RESUME MISTAKES
Avoid Costly Lawyer Resume Mistakes
Turn common pitfalls into powerful selling points and get noticed by law firms and corporate legal departments.
How This Page Helps
This guide helps lawyers identify frequent resume errors, understand their impact, and apply proven fixes so their credentials shine through both human reviewers and applicant tracking systems.
Identify the 5 most damaging resume mistakes for attorneys
Learn why each mistake hurts your candidacy
Get step‑by‑step fixes with before‑and‑after examples
Optimize your resume for legal ATS platforms
Access a printable checklist and mini‑fix workshop
Common Mistakes That Kill Your Chances
Each mistake includes why it hurts, how to fix it, and before/after examples
Vague Language Instead of Specific Legal AchievementsHIGH
Why it hurts
- Hiring partners can’t gauge your impact
- ATS keywords are missed
- Your resume blends with generic candidates
How to fix
- Replace generic verbs with action‑oriented, quantified statements
- Highlight case outcomes, settlement amounts, or precedent‑setting decisions
- Insert relevant legal keywords (e.g., litigation, contract drafting)
❌ Before
Handled various corporate matters and assisted senior attorneys.
✓ After
Led a $12M M&A transaction, drafting and negotiating all acquisition agreements, resulting in a seamless integration within 90 days.
ATS Tip
Include exact practice‑area terms such as "commercial litigation" and "contract negotiation" to match job descriptions.
Detection Rules
Contains phrases like "handled" or "assisted" without metrics
Lacks keywords from the job posting
Resumly Tip
Swap vague duties for concrete results—show the case value you delivered.
Omitting Bar Admission and Jurisdiction DetailsMEDIUM
Why it hurts
- Employers can’t verify you’re licensed to practice
- ATS may filter out candidates missing required credentials
- You appear less qualified for jurisdiction‑specific roles
How to fix
- Create a dedicated "Bar Admissions" section
- List each state, year of admission, and any special certifications
- Include the bar number if commonly requested
❌ Before
Attorney at XYZ Law Firm (2018‑Present)
✓ After
Attorney at XYZ Law Firm (2018‑Present) Bar Admissions: New York State Bar, 2017; California State Bar, 2020
ATS Tip
Use the heading "Bar Admissions" so ATS parsers recognize the credential block.
Detection Rules
No section titled "Bar Admissions" or "License"
Resume lacks state names or years
Resumly Tip
Add a clear Bar Admissions section to satisfy both humans and bots.
Using Non‑Standard Headings (e.g., "Work History")LOW
Why it hurts
- ATS may not map content to expected fields
- Recruiters skim for familiar headings and may miss key sections
- Your resume looks unprofessional in a legal context
How to fix
- Replace with standard legal headings: "Professional Experience", "Legal Experience", "Education", "Bar Admissions"
- Keep heading hierarchy consistent (H2 for main sections)
❌ Before
Work History
✓ After
Professional Experience
ATS Tip
Standard headings improve parsing accuracy across iCIMS, Taleo, and Workday.
Detection Rules
Heading text does not match common legal resume headings
Resumly Tip
Swap generic headings for industry‑standard ones to boost readability.
Failing to Tailor Keywords to the Target Practice AreaHIGH
Why it hurts
- ATS keyword filters reject mismatched resumes
- Hiring managers think you lack relevant expertise
- You miss out on niche opportunities (e.g., IP, tax)
How to fix
- Analyze the job posting for top 5–7 legal terms
- Incorporate those terms naturally throughout experience bullets
- Prioritize the most relevant practice‑area keywords in the summary
❌ Before
Provided general counsel services to various clients.
✓ After
Provided general counsel services to fintech startups, focusing on regulatory compliance, data privacy, and securities law.
ATS Tip
Match exact phrase order (e.g., "regulatory compliance") to increase keyword density.
Detection Rules
Keyword count for target practice area <2
Resumly Tip
Align your language with the specific legal niche you’re applying for.
Listing Duties Without Demonstrating ResultsMEDIUM
Why it hurts
- Recruiters can’t see the value you added
- ATS may overlook impact‑oriented verbs
- Your resume sounds like a job description, not a personal brand
How to fix
- Add quantifiable outcomes (e.g., saved $X, reduced litigation time by Y%)
- Use the STAR format (Situation, Task, Action, Result) for each bullet
❌ Before
Conducted legal research and drafted memoranda.
✓ After
Conducted legal research for 30+ complex commercial disputes, drafting memoranda that reduced senior attorney review time by 25%.
ATS Tip
Include result‑focused keywords like "saved", "reduced", "increased" alongside action verbs.
Detection Rules
Bullets end with a period and lack numbers or percentages
Resumly Tip
Show the impact of your work—numbers speak louder than duties.
Formatting Guidelines
File Types: PDF, DOCX
Sections: Contact Information, Professional Summary, Bar Admissions, Education, Professional Experience, Publications, Professional Associations, Skills, References (optional)
Naming: FirstName_LastName_Lawyer.pdf
Consistency
Length: 1‑2 pages (unless extensive publications or litigation record)
Date Format: MM/YYYY
Location Format: City, State
Resume Quality Checklist
- Use a professional email address (no nicknames)
- Include bar admissions with state and year
- Tailor the summary with target practice‑area keywords
- Quantify achievements in every experience bullet
- Use standard headings like "Professional Experience"
- Save as PDF with the naming convention
ATS Alignment Guide
Common ATS Systems: iCIMS, Taleo, Workday, Lever
Keyword Strategy: Litigation, Contract Drafting, Legal Research, Client Counseling, Regulatory Compliance, M&A, Intellectual Property
Heading Format: Use standard headings such as "Professional Experience", "Education", "Bar Admissions", and "Skills"
Quick Fix Workshop
Paste your current lawyer resume text below
- Convert bullet points to action‑result format
- Add missing bar admission details
- Insert practice‑area keywords from the job description
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