your track record of successful cases can make a strong impression. Also, showcasing your problem-solving skills and attention to detail will help highlight your suitability for the role.

To create a professional and effective cover letter effortlessly, use Resume Mentor's cover letter builder. It's easy to use and allows you to export your cover letter as a PDF, ensuring that your content and formatting stay intact. Give it a try today and take the next step in your career!