Military Lawyer Resume Examples

Writing a resume for military lawyers can feel like navigating a legal minefield. Transitioning from the military to a civilian job market brings unique challenges. Your skills and experiences are specialized and might not translate easily to civilian terms. Employers might not understand military jargon or the value of your military leadership. Limited resume-writing experience can leave you unsure about how to sell your skills. This guide will help you present your qualifications in a way that resonates with civilian employers, ensuring your legal expertise doesn't get lost in the translation.

Using the right resume template can be your first line of defense in this job search mission. The right layout will showcase your strengths, help you avoid common mistakes, and make your resume standout among applicants.

Unlock access to over 700 resume examples designed to help you achieve a standout resume.

What to focus on when writing your military lawyer resume

A military lawyer resume should highlight your legal expertise, leadership, and experience in military contexts. Emphasize your ability to navigate complex legal challenges and your proven record of upholding military justice. A few impactful elements might include notable cases you’ve handled, awards for exceptional service, leadership roles, and education credentials. Showcase any specialized training that sets you apart from civilian peers.

Must have information on your military lawyer resume

Crafting a compelling resume is essential for a military lawyer aspiring to impress potential employers. To ensure your resume stands out, include these must-have sections:

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

Additional sections like Awards and Honors, Professional Affiliations, or Languages can further highlight your unique qualifications and dedication. Make sure your resume is concise and accurately reflects your expertise.

Which resume format to choose

For a military lawyer resume, the best format to use is the reverse-chronological format. This format highlights your most recent experiences first, making it easier for hiring managers and Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to find relevant information quickly. Modern fonts like Rubik and Montserrat are recommended over traditional choices like Arial and Times New Roman, giving your resume a fresh look. Always save your resume as a PDF to ensure the formatting stays consistent across devices. Keep your margins at about 1 inch on all sides to ensure a clean layout. Well-defined section headings not only organize your resume but also help ATS software easily parse your content, increasing your chances of getting noticed.

A military lawyer resume should include these sections:

• Contact Information
• Summary or Objective
• Work Experience
• Education
• Certifications
• Skills
• Awards
• Affiliations

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How to write a quantifiable resume experience section

Writing the experience section for your military lawyer resume is essential to showcasing your skills and accomplishments. Start with your most recent job and work backward. Keep your experience section within 10-15 years of work history, focusing on relevant roles. Include job titles and tailor your resume to the specific job you are applying for. Use powerful action verbs like "led," "achieved," and "implemented" to describe your accomplishments.

Here's your bad and good resume experience examples:

This first example lacks detail, is vague, and doesn't highlight specific achievements. It reads as a list of duties without showing your impact or showcasing your skills effectively. Words like "handled" and "worked" are weak verbs that don't convey strong actions or results.

This second example is more detailed and focuses on achievements. It includes strong action words like "supervised," "directed," and "implemented." Each bullet point highlights specific results or improvements, using numbers to quantify success. This provides a clearer picture of your impact and abilities as a military lawyer, making your resume stand out.

Military lawyer resume experience examples

Welcome to this section of highly relevant experience entries for military lawyers. Hopefully, you’ll find this intro quite "a-law-some!" Let's dive into the nuts and bolts of showcasing your legal talents.

Achievement-focused

Highlight notable accomplishments that set you apart. Think about life-changing cases, awards, or recognitions that you've received.

Skills-focused

Underline the essential skills you bring to the table. Whether it’s exceptional writing or negotiation, make it stand out.

Responsibility-focused

Emphasize the responsibilities you’ve taken on, showing you can handle large workloads and complex tasks.

Project-focused

Describe important projects you've worked on, adding details that show your initiative and impact.

Result-focused

Showcase results from your legal practices. Whether it’s winning cases or improving policies, results speak volumes.

Industry-Specific Focus

Offer expertise and specialization in military law showing extensive industry-specific knowledge.

Problem-Solving focused

Indicate your problem-solving prowess with detailed examples of how you tackled complex legal issues.

Innovation-focused

Illustrate your innovative approach to legal challenges and process improvements.

Leadership-focused

Showcase your leadership skills, from leading teams to mentoring junior lawyers.

Customer-focused

Focus on your dedication to serving your clients, demonstrating client satisfaction and trust.

Growth-focused

Detail how you’ve contributed to the growth of your team or organization, indicating measurable improvements.

Efficiency-focused

Highlight how you improved efficiency in your legal practice, leading to better time and resource management.

Technology-focused

Show your adeptness with technology in the legal field, from using legal software to cybersecurity protocols.

Collaboration-focused

Emphasize your ability to work collaboratively within and outside your legal team.

Training and Development focused

Illustrate your role in training and developing junior staff or colleagues, emphasizing mentorship and education.

Write your military lawyer resume summary section

This summary example is vague and lacks specifics. It does not highlight your unique skills, achievements, or the value you bring to potential employers. Words like "many years" and "various roles" are too broad and unspecific. It also fails to mention any key skills or accomplishments that would set you apart from other candidates.

This second example showcases specific skills, years of experience, and key achievements which makes it compelling. It clearly states your expertise in military justice and international law, along with a proven track record. Highlighting your strong leadership and analytical skills helps employers understand the value you bring to the team.

For the best way to describe yourself in a resume summary, focus on your unique strengths, key accomplishments, and what you offer. Be specific and concise. Avoid jargon and vague language.

The difference between a resume summary and other similar sections is the focus; a summary provides a brief overview of your career, while a resume objective states your career goals. A resume profile is a short paragraph highlighting skills and experiences, and a summary of qualifications lists key skills and accomplishments.

Listing your military lawyer skills on your resume

To write your skills section as a military lawyer, you can include it as a standalone section or weave it into other sections of your resume, like the experience and summary sections. Highlighting your strengths and soft skills is vital because they show your ability to work well with others and manage tasks effectively. Hard skills, on the other hand, are specific, teachable abilities or knowledge needed to perform your job duties proficiently.

Incorporating skills and strengths into your resume keywords can help you pass through automated resume screening tools used by many employers today. This makes sure your resume is noticed by hiring managers.

A good skills section is concise and relevant, listing key abilities directly related to the role. Here, you can see the inclusion of specific skills like Legal Research and Courtroom Procedure, which are crucial for a military lawyer. These skills are clearly mentioned and directly relate to the job, making it easy for hiring managers to see what you bring.

Best hard skills to feature on your military lawyer resume

Military lawyers should possess a range of hard skills that show their expertise and technical know-how. These skills should communicate your knowledge, experience, and ability to perform job-specific tasks proficiently.

Best soft skills to feature on your military lawyer resume

Soft skills for a military lawyer are important because they demonstrate how well you interact with others and manage multiple responsibilities. These skills should communicate your adaptability, communication abilities, and leadership qualities.

How to include your education on your resume

An education section is an important part of a military lawyer's resume. This section should be tailored to the job you're applying for. Any irrelevant education shouldn't be included. Including GPA can show your academic performance, and adding honors like cum laude can highlight your achievements. Here’s how you can structure your education information:

The first example is poorly written. It includes education that's relevant, but the details are set out in a cluttered manner. It doesn't highlight key accomplishments such as honors, and the GPA is not shown where it could be impressive.

The second example is well-structured and professional. It focuses on relevant degrees, includes honors like cum laude and shows the GPA for the Law School degree. The formatting is clean and ensures that important details stand out.

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How to include military lawyer certificates on your resume

Including a certificates section in your military lawyer resume is essential. Start by listing the name of each certificate. Include the date you received it and add the issuing organization. This ensures that potential employers can quickly verify your credentials. You can also highlight your certificates in the header for immediate visibility. For example, list them under your name and contact information to make a strong first impression.

Here's a good example of a standalone certificates section for a military lawyer:

This example is effective because the certifications are directly relevant to the role of a military lawyer. They showcase specialized training and enhance credibility, which can set you apart from other candidates. They are also issued by respected organizations, adding weight to your qualifications.

Extra sections to include in your military lawyer resume

Crafting a comprehensive and persuasive resume is crucial for any military lawyer looking to advance in their career. Highlighting your diverse skills and experiences will not only set you apart but also provide a well-rounded picture of your qualifications.

• Language section — List language proficiencies like Spanish or Arabic to show your ability to communicate effectively in various regions and situations. Demonstrating bilingual or multilingual skills can significantly enhance your value in global military operations.
• Hobbies and interests section — Mention interests like chess or orienteering to showcase strategic thinking and problem-solving abilities. Adding this section helps you appear well-rounded and shows personal initiative.
• Volunteer work section — Highlight experiences like pro bono legal work or community service to reflect your commitment to helping others. Doing so will emphasize your leadership and community involvement skills.
• Books section — Include books you've read on military ethics or international law to demonstrate continuous learning and expertise in your field. This shows your dedication to staying updated and informed in your area of law.

Pair your military lawyer resume with a cover letter

A cover letter is a short document you send with your resume that gives an overview of your skills and why you are a good fit for the job. It helps the applicant by providing a personalized touch, showing their enthusiasm for the role, and highlighting specific experiences that make them stand out.

For a military lawyer, a cover letter should focus on your experience in military law, your understanding of military procedures, and any notable cases you have worked on. Highlighting your years of service, relevant legal education, and dedication to upholding military justice will be key. Demonstrating your leadership qualities and stress management skills will also be important.

Ready to create your impressive cover letter? Use Resume Mentor's cover letter builder to easily craft a professional document. Exporting as a PDF ensures your content stays protected and properly formatted.