RESUME MISTAKES
Stop Letting Resume Errors Cost You In-House Legal Jobs
Identify and correct the top mistakes corporate counsel candidates make, and get past ATS filters with confidence.
How This Page Helps
This page helps corporate counsel professionals pinpoint frequent resume errors, understand why they hurt, and apply proven fixes to improve ATS compatibility and recruiter appeal.
Spot legalâspecific wording issues
Optimize for ATS keyword parsing
Structure experience for senior counsel roles
Polish formatting for executive readability
Leverage Resumlyâs AI to autoâcorrect
Common Mistakes That Kill Your Chances
Each mistake includes why it hurts, how to fix it, and before/after examples
Using generic job titlesHIGH
Why it hurts
- Obscures seniority level
- Reduces keyword match for inâhouse counsel roles
How to fix
- Replace with precise titles like âSenior Corporate Counselâ
- Include functional descriptors (e.g., M&A, Compliance)
â Before
Attorney, XYZ Corp
â After
Senior Corporate Counsel â M&A & Compliance, XYZ Corp
ATS Tip
Match the exact title used in the job posting.
Detection Rules
title contains generic terms like 'Attorney' without qualifier
title length < 3 words
Resumly Tip
Resumly suggests title upgrades based on your experience and target role.
Listing duties instead of achievementsHIGH
Why it hurts
- Fails to demonstrate impact
- Makes resume look like a job description
How to fix
- Quantify results (e.g., saved $2M)
- Show leadership of crossâfunctional teams
â Before
Drafted contracts and reviewed legal documents.
â After
Negotiated and closed 15 highâvalue contracts, reducing turnaround time by 30% and saving $2M in fees.
ATS Tip
Start bullet points with strong action verbs and include numbers.
Detection Rules
bullets begin with verbs like 'drafted' without metrics
no numbers present
Resumly Tip
Our AI transforms dutyâbased lines into achievementâfocused statements.
Omitting relevant bar admissions and jurisdictionsMEDIUM
Why it hurts
- Recruiters may overlook licensing eligibility
- ATS may filter out candidates missing required credentials
How to fix
- Create a dedicated 'Bar Admissions' section
- List state, year, and any special certifications
â Before
Licensed Attorney
â After
Bar Admissions: New York (2008), California (2012); Certified InâHouse Counsel (2020)
ATS Tip
Use exact terminology from the job ad (e.g., âadmitted to practice in NYâ).
Detection Rules
no separate bar admissions section
license info embedded in summary
Resumly Tip
Resumly autoâextracts bar info and formats it correctly.
Using a chronological format that hides gaps or contract workMEDIUM
Why it hurts
- Gaps raise concerns
- Contract roles may be undervalued
How to fix
- Adopt a hybrid format with a 'Key Projects' section
- Label contract roles clearly with âConsultingâ or âInterimâ
â Before
2019â2020: Legal Advisor, ABC Ltd.
â After
2019â2020: Interim Corporate Counsel (Consulting), ABC Ltd.
ATS Tip
Include both dates and role type to satisfy ATS parsing.
Detection Rules
dates missing month/year
role type not indicated
Resumly Tip
Switch to hybrid layout with project highlights in one click.
Neglecting softâskill evidence relevant to counsel roleLOW
Why it hurts
- Inâhouse teams value negotiation, risk management, and stakeholder communication
- ATS may look for keywords like ârisk mitigationâ
How to fix
- Add a 'Core Competencies' row with softâskill keywords
- Embed examples of crossâdepartment collaboration.
â Before
Skills: Contracts, Litigation
â After
Core Competencies: Contract Negotiation, Risk Mitigation, CrossâFunctional Leadership, Regulatory Compliance
ATS Tip
Mirror the softâskill language from the job description.
Detection Rules
skills list lacks softâskill terms
no competency section
Resumly Tip
Suggests top softâskill keywords for corporate counsel.
Formatting Guidelines
File Types: PDF, DOCX
Sections: Header, Professional Summary, Core Competencies, Experience, Education, Bar Admissions, Certifications, Publications (optional)
Naming: FirstName_LastName_CorporateCounsel.pdf
Consistency
Length: 1â2 pages (max 2 for senior counsel)
Date Format: MM/YYYY
Location Format: City, State (Country optional)
Resume Quality Checklist
- Use precise legal titles
- Show quantified achievements
- Include bar admissions and certifications
- Adopt hybrid format with key projects
- Mirror jobâspecific keywords
- Proofread for legal terminology consistency
- Save as PDF with proper file name
ATS Alignment Guide
Common ATS Systems: iCIMS, Greenhouse, Workday, Lever
Keyword Strategy: corporate counsel, inâhouse counsel, M&A, regulatory compliance, risk mitigation, contract negotiation
Heading Format: Use standard headings like âProfessional Experienceâ and âCore Competenciesâ
Quick Fix Workshop
Paste your current corporate counsel resume text
- Standardize titles
- Convert duties to achievements
- Add bar admissions section
- Insert core competencies row
- Apply ATSâfriendly formatting
Ready to transform your resume? Get the free corporate counsel fix guide now!
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