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 legal‑specific wording issues
Optimize for ATS keyword parsing
Structure experience for senior counsel roles
Polish formatting for executive readability
Leverage Resumly’s AI to auto‑correct
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 in‑house counsel roles
How to fix
- Replace with precise titles like “Senior Corporate Counsel”
- Include functional descriptors (e.g., M&A, Compliance)
❌ Before
Attorney, XYZ Corp
✓ After
Senior Corporate Counsel – 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 cross‑functional teams
❌ Before
Drafted contracts and reviewed legal documents.
✓ After
Negotiated and closed 15 high‑value 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 duty‑based lines into achievement‑focused 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
❌ Before
Licensed Attorney
✓ After
Bar Admissions: New York (2008), California (2012); Certified In‑House Counsel (2020)
ATS Tip
Use exact terminology from the job ad (e.g., “admitted to practice in NY”).
Detection Rules
no separate bar admissions section
license info embedded in summary
Resumly Tip
Resumly auto‑extracts 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 “Consulting” or “Interim”
❌ Before
2019‑2020: Legal Advisor, ABC Ltd.
✓ After
2019‑2020: 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 soft‑skill evidence relevant to counsel roleLOW
Why it hurts
- In‑house teams value negotiation, risk management, and stakeholder communication
- ATS may look for keywords like “risk mitigation”
How to fix
- Add a 'Core Competencies' row with soft‑skill keywords
- Embed examples of cross‑department collaboration.
❌ Before
Skills: Contracts, Litigation
✓ After
Core Competencies: Contract Negotiation, Risk Mitigation, Cross‑Functional Leadership, Regulatory Compliance
ATS Tip
Mirror the soft‑skill language from the job description.
Detection Rules
skills list lacks soft‑skill terms
no competency section
Resumly Tip
Suggests top soft‑skill 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: 1‑2 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 job‑specific 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, in‑house counsel, M&A, regulatory compliance, risk mitigation, contract negotiation
Heading Format: Use standard headings like “Professional Experience” and “Core Competencies”
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 ATS‑friendly formatting
Ready to transform your resume? Get the free corporate counsel fix guide now!
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