Law School Resume: The Ultimate Guide with Samples

What Is a Law School Resume?

A law school resume is a one-page document that highlights your academic achievements, professional experience, and extracurricular involvement. While similar in format to a job resume, it serves a unique purpose: to help admissions committees understand who you are, what you've done, and how prepared you are for the rigors of law school.

Unlike a traditional work resume, your law school resume should emphasize intellectual, leadership, and service-oriented achievements.

Why Your Law School Resume Matters

Your resume is often the first thing admissions committees look at. Here’s what it does:

• Provides a snapshot of your academic and professional journey: A well-structured resume quickly communicates your educational background and accomplishments, helping admissions officers understand your trajectory without reading your entire application.
• Highlights leadership and service commitments: These experiences are especially valued in law school applicants. Admissions committees want to see that you take initiative and contribute meaningfully to your communities.
• Offers insight into your interests and values: Including relevant extracurriculars and volunteer roles shows what matters to you and how you’ve chosen to spend your time beyond academics.
• Fills in gaps not covered in transcripts or personal statements: Your resume can address areas not discussed elsewhere in your application, such as internships, awards, or employment.

Pro Tip: A law school resume isn’t just a list. It’s your story on one page. Make every entry count.

How Long Should a Law School Resume Be?

Ideally, your law school resume should be a one-page document, up to 2 pages max if you have a few years of working experience under your belt.

Even if you have an extensive background, law schools prefer concise resumes. Focus on relevance and impact, not length.

How to Format Your Law School Resume

Here are 7 formatting rules to keep your resume clean and professional:

1. Use standard margins (1 inch all around): This ensures your document looks professional and is easy to read. Crowding your resume with small margins makes it appear cluttered.
2. Keep font size between 10 and 12 pt: This makes your resume readable without wasting space. Fonts like Times New Roman and Calibri are professional and universally accepted.
3. Use clear section headings: Organizing your resume into sections like Education, Experience, and Leadership helps the reader navigate it easily.
4. List items in reverse chronological order: Admissions committees want to see your most recent accomplishments first, so always start with the most recent role or education.
5. Use bullet points to describe roles and achievements: Bullets are easier to scan than paragraphs. Each bullet should focus on a specific responsibility or result.
6. Avoid personal pronouns like "I" or "my": Keep your tone formal and professional. Resumes are not narratives.
7. Save as a PDF to maintain formatting: A PDF prevents unwanted formatting issues when opened on different devices.

What to Include in a Law School Resume (With Examples)

Here are the sections your resume should include, along with an example:

1. Header

Include your name, phone number, email address, and LinkedIn profile (optional).

Why it matters: This is the first section, and it sets the tone for your professional branding. A clean, professional header shows attention to detail.

2. Education

List your undergraduate institution, degree, major, graduation date, and GPA if 3.5 or above.

Why it matters: Your academic background is a core part of your law school application. A strong GPA and rigorous coursework signal readiness for legal studies.

3. Work Experience

Include paid and unpaid work. Use action verbs and quantify achievements.

Why it matters: Work experience demonstrates responsibility, time management, and transferable skills. Quantifying your accomplishments shows impact.

4. Leadership & Extracurriculars

Clubs, student government, peer mentoring, etc.

Why it matters: These roles reflect your initiative and engagement. Leadership shows you’re proactive; extracurriculars offer a more complete picture of who you are.

5. Volunteer Work

Show commitment to service.

Why it matters: Law schools value community engagement. Volunteering speaks to your empathy, social responsibility, and commitment to justice.

6. Skills & Certifications (Optional)

Language proficiency, legal software, certifications.

Why it matters: Additional skills can set you apart, especially if relevant to law school or legal work. Fluency in another language or legal tech skills add depth to your profile.

Common Law School Resume Mistakes to Avoid

Avoid these pitfalls that could weaken your application:

• Too long: Stick to one page (or 2 at the maximum). Admissions officers are busy and value conciseness.
• Typos or grammar errors: Mistakes suggest carelessness. Law requires attention to detail, so proofread carefully.
• Irrelevant content: High school achievements or outdated jobs distract from your current strengths.
• Fluffy language: Vague descriptions like "helped with projects" don’t convey real accomplishments. Use precise, active language.
• Inconsistent formatting: Uneven fonts, misaligned bullets, or inconsistent date formats make your resume hard to read and appear unprofessional.

Final Tips to Make Your Law School Resume Stand Out

• Use strong action verbs: Words like "managed," "organized," "led," and "researched" make your experience sound dynamic and impactful.
• Tailor your resume for each law school, when possible: Small tweaks can show you’ve done your research and genuinely care about each program.
• Use numbers to demonstrate impact: Quantifying your achievements (e.g., "raised $5,000," "led 20 volunteers") provides concrete evidence of your contributions.
• Showcase your commitment to service or justice: Law schools seek future lawyers who want to make a difference. Your resume should reflect these values.

Final Thoughts

Writing a stellar law school resume is one of the easiest ways to show law schools you're ready. By following the formatting rules and emphasizing the right experiences, you'll make a strong impression that supports the rest of your application.

If you need help writing or editing your resume, our admissions experts are here to support you.

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To your success,

Your friends at BeMo        

BeMo Academic Consulting