Law Clerk Resume Examples and Templates for 2023

How To Write a Law Clerk Resume

Landing a position as a law clerk starts with impressing a hiring manager or recruiter with a strong resume. In a crowded field of talent, making yours stand out is important, so highlight qualifications like performing legal research, drafting briefs, and specializations in specific law areas like pretrial motions. To help you get started, review our strategies and some resume examples to score a law clerk position ruling in your favor.

1. Write a powerful profile summarizing your qualifications

The profile section of your resume is your chance to showcase your career highlights, key skills, and areas of expertise to capture the reader’s attention. The most effective approach is to begin with your job title and years of experience and specify a few specializations you can bring to the role.

For example, if you are especially strong in analyzing data or with attorney-client correspondence, mention that – especially if it aligns with your desired role. If you’ve done work for a notable attorney or government office, those facts could also help you stand out.

2. Follow with an accomplishment-focused professional experience section

The experience section of your resume is where you can share the details of your background, but do your best to make each bullet point accomplishment-driven. Show the hiring employer how you’ve excelled in past positions when faced with various job responsibilities rather than just listing your duties.

For law clerks, highlight your meticulous attention to detail in research, the ability to draft various law documents such as subpoenas, and keeping case files and documents organized – and how those skills contributed to a law team’s success.

3. Include relevant education and certifications

For jobs as a law clerk, it’s also important to include details of your educational background as most jobs require an advanced degree. List both your bachelor’s and Juris Doctor degrees so the employer knows you meet their qualifications.

4. List pertinent key skills

Listing your relevant professional skills is not only important so the employer knows you have the right attributes for the job, but it’s also necessary to get past applicant tracking systems (ATS). These databases scan for keywords to help hiring teams filter out the candidates that best match their job descriptions. Study job postings carefully to see what employers are seeking, and think about some of the important tasks you’ve done that make you a strong law clerk candidate. Here’s a list of key skills you might consider adding to your law clerk resume:

3. Feature specific types of cases

Although it is important never to disclose confidential details regarding cases while crafting your resume, you can paint a picture of the types of cases you worked on as a law clerk. Talking about your experience is appropriate if you aren’t disclosing specific details about an individual case. Notice how the job seeker mentions they worked on multi-million-dollar cases without disclosing explicit information regarding any individual clients. This will establish a sense of scope for prospective employers without breaching non-disclosure agreements (NDAs):

How To Pick the Best Law Clerk Resume Template

The law field is still a fairly conservative profession, so avoid submitting an overly flashy resume with heavy graphics or colors. Present yourself professionally with a clean, crisp look that focuses on substance over distracting formatting. Look for templates that emphasize your career highlights and achievements but are easy to read with clear sections.

Law Clerk Text-Only Resume Templates and Examples

Years of Experience

Frequently Asked Questions: Law Clerk Resume Examples and Advice

Frank Hackett

Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW)

Frank Hackett is a professional resume writer and career consultant with over eight years of experience. As the lead editor at a boutique career consulting firm, Frank developed an innovative approach to resume writing that empowers job seekers to tell their professional stories. His approach involves creating accomplishment-driven documents that balance keyword optimization with personal branding. Frank is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) with the Professional Association of Resume Writers and Career Coaches (PAWRCC).