Transactional Attorney Resume Examples

Writing a resume as a transactional attorney can feel like trying to draft a contract without terms. You might excel in legal negotiations and document drafting, but translating your complex skill set into a clear, concise resume is often challenging. Balancing legal jargon with reader-friendly language, showcasing your vast expertise without overwhelming the employer, and highlighting key accomplishments can be tough. If you've ever felt your resume needed amendments, you're not alone. This guide is here to help you streamline your experience into a document that stands out in the competitive legal field.

Choosing the right resume template is crucial for transactional attorneys. It ensures your resume is not only professional but also highlights your skills and experience effectively. Don’t let poorly organized content negotiate your chances down.

We offer more than 700 resume examples that can serve as a blueprint for writing yours. Explore our resources and craft a resume that clinches your next job opportunity.

What to focus on when writing your transactional attorney resume

A transactional attorney resume should highlight experience in drafting, negotiating, and closing various commercial deals. Demonstrating knowledge of corporate law, mergers, acquisitions, and financial transactions is key. Showcasing strong analytical, communication, and problem-solving skills will help too.

Boost Your Resume with These Points:

• Highlight successful deal closures and specific high-value transactions.
• List expertise in drafting complex contracts and agreements.
• Mention any accolades or recognitions received in the legal field.
• Include relevant continuing education or professional development courses.

Your resume should ultimately convey expertise, attention to detail, and a proven track record in transactional law.

Must have information on your transactional attorney resume

When crafting a resume for a transactional attorney, it's crucial to include key sections that showcase your expertise and experience.

• Contact Information
• Summary or Objective
• Education
• Professional Experience
• Relevant Skills
• Licenses and Certifications

Additional sections can include Professional Affiliations, Publications, and Volunteer Work. These can further highlight your involvement in the legal community and your commitment to your field.

Which resume format to choose

For a transactional attorney resume, a reverse-chronological format is ideal because it highlights your most recent and relevant experience first. Choose modern fonts like Rubik or Montserrat for a clean and professional look, moving away from the outdated Arial and Times New Roman. Always save your resume as a PDF to ensure formatting remains consistent across devices. Use margins of about 1 inch on all sides to keep your resume well-organized and easy to read. Clear and consistent section headings improve readability and optimize your resume for Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS), increasing your chances of being noticed by recruiters.

A transactional attorney resume should include the following sections:

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

Resume Mentor's free resume builder handles all of this, making it simple for you to create a standout resume.

How to write a quantifiable resume experience section

When writing the experience section of your resume as a transactional attorney, you should aim for clarity and impact. Start with your most recent job and work backwards. Typically, your resume should go back 10-15 years. Focus on roles that are most relevant to the job you are applying for. This may mean omitting early or less relevant jobs.

Make sure to tailor your resume to each job application. Highlight experiences and skills that match the job posting. Use action words like "led," "managed," "negotiated," and "achieved" to make your points clear. Avoid using complex words or jargon that might confuse the reader.

When describing your experience, quantify your achievements whenever possible. Rather than listing responsibilities, discuss your results. This will make your resume more engaging and impressive.

For example, see a poorly written experience section:

This example is bad because it lacks detail and impact. The bullet points are vague and do not showcase any achievements or results. There are no numbers or examples to demonstrate the size or scale of the work.

Here is a well-written experience section:

This version is much better. It provides clear, quantifiable achievements that give a real sense of value. The use of specific numbers and percentages makes the accomplishments more credible and impressive. This approach not only highlights your skills but also your effectiveness in past roles.

Transactional attorney resume experience examples

Ready to lawyer up your resume? Get ready to show potential employers you’ve got the transactional chops to seal the deal. After all, why be just good, when you can be law-some?

Achievement-focused

Focus on your achievements and showcase how they made a positive impact in your previous roles. Highlight specific results and recognitions to make a strong impression.

Skills-focused

Emphasize the skills that make you a standout transactional attorney. List hard and soft skills relevant to your role, from negotiation to legal writing.

Responsibility-focused

Describe your key responsibilities to give potential employers an idea of your role and daily tasks. Focus on duties that match the job you’re applying for.

Project-focused

Detail the major projects you worked on as a transactional attorney. Emphasize your role and the outcomes of these projects.

Result-focused

Highlight the outcomes of your efforts, demonstrating the value you brought to your previous roles. Use measurable results for added impact.

Industry-Specific Focus

Identify your expertise in a specific industry and how it gave you a unique advantage. Mention any specialized knowledge or certifications.

Problem-Solving focused

Showcase instances where you identified problems and resolved them efficiently. Focus on your analytical and critical-thinking skills.

Innovation-focused

Highlight your ability to think outside the box and introduce innovative solutions. Mention any new methods or technologies you implemented.

Leadership-focused

Discuss your leadership skills and experiences. Mention any teams you managed or initiatives you led successfully.

Customer-focused

Emphasize your commitment to client satisfaction and relationship management. Mention specific ways you’ve improved client experiences.

Growth-focused

Highlight your contributions to the growth and expansion of your previous employers. Focus on new clients acquired and revenue growth.

Efficiency-focused

Describe how you improved efficiencies in your workplace through methods or tools. Focus on enhancing productivity and reducing costs.

Technology-focused

Illustrate your proficiency with technology in legal practice. Mention any software or tools you’re well-versed in and how they improved your work.

Collaboration-focused

Show your ability to work well with others within and outside your department. Highlight teamwork and collaboration in achieving goals.

Training and Development focused

Point out your efforts in training and developing others. Mention any programs you designed or led and their impact.

Write your transactional attorney resume summary section

Crafting a resume summary for a transactional attorney involves giving an engaging snapshot of your experience and skills. In this section, you want to capture the reader’s attention by highlighting what sets you apart in the legal field. Use this space to showcase your specialization, significant achievements, and your professional demeanor.

Describe yourself as a detail-oriented, analytical, and decisive professional. Emphasize your proficiency in negotiating deals, contract drafting, and managing complex transactions. Mention your ability to work collaboratively with clients to achieve favorable outcomes. Convey a sense of reliability, adaptability, and dedication.

A summary and a resume objective differ mainly in focus. A resume summary provides an overview of your qualifications and experiences, while an objective states your career goals. A resume profile gives a brief background and your career path. Meanwhile, a summary of qualifications is a bullet-point list of key skills and achievements.

This resume summary example is bad because it is vague and lacks specifics. It doesn't provide details about achievements, areas of expertise, or what makes the applicant stand out. Statements like "a lot of skills" and "handled deals" are not informative and do not convey a sense of professionalism.

This summary is good because it is specific and highlights relevant experience and skills. Mentioning "over 8 years of experience" and "multi-million dollar deals" adds credibility. Phrases like "recognized for meticulous attention to detail" and "committed to delivering tailored legal solutions" show professionalism and dedication. This summary paints a clear and compelling picture of the applicant’s capabilities.

Listing your transactional attorney skills on your resume

When writing the skills section of your transactional attorney resume, you can choose to have it as a standalone section or incorporate skills into other sections like your experience and summary. This will create a comprehensive and cohesive resume that highlights your strengths in different areas.

Include a sentence about your strengths and soft skills, such as communication, negotiation, and problem-solving. Hard skills are specific, teachable abilities or knowledge sets acquired through training and education.

Skills and strengths listed correctly can serve as resume keywords that align with job postings, making it easier for your resume to be found by hiring managers or applicant tracking systems.

A standalone skills section may look like this:

The above example is effective because it lists relevant skills that are crucial for a transactional attorney role. The skills are specific and easy to understand, making it clear to the hiring manager what you bring to the table.

Best hard skills to feature on your transactional attorney resume

For a transactional attorney, hard skills are essential for effective job performance. These skills demonstrate your technical abilities and expertise in the legal field.

Best soft skills to feature on your transactional attorney resume

Soft skills for transactional attorneys are vital as they often interact with clients, stakeholders, and colleagues. These skills communicate your ability to handle complex situations with ease.

How to include your education on your resume

The education section is an important part of your transactional attorney resume. It provides the foundation of your academic background and qualifications. This section should be tailored to the job you're applying for, so exclude irrelevant education. When listing your degree, make sure to include pertinent details. If your GPA is impressive, include it and specify if you graduated cum laude.

Here's a poorly written education section:

This example is bad because the first degree, B.A. in History, is unrelated to the job. The GPA for the law degree is average and doesn't need to be highlighted, especially since it isn't impressive. The addition of location details is also irrelevant.

Here’s a well-written education section:

This example is good because it lists a relevant law degree from a prestigious institution. The cum laude designation, along with a strong GPA, demonstrates academic excellence. The information is clear, concise, and directly related to the transactional attorney role.

How to include transactional attorney certificates on your resume

Including a certificates section in your transactional attorney resume is an important step that should not be overlooked. Certificates add credibility and demonstrate specialized skills. To put together a compelling certificates section, follow these guidelines.

List the name of each certificate you have earned. Include the date when you achieved the certificate. Add the issuing organization to show the credibility of the certificate. For enhanced visibility, you can also place key certificates in the header of your resume.

For example, you can add "Licensed Attorney – State Bar of California, 2018" right next to your name and contact info at the top. This immediately signals to employers you meet key credentials.

This example is effective because it clearly names each certificate and the issuing body, and each is relevant to a transactional attorney role. "Licensed Attorney" shows you can practice law, and "Certified Contract Manager" illustrates your expertise in managing contracts. Both certificates strengthen your qualifications, making you a more attractive candidate.

Extra sections to include in your transactional attorney resume

Crafting a standout resume for a transactional attorney can greatly enhance your chances of landing your desired job. Including specific sections on your resume can provide a fuller picture of who you are and what you bring to the table.

• Language section — Emphasize your ability to communicate in multiple languages, flagging your versatility in international transactions. Highlight your fluency or proficiency to show added value.
• Hobbies and interests section — Share personal interests that highlight skills relevant to your profession. Choose hobbies that demonstrate your analytical thinking or commitment to continuous learning.
• Volunteer work section — Detail your involvement in community service, showing your commitment to social responsibility. Use this section to prove your teamwork and leadership skills beyond the legal field.
• Books section — List legal books you've read to showcase your dedication to staying informed about your profession. Highlighting specific titles can illustrate speciality areas or continuing education efforts.

Including these sections can offer a well-rounded view of your qualifications and humanize your resume, making you a more attractive candidate.

Pair your transactional attorney resume with a cover letter

A cover letter is a document submitted with your resume that provides a brief and clear overview of your skills and experience. It allows you to elaborate on specific achievements and explain why you are the perfect fit for the job.

For job seekers, a well-crafted cover letter can help set you apart from other applicants. It gives you the chance to showcase your personality and passion for the role, making your application memorable. For a transactional attorney, your cover letter should highlight your expertise in managing contracts, mergers, and acquisitions, as well as your strong negotiation skills. Be sure to mention your experience with specific legal software and your ability to maintain client confidentiality.

Make your cover letter using Resume Mentor's cover letter builder. It's easy and user-friendly, plus exporting to PDF helps protect your content and keeps the formatting intact.