Lateral Lawyer Resume Examples

Finding the right job as a lateral lawyer can be more challenging than litigating a tough case. Your resume is your first impression, and getting it right is critical. Many lateral lawyers face issues such as showcasing transferable skills or highlighting relevant experiences effectively. This guide will help you navigate these obstacles and create a winning resume. Remember, in legal terms, your resume needs to present a compelling argument for why you are the perfect candidate. From arranging your work history to demonstrating your accomplishments, we'll cover each aspect in detail. So, let's draft a resume that leaves the hiring manager pleading for more.

Your resume template is crucial when crafting a lateral lawyer resume. Using the right template can make your skills and experiences stand out clearly and professionally. Don't overlook this step! A poorly structured resume can jeopardize your opportunities, even if you have a stellar career. Invest time in finding or creating a template that's suited for legal roles.

We offer more than 700 resume examples that you can use to write your resume. Use these samples to guide your writing and land that dream job!

What to focus on when writing your lateral lawyer resume

A lateral lawyer resume should clearly demonstrate your ability to handle complex legal matters with expertise and precision. It must highlight your years of relevant experience, zoning in on your successes and specializations that align with the potential employer's needs. Equally important is showcasing your ability to build and maintain client relationships, proving your interpersonal skills.

To boost the impact of an accountant resume, you can include:

• Specific examples of cost reduction achieved.
• Certifications like CPA or ACCA.
• Expertise in financial software like QuickBooks or SAP.
• Demonstrated experience with budget forecasting and financial analysis.

Must have information on your lateral lawyer resume

When crafting a resume for a lateral lawyer position, it's essential to include key sections that highlight your qualifications and experience in a clear and structured way.

• Personal Information
• Professional Summary
• Work Experience
• Education
• Skills
• Certifications and Licenses

You might also want to consider additional sections like Publications, Professional Affiliations, and Volunteer Work to further demonstrate your expertise and involvement in the legal community. Adding these sections can provide a more well-rounded picture of your professional background and capabilities.

Which resume format to choose

When creating a resume for a lateral lawyer position, it's crucial to choose the right format, such as chronological, to effectively showcase your experience. Opt for modern fonts like Rubik and Montserrat over traditional ones like Arial and Times New Roman. Always save your resume as a PDF to ensure formatting stays intact. Keep your margins to about 1 inch to retain an organized look. Using clear section headings like "Professional Experience" and "Education" helps with ATS compatibility, making sure your resume gets noticed.

A lateral lawyer resume should have these sections:

• Contact Information
• Professional Summary
• Work Experience
• Education
• Bar Admissions
• Skills
• Certifications
• Publications

Resume Mentor's free resume builder takes care of all these details, ensuring an effective and professional resume.

How to write a quantifiable resume experience section

Writing the experience section of your resume as a lateral lawyer can seem challenging. But with the right approach, you can highlight your best achievements and skills. Start with your most recent job and work backward. Focus on the last 10-15 years of your career. Include job titles that show growth, responsibility, and relevance. Tailor your resume to each job you apply for by using keywords from the job posting. Use action words like "lead," "design," "achieve," and "grow" to demonstrate your impact. Here is how you should and should not write your resume experience section:

The first example is poorly written. It offers vague responsibilities without any concrete outcomes. It doesn’t showcase any achievements or specific contributions. Words like "handled" and "worked on" are too general and don't convey the impact or scope of your work. Each bullet should detail what you achieved, not just what you did.

The second example is excellent. It focuses on achievements like securing settlements and improving client retention rates. Each bullet point offers measurable outcomes, demonstrating your contributions clearly. Action verbs like "led," "increased," and "developed" provide strong examples of your skills. This version emphasizes the value you brought to your past employers, making it compelling for prospective employers.

Lateral lawyer resume experience examples

Ready to jazz up your resume? Well, you've come to the right place! In this section, we'll help you bring out the best in your professional journey with some top-notch, lawyer-specific focuses. Let's make sure your resume is a judge and jury's delight!

Achievement-focused

Showcase your specific accomplishments and concrete outcomes. Highlight the impact of your work by describing relevant metrics and successes.

Skills-focused

Highlight your core legal competencies and proficiencies. Mention technical skills, legal practices, and specific areas of law you are adept in.

Responsibility-focused

Emphasize your primary responsibilities and duties. Provide an overview of your role and the daily tasks you were accountable for.

Project-focused

Spotlight key projects you've worked on. Describe the project scope, objectives, and your contributions.

Result-focused

Focus on the outcomes of your work. Provide concrete examples of how your actions led to measurable results.

Industry-Specific Focus

Tailor your experience to reflect expertise in a particular industry. Highlight relevant legal work and emphasize your understanding of industry-specific regulations.

Problem-Solving focused

Illustrate your knack for identifying and solving legal problems. Share examples of challenges faced and how you addressed them.

Innovation-focused

Highlight your innovative contributions to the legal field. Mention any new processes, technologies, or effective strategies you introduced.

Leadership-focused

Emphasize your leadership roles and responsibilities. Detail your experience in managing teams and driving organizational success.

Customer-focused

Demonstrate your commitment to client satisfaction and service excellence. Share examples of how you went above and beyond for your clients.

Growth-focused

Highlight your contributions to the growth and expansion of your workplace. Mention any business development or revenue-generating activities.

Efficiency-focused

Showcase your efforts to improve operational efficiency within your organization. Mention any processes or systems you implemented for better results.

Technology-focused

Demonstrate your proficiency with legal technologies and tools. Highlight your experience with tech-driven solutions in the legal industry.

Collaboration-focused

Emphasize your ability to work effectively in team settings. Mention any collaborative projects, teamwork, and communication skills.

Training and Development focused

Showcase your experience in mentoring, training, and developing legal talent. Highlight your contributions to staff development programs.

Write your lateral lawyer resume summary section

Crafting a resume summary for a lateral lawyer position requires precision and clarity. To describe yourself effectively, focus on your skills, experiences, and achievements that fit the role. Avoid fluff and use strong, descriptive language. Paint a picture of your professional journey that resonates with hiring managers.

A resume summary is not the same as a resume objective, resume profile, or a summary of qualifications. A resume summary gives a snapshot of your career and accomplishments. A resume objective is more about your career goals. A resume profile dives into your skills and experiences in a narrative form. A summary of qualifications lists your key skills and achievements upfront.

Example 1:

This summary is bad because it lacks specifics, uses vague terms, and doesn't highlight measurable accomplishments. Phrases like "strategic and results-oriented" and "various legal fields" are too generic. It doesn’t give much insight into what you’ve actually done.

Example 2:

This summary is good because it is specific, detailed, and focuses on achievements. The mention of "10 years of experience," "corporate law and litigation," and "successfully managed a portfolio of high-profile cases" provides a clear picture of your background. Additionally, it mentions measurable achievements like reducing legal risks and costs, which makes you an attractive candidate.

In summary, when writing your resume summary, aim to be specific and detailed about your experience, skills, and achievements. This will set you apart from other candidates and show hiring managers what you can bring to the table.

Listing your lateral lawyer skills on your resume

When writing your skills section on your lateral lawyer resume, remember that your skills can either stand alone as a separate section or be integrated into other sections like your experience and summary. Your strengths and soft skills highlight your ability to work well with others, problem-solve, and lead. Hard skills are specific abilities or knowledge required for your job, such as legal research, writing, and litigation.

Skills and strengths also serve as resume keywords, crucial for passing through automated Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) and catching a recruiter’s eye.

A good skills section is concise, relevant, and lists key competencies that match the job description. This example stands out because it includes a variety of important skills for a lateral lawyer and directly relates to typical job requirements.

Best hard skills to feature on your lateral lawyer resume

Hard skills for a lateral lawyer should demonstrate technical proficiency and industry-specific knowledge that shows you are adept at the core functions of law practice.

Best soft skills to feature on your lateral lawyer resume

Soft skills complement hard skills and showcase abilities that help in team dynamics, client interactions, and professional growth, crucial for a successful lateral lawyer.

How to include your education on your resume

The education section is an important part of your resume, especially for a lateral lawyer. To stand out, tailor this section to match the job you're applying for. Leave out any irrelevant education. When including your GPA, list it only if it’s high enough to impress. Adding "cum laude" or other honors shows your achievements. Clearly state your degree and avoid fluff.

The first example is poorly tailored. It includes unrelated education like an MBA in Marketing, which doesn’t align with a lawyer role. The degrees listed do not showcase any law-related achievements.

The second example is excellent for a lawyer. It features a JD from Harvard with honors and a strong GPA, clearly relevant to the job. The Bachelor’s degree in Political Science complements it well.

How to include lateral lawyer certificates on your resume

Including a certificates section is a crucial part of a lateral lawyer resume. Certificates show your ongoing commitment to professional development. List the name of the certificate accurately. Include the date you obtained each certificate to demonstrate your recent upskilling efforts. Add the issuing organization to lend credibility and specify its authority in the field.

Certificates can also be included in the header of your resume. For example: "John Doe, Esq. | Licensed Attorney | Certified Mediator | Contract Law Specialist". This approach highlights your qualifications right away.

The example above is good because it lists relevant certificates that enhance your qualifications for a lateral move in the law field. Each certificate is pertinent and backed by a respected issuing organization, adding more weight to your resume. These certificates show a focused and updated skill set, important for a career in law.

Extra sections to include in your lateral lawyer resume

When crafting a resume for a lateral lawyer, it's essential to showcase your comprehensive skill set and diverse experiences. Highlighting certain sections can help you stand out to potential employers and give them a well-rounded view of your abilities.

• Language section — Include languages you speak fluently or have proficiency in. This can demonstrate your ability to work with a diverse clientele and in global markets.
• Hobbies and interests section — List activities that showcase your dedication and skills beyond the legal field. This can show your work-life balance and make you a more relatable candidate.
• Volunteer work section — Mention any pro bono work or legal volunteerism. This reflects your commitment to the community and can indicate strong ethical standards.
• Books section — Detail any legal publications or books you’ve authored or contributed to. This underscores your expertise and can enhance your credibility in specific areas of law.

Pair your lateral lawyer resume with a cover letter

A cover letter is a document that accompanies your resume and explains your interest in the job and how your skills match the position. It introduces you to the hiring manager, offering a personal touch to your application. A well-crafted cover letter can set you apart from other candidates by highlighting your unique qualifications and showing your enthusiasm for the job.

For a lateral lawyer, your cover letter should focus on your legal expertise, past case successes, and how your experience aligns with the firm's needs. You should also mention any notable clients you've worked with and how your skills can benefit the new firm. Personal anecdotes about your passion for law and dedication to clients can make a strong impression.

To make sure your cover letter stands out, try Resume Mentor’s cover letter builder. It’s easy to use and lets you export your document as a PDF, ensuring your formatting stays perfect and your content remains protected. Start crafting your standout cover letter today!