Corporate Lawyer Resume Examples

Crafting the perfect corporate lawyer resume can feel like navigating a complex legal case—it requires precision, clarity, and a solid strategy. A well-written resume can make the difference between landing your dream job and being overlooked. However, many corporate lawyers find it challenging to distill their extensive experience into a concise, impactful resume. The legal field is competitive, and your resume needs to highlight your unique qualifications while also being easy to read. This guide will help you overcome these hurdles, providing tips and tricks to create a resume that truly represents your skills and achievements. Don't let your resume become your biggest legal brief; let's simplify the process together.

Now, let’s talk about the importance of choosing the right resume template. A well-structured template ensures that your key achievements and skills stand out. It organizes your information in a way that hiring managers can quickly understand your value. Plus, using a professional template demonstrates your attention to detail and commitment to quality—important traits in the corporate law world.

We offer more than 700 resume examples to help you craft a standout resume.

What to focus on when writing your corporate lawyer resume

A corporate lawyer resume should convey your expertise in legal matters, negotiation skills, and your ability to handle complex transactions with precision. It must highlight your academic background, relevant work experience, and specialized skills such as contract drafting, compliance, and corporate governance. Consider including notable achievements and specific examples of how you've successfully navigated corporate legal challenges.

To boost your resume’s impact, think about adding:

• Awards or recognitions received in the field.
• Success stories from high-stakes negotiations.
• Details of major deals or transactions handled.
• Specific metrics showing your positive impact on past employers.

Must have information on your corporate lawyer resume

When crafting a resume for a corporate lawyer position, it’s crucial to highlight specific sections that best showcase your qualifications. Essential sections to include are:

• Contact Information
• Professional Summary
• Work Experience
• Education
• Legal Skills
• Certifications and Licenses

Additional sections like "Professional Affiliations" and "Publications and Presentations" can further strengthen your application, especially if they are relevant to corporate law.

Which resume format to choose

Opting for a chronological resume format is typically best for a corporate lawyer, since it highlights your career progression and experience. Modern font choices like Rubik and Montserrat offer a fresh look compared to traditional Arial or Times New Roman. Always save your resume as a PDF to maintain formatting and ensure easy viewing across devices. Keep margins around one inch to ensure readability and a clean appearance. Use clear section headings that are ATS-friendly to guide the reader and ensure your resume gets past automated screening systems.

A corporate lawyer resume should have the following sections: contact information, summary, work experience, education, skills, certifications, and professional affiliations. Optional sections can include publications and volunteer activities.

Take advantage of Resume Mentor's free resume builder to handle all these details for you effortlessly.

How to write a quantifiable resume experience section

Creating a strong resume as a corporate lawyer requires clear presentation and a smart selection of your experience. The section on your work history is crucial for showing your skills and achievements. You should list your jobs in reverse chronological order, starting with your most recent position. It's best to cover roughly the last ten years, but you can go back further if you think older roles are very relevant. Always include job titles that accurately describe your roles; use the official titles from your former employers.

When writing, use action words such as "led," "negotiated," and "transformed" to make your accomplishments pop. Tailor your resume to each job application, emphasizing the experience and skills the employer is looking for. Avoid lengthy descriptions of job duties. Instead, focus on what you achieved in each role, ideally using numbers and metrics.

Here's an example of how not to write your experience section:

This example is ineffective because it is vague and doesn't highlight specific achievements. Words like "handled" and "worked" are weak and do not convey any specific action or result. The bullet points focus on responsibilities rather than accomplishments.

Now, here's a more compelling example:

This example gives a clear picture of the candidate's strengths and achievements. The action words "Directed," "Pioneered," and "Chaired" show leadership and initiative. The use of numbers and percentages makes it easy to see the impact the candidate had in each role. This approach will catch an employer's eye and make you stand out.

Corporate lawyer resume experience examples

Ready to rise through the ranks of the corporate legal world? You're in the right place! Here’s how you can make your resume stand out — even in a law firm full of overachievers.

Achievement-focused

Showcase your accomplishments to demonstrate what you've already achieved in the legal world. Focus on quantifiable outcomes that highlight your contributions.

Skills-focused

Highlight the diverse range of skills you've mastered. This can include anything from contract negotiation to legal research.

Responsibility-focused

Detail the specific responsibilities you managed, emphasizing your capacity to handle important tasks.

Project-focused

Describe the projects you’ve led or contributed to, concentrating on your role and the project's impact.

Result-focused

Emphasize the results of your work, focusing on measurable outcomes that benefited your company.

Industry-Specific Focus

Tailor your experience to the specific industry you have the most involvement in, showing your niche expertise.

Problem-Solving focused

Illustrate your problem-solving abilities by highlighting instances where you identified issues and implemented effective solutions.

Innovation-focused

Share how your innovative ideas have enhanced the performance of your team or company.

Leadership-focused

Demonstrate your leadership qualities through examples that show team management and mentorship.

Customer-focused

Focus on your interactions with clients, showcasing your ability to meet and exceed their needs.

Growth-focused

Illustrate how your work contributed to the company’s growth, including expanding operations or improving revenue.

Efficiency-focused

Show how you've improved processes to save time, reduce costs, or enhance productivity.

Technology-focused

Discuss your expertise in using technology to improve legal practices and outcomes.

Collaboration-focused

Detail your ability to work well in teams, including cross-functional groups and collaborative projects.

Training and Development focused

Specify any experience you have in mentoring or training others within your firm.

Write your corporate lawyer resume summary section

Writing a resume summary section requires focus on your most impressive qualifications, skills, and experiences in a concise manner. As a corporate lawyer, your summary should highlight your legal expertise, analytical skills, and problem-solving abilities. Aim for clarity and impact to capture the attention of hiring managers.

To effectively describe yourself in a resume summary, emphasize your achievements and specific skills relevant to the job. Describe yourself in a professional yet relatable manner. Ensure one or two key accomplishments are included to demonstrate your value.

A resume summary highlights your professional background and key accomplishments within a few sentences. A resume objective states your career goals and what you aim to achieve in the position. A resume profile focuses on your skills and experiences. A summary of qualifications lists your critical skills and experiences.

Here is an example of a poorly written resume summary:

This example is bad because it is vague and does not provide any specific skills or accomplishments. It uses generic phrases like "seeking a challenging role" and "dynamic company" which don’t convey what you bring to the table.

Here is an example of a well-written resume summary:

This example is good because it is specific and highlights relevant experience and accomplishments. It mentions the candidate's expertise in key areas such as contract negotiation, mergers, and compliance. Additionally, it demonstrates tangible achievements like successfully completing a significant merger and improving process efficiency. These specifics give a clear picture of the candidate's value.

Listing your corporate lawyer skills on your resume

Crafting the skills section of your resume as a corporate lawyer is a crucial part of showcasing your expertise. You can have a standalone skills section or incorporate your skills into other sections like the experience and summary. Your strengths and soft skills refer to your ability to work with others and manage tasks effectively, while hard skills are specific, teachable abilities or knowledge like contract negotiation or legal research.

Using resume keywords, which can include both skills and strengths, is essential to ensure your application passes through applicant tracking systems and catches the hiring manager's attention.

Example of a standalone skills section:

A detailed explanation of why this example is good: This example is concise and directly lists pertinent hard and soft skills relevant to a corporate lawyer. It helps the resume stand out to both electronic applicant tracking systems and hiring managers by using specific keywords. By categorizing the skills clearly, it makes it easier for the reader to understand your areas of expertise and how they align with the job requirements.

Best hard skills to feature on your corporate lawyer resume

Hard skills are essential for a corporate lawyer because they demonstrate your capability to handle specific legal tasks and challenges. These skills should communicate your proficiency, experience, and technical expertise necessary for corporate law tasks.

Best soft skills to feature on your corporate lawyer resume

Soft skills are equally important as they convey your ability to interact and communicate effectively. They are crucial for building relationships, managing teams, and navigating complex corporate environments.

How to include your education on your resume

An education section is a crucial part of a corporate lawyer resume. Tailor it to the job you're applying for — avoid including any irrelevant education. List your degrees clearly and concisely. Use the institution’s name, location, and dates attended. If you have a good GPA, include it. Mention any honors like cum laude.

Here's an example of a poorly written education section:

This example is bad because it includes irrelevant education. A certificate in culinary arts does not apply to a corporate lawyer position.

Here's an excellent education section example:

This example is good because it lists relevant education, includes a high GPA, and highlights honors. This makes your qualifications clear to potential employers.

How to include corporate lawyer certificates on your resume

A certificates section is an important part of a corporate lawyer's resume. This section highlights your specialized skills and expertise. List the name of the certificate to make it clear and easy to read. Include the date it was awarded to show it is up-to-date. Add the issuing organization to verify its credibility. Certificates can also be included in the header to immediately grab attention.

Example header:

Jane Doe, Corporate Lawyer | JD, LLM | Certified Compliance and Ethics Professional (CCEP) | Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP)

Here is a good example of a standalone certificates section:

This example is strong because it includes certificates directly related to a corporate lawyer's job. They are also issued by reputable organizations, making them valuable. The names are clear, and the issuing bodies are recognized in the industry. This makes your resume more attractive to employers.

Extra sections to include in your corporate lawyer resume

Crafting a compelling resume as a corporate lawyer involves more than just listing your professional experience and education. Including sections like languages, hobbies, volunteer work, and books can provide a fuller picture of who you are and what you bring to the table.

• Language section — Highlight fluency in additional languages, it shows you are adaptable and can serve a broader range of clients.
• Hobbies and interests section — List activities that keep you mentally sharp and demonstrate your multifaceted personality.
• Volunteer work section — Point out your community participation, it can reflect your leadership and commitment to social responsibility.
• Books section — Share notable legal books you've read; it stresses your ongoing dedication to professional growth.

In weaving these into your resume, you enrich your profile, offering a more holistic view of your skills and interests. It indicates you are well-rounded and engaged, which can be very appealing to potential employers.

Pair your corporate lawyer resume with a cover letter

A cover letter is a one-page document that you send with your resume when applying for a job. It introduces you, explains your interest in the role, and highlights your most relevant skills and experiences. Unlike a resume, a cover letter allows you to address the hiring manager directly and show your personality.

A well-crafted cover letter helps you stand out in a crowded job market. It gives you the chance to make a strong first impression and connect your unique background to the needs of the employer. This can increase your chances of getting an interview.

For a corporate lawyer, your cover letter should focus on your legal expertise, your experience in corporate law, and your ability to handle complex transactions. Highlight any specific cases or deals you have worked on and mention your communication skills and attention to detail. Make sure to convey your dedication to upholding legal standards.

To make writing your cover letter easy and stress-free, use Resume Mentor's cover letter builder. It's simple to use and lets you export your cover letter as a PDF, protecting your content and formatting. Start creating your impactful cover letter today!