Stetson University College of Law
	RESUME WRITING

Your resume is one of the most important documents you will draft during law school. In applying for most legal jobs the only written work the prospective employer will see will be your resume and the accompanying cover letter. Therefore, it is imperative that you take this opportunity to make a favorable impression. In preparation of your resume you should strive for an end product which reflects a certain amount of individuality. The ultimate purpose of the resume is threefold: 1) to aid in getting an interview; 2) to guide the interviewer through your personal, educational, and professional qualifications; and 3) to help the interviewer remember you once you walk out the door. It is important to remember these purposes when drafting a resume and also to keep in mind that the resume will generally be the first means of contact between you and the employer.

Included in this handout are four sample resume formats that are provided as a guide for your use in developing your own resume. These are not the only formats you may use...there are any number of styles you may use in presenting your resume information. The format in which you choose to do your resume should be consistent in style, orderly in the presentation of content material as well as visually pleasing to the eye. Often your education and employment history will dictate the form best for you.

Correct grammar, spelling, punctuation, etc. is a must. Do not allow yourself and/or a typist/typesetter to do a sloppy job with your resume. Your resume is the first, and sometimes only, contact with a potential employer. Your resume cannot explain to an employer why there are typos or misspellings on it, why you have the wrong year for your law school graduation date, or why you wish to be given an interview even though your resume may not give that impression. Proofread carefully and then have others proof it again. If you are doing your own resume on your computer, do not forget to spell check it.

Print Style: You may have the resume either typeset or printed on a good laser printer. Once you have a good final product, your resume can also be photocopied on bond paper in white, off-white, or any neutral color. Avoid dark or "trendy" colors - they do not photocopy well. Off-white or cream appears to be the favorite color with white a close second. The primary consideration is "conservative." We suggest that you have your resume created by a word processor during your first two years of law school while applying for clerking positions because there will be updates in your class rank, activities and clerking experiences. In your third year as you begin to apply for associate positions, you may chose to have the resume professionally typeset. When purchasing your resume paper, be sure to buy extra paper and matching envelopes for cover letters.

Length: It is always better to limit your resume to one page. However, it is essential for you to cover all pertinent information on your background, so do not hesitate to use a second page to complete your resume. Just be certain it is concise. The use of phrases rather than long sentences will help in narrowing down a resume. If your resumes does run to two pages, resist the temptation to "fill in" the second page.

Keep in mind that a resume is usually skimmed over in approximately thirty seconds at the first reading (which is at times the last reading); therefore it should be very well organized to give vital information quickly rather than giving the impression it is a treatise. It is not an autobiography.

Spacing: Be sure to allow enough space on the resume for adequate margins, indentations and for easy readability. Always allow at least a 1/2 inch border margin all the way around the resume. Oftentimes, the visual appearance of a resume makes a greater impression than the actual resume content. Do not go overboard on the layout or graphics. Remember, for the most part, you are applying for positions in a traditionally conservative profession; hence, the conservative paper and conservative lay-out. 

Contents of the Resume

Heading: List your name, address and phone number. Do not use the word "resume" as a heading. Your name, without abbreviations or nicknames should be used as the title. If you are only known by your nickname to the extent that your references would not know you by your given name, you may use include your nickname in parentheses You may want to capitalize your name or use a different size or style of type to make the name stand out. A middle initial may be used, but initials alone should not be used.

Your school address (label this either "school address" or "current address" ) and a telephone number where you are most likely to be available should also be included. A permanent or parent's address should also be included if you plan to use the resume during a time when classes are not in session and you are not available at your current address. If you do not have an answering machine, we suggest that you also list your school voice mail box number If you have an answering machine, make sure you have an appropriate message in case an employer should call.

Although frequently included in non-legal resumes, a statement of job objectives is to be avoided in a legal resume. If the objective is stated in narrow terms, you may exclude yourself from a type of job which could ultimately prove appealing. A generalized statement, on the other hand, merely restates the obvious and thus serves no useful purpose. The better approach is to state job objectives in a cover letter as a means of tailoring your interests to a particular employer. Another approach to the concept of job objectives is the use of two separate resumes - one which is targeted for a general market, the other targeted for a more particular market, e.g., admiralty, tax, or accounting.

Education: List in reverse chronological order - taking the school from the present back through the past. Keep items chronologically together - when listing Stetson University College of Law, list everything you are currently involved with while in law school. The sensitive issue addressed here is that of law school academic rank. Certainly, this is information you may or may not choose to list on your resume; however, most employers may presume that if your academic rank is not listed it is because it is low and indeed may presume it to be lower than it really is. However, you must keep in mind that academic rank for some employers is of real concern to them. Thus, you may wish to exclude this information from your resume if you do not fall within the top 40% - 50% of your class and hope that the employer will see other items on your resume of sufficient interest to request an interview with you. Do not get caught in the "grade-game" - it can be a real block to your job search should you allow it to interfere with your other marketable skills and abilities. Please feel free to discuss this issue in private.

List law school honors, co-curricular and extracurricular activities together in order of importance. Do not go on and on with these, oftentimes overkill is worse than underselling. List the most significant of these and leave the rest for the interview. Include dates where appropriate (i.e. Dean's List, Fall 1991) and avoid abbreviations when possible. Also avoid "beefing" up your activities section with meaningless information. This will not add to your credibility. This illustrates a cardinal rule in resume writing. Anything on the resume is fair game. If you will potentially be embarrassed by the answer to an obvious or even a very sophisticated question suggested by an item on your resume, avoid including that item.

Undergraduate honors and activities should also be included, but not without these cautions. If your law school activities are minimal, a heavy undergraduate list will emphasize the lack of law school activities. Too much here also might tend to make the employer think you are fragmented, i.e., unable to really get involved in any one project. This holds true for your law school activities as well. Also, if you have had a hiatus from school for over three years, the weight of the resume should be devoted to recent activities, and not to activities in which you were involved 5-8 years ago.

Employment: Again, list in reverse chronological order. Provide an explanation for job responsibilities unless they are implicit in the job title or unless the position was one of usual responsibility or expertise. Include those duties or responsibilities that show legal experience, leadership abilities, motivation etc. Keep in mind, your space is limited on the resume and some items may be better addressed in a cover letter or letter of interest to the employer. Your resume will be sent to a spectrum of employers and you cannot afford to limit yourself on the resume; however, your letter of interest can always be tailored to a particular employer for a particular position.

For non-legal jobs discretion should be used as to which ones are included. Conservative employers abound in the market and will not be impressed by your three years of being a lifeguard or bartender. Lay jobs involving management skills, responsibility for a budget or funds, supervision of staff and the like should be included as should positions utilizing skills such as data analysis, decision making and verbal or written communications since all of these are transferable to skills needed to be a successful attorney. Various summer jobs can be included by stating "Various other part-time and summer employment included..."

Personal Data: This section is entirely optional. Age, marital status, place and date of birth are not required. However, if you are not a Florida native and you will be applying to firms in your hometown, you may want to include your birth place. Physical description, health (have you ever seen any description other than "excellent" listed), children and spouses name and occupation are not recommended. Hobbies, interests and travel may be included if you think they add to your credentials. They can be helpful conversations starters if you and the employer have similar interests. Do not go overboard (keep it to one or two lines) and again, if you indicate an interest in Oriental Art you had better be prepared to discuss it intelligently.

Professional Memberships: If you have other qualifications such as C.P.A. or an architects license, or for that matter a pilot's license, you can include it under an appropriately titled category or you can work this information into your job description.

Language Abilities: If you are fluent in a language you will most probably want to include this information. Be prepared to be called on your knowledge, so if you only have a reading knowledge state only that. If you are applying to an organization that has a particular need for the language(s) you speak, you might want the information placed near the top of the resume.

Publications: If you have published anything, it should be included. This would include bona fide educational publications, commercial publications, and participation in editing or writing a published work. This category should be placed so that it stands out on your resume. Be prepared to provide a clean copy and be prepared to be questioned (specifically) about it. This rarely happens, but if it has been a while since you wrote it refresh your memory before interviewing.

References: Employers often want independent verification of a job applicant's abilities. It is common to state in the resume that references will be furnished upon request; however, if you are running out of room on your resume you can leave off this phrase. Employers for clerking positions rarely consult references because of the temporary nature of the job. The hiring of a full-time attorney is a more serious matter and references may be consulted before commitments are made. If individual references are not named and the resume offers to provide them upon request, you should prepare a list of persons who would be willing to serve as references in the event the prospective employer makes the request. If you have a separate page for references, be sure you put your name on the top of the sheet so the employer can identify it later.

If you decide to include references, the name, position, address and phone number should be stated. Obviously, prior permission to list the reference must be obtained. The list should include a law professor who is familiar with your work. Other references should be from employers listed in the employment section. Relatives, doctors, or clergymen are not appropriate references. Two references should be sufficient and four is the maximum.

Summary - Resume Do's and Don'ts

Do:

• Use an outline rather than a narrative format
• Effectively use white space, headings & indenting
• Be concise
• Stress positive points
• Include a local phone number & current local address
• Always include date of anticipated graduation rather than just "first year" or "second year"
• Keep personal data pertinent and to a minimum
• Describe any honors and extracurriculars if they are not self-explanatory
• Target your resume
• Include all legal\law related employment and brief descriptions of the nature of the work
• Keep hobbies and interests to a minimum
• Check thoroughly for typographical, grammatical and spelling errors

Don't:

• Include irrelevant information
• Include salary or reasons for leaving prior employment
• Use a first person pronoun (I or my) anywhere in the resume
• Use "resume" in the resume
• Use legal size paper
• Use poor quality photocopies or photographs
• Exceed two pages under any circumstances
• Exaggerate your G.P.A. or other credentials
• Send your resume to an employer without a cover letter (not required for on-campus interviews)

After you have completed a rough draft of your resume, please feel free to stop by the office if you have any questions or problems. 

ACTION VERBS FOR USE IN RESUME

Read Sample Resumes

We welcome your comments.
Please e-mail us at career@law.stetson.edu.