Legal Resume
Oce of
Career Services
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Resumes should generally be organized into three or four sections.
1. Heading
2. Education
3. Experience
4. Other categories
Resume length: The standard length is one page. If you have prior substantive work experience, see your
CSO about a two-page resume.
Margins: You should not go smaller than .75 inches on the top and sides and .5 on the bottom.
Fonts:
ProTip!
To make a one-page resume you can:
• Condense information to one line.
• Adjust the margins, change fonts
or size.
• Change the space between tabs.
• Delete the least important
information.
• Calibri
• Arial
• Helvetica
• Book Antiqua
•
Century
Schoolbook
• Garamond
• Times New Roman
• Verdana
Font Size: Should be no less than 11pt
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1. Heading
Your heading should include the following information:
Name: Most people use the following format: First Name Middle Initial Last Name “Tom M. Riddle.” If
you go by your middle name, use the following format: “T. Michael Riddle.” The goal is to be as clear
and consistent as possible, so as to not confuse an employer.
Address: Most legal employers require full
addresses. You may consider leaving this off in
certain situations. Talk to your CSO for more details.
Email: We recommend that you use your
tamu.edu email. If you use a personal email, make
sure it is professional (first name, last name) and that
you check it frequently.
Phone: This will normally be your cell phone. Make sure your voicemail is set up and is professional.
LinkedIn URL: Add your personalized LinkedIn URL to showcase your online professional presence.
2. Education
Your education information should always come first. Remember to list it in reverse chronological order (law
school first then undergraduate school), as legal employers will be most interested in your current education.
When listing your law school, use the following format: 1)
Name of Law School; 2) City and State; and, 3) Graduation
Month and Year.
Under the law school section, we recommend you include
the following categories:
First, both your GPA and class rank/rank cut-off.*
*Legal resume drafting experts generally recommend
including class rank if you are in the top half of your class. If
you fall outside of the top one-half and are unsure if you
should include your GPA, please reach out to your career
advisor, who can help you best highlight your strengths.
ProTip!
Make sure the information you provide is
consistent – list the same email address
on your resume as is on your business
card, and list the same address on your
resume as is in your cover letter, if you
are providing a mailing address.
ProTip!
Make sure your LinkedIn profile includes the following information:
• You are a law student at TAMU Law,
• You are in Fort Worth, TX,
• Under Education, list both TAMU Law and your undergraduate (and any additional advanced
degrees),
• Any relevant work experience, and,
• Your professional headshot.
Examples:
• GPA: 3.84, Class Rank 6/121, (Top
5%)
• GPA: 3.64 (Top 20%)
• GPA: 3.40 (Top 33%)
• GPA: 3.21 (Top 50%)
Include grades for courses you’ve excelled
in, if relevant to the employer.
Example: For a position in the D.A.’s
Office, “Received an A+ in Criminal
Procedure, Fall 2024.”
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Second, list academic achievements, awards, honors, and scholarships. For scholarships, consider adding in a
brief explanatory note within parenthesis that speaks to the significance (amount/percentage of tuition awarded,
and awarded to how many students).
Third, list skills-based and writing activities, such as: Law Review, Property Journal, Mock Trial, Moot
Court, Alternative Dispute Resolution, Toastmasters, Teaching Assistant, etc.
Fourth, list involvement and leadership activities, such as: SBA, BLSA, HLSA, Criminal Law Society,
Business Law Society, The Big Event Committee, etc.
Fifth, list any membership in professional organizations, such as the Texas Aggie Bar Association or elected
or appointed positions. If a member of a number of student organizations, consider listing all together in one
bullet point (Member: ____; ____;____).
3. Experience
The four most common subcategories in this section are:
You can also choose to be more specific and in some
instances list other experiences, such as: military experience,
corporate experience, engineering experience, etc. If your
experience does not fall within two or more specific
categories, consider listing it all under a general “Experience”
section.
It is critical that you list experiences and positions that are
relevant to the current employer (e.g., legal skills and skills that are transferable to the law). Also, be sure to
highlight activities and experiences that demonstrate accomplishments and leadership.
Employment should be listed in reverse chronological order, with most recent at the top.
If you are currently in a position, you should list the duties and responsibilities using present tense.
If you are no longer in a position, you should list the duties and responsibilities using past tense.
You should add experience that highlights
excellent writing skills, responsibility, or
leadership abilities. Examples:
• Published article “Fourth Amendment
Rights.”
• Financed 100% of law school
expenses through summer and
part-time employment.
• Organized First Big Event Committee
for Law School.
Legal Experience
Professional Experience
Research Experience
Volunteer Experience
ProTip!
Highlight accomplishments and skills that are useful in the legal profession.
• Example: Research, Negotiations, Drafting, Managing Clients.
Don’t just say “Drafted documents.” Describe the things you have done as much as you can,
and quantify where you can, when the number is significant.
• Example: “Drafted Motion for Summary Judgment, Motion to Compel Documents,
and five Requests for Production of Documents in complex medical malpractice
case.”
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Below are examples of how to highlight your experiences:
• Perform legal research for labor and employment cases
• Draft briefs for review by supervising attorney
• Drafted traditional and no-evidence motions for summary
judgment, plea in abatement, and answered discovery
requests in insurance defense cases.
Legal Experience
• Developed new chemical process which received patent.
• Began as a volunteer; hired on basis of performance.
• Employed up to 30 hours per week on third shift while
attending school full time. On Dean's List six of eight
semesters.
• Upon graduation from college, founded software company.
Within 10 years, operating as multibillion dollar business.
Professional Experience
• Developed quick, concise writing style under strict time
constraints.
• Developed advanced research skills in a specific legal area.
Research Experience
• Consider listing legal, non-legal, and volunteer experience.
These can show commitment, skills, and networking ability.
Volunteer Experience
ProTip!
• You do not need to give the same level of description/number of bullet-points for each
position. Think about the significance, relevance, and the amount of time spent in a role.
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4. Other Categories
This section can include any information you think an
employer may find relevant, interesting, or that would make
you stand out.
Examples are: professional licenses, certifications, foreign languages, athletic accomplishments, activities
and hobbies.
NOTE ABOUT POTENTIALLY CONTROVERSIAL ISSUES
You should always be aware of potentially controversial topics, such as religion or politics, on your resume.
If you feel the value of the experience is less important than the potential downside for the specific employer,
you may want to leave it off.
If you feel the value of the experience is important and you are comfortable with a potential downside for the
specific employer, then you should leave it in.
Make sure to research your employer to know if the issue would be a liability or an asset. Use your own
judgment when addressing these issues on your resume.
Don’t Forget
to
Proofread!
ProTip!
Don’t say you are fluent in a
language if you are not – you
never know when you may have
an interviewer who is fluent and
will test you on your knowledge!
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SAMPLE RESUMES – DO NOT COPY. USE AS A GUIDE ONLY.
Kyle Field (817) 212-0000
1000 Gig Em Drive Kyle.Field@gmail.com
Fort Worth, Texas 76102 www.linkedin.com/in/kfield
EDUCATION
Texas A&M University School of Law Fort Worth, Texas
Juris Doctor Candidate May 2027
GPA: 3.26; Top 25%
Vice President, Family Law Student Association, 2026-2027
Treasurer, Phi Alpha Delta Legal Fraternity, 2025-2026
Student Member, Tarrant County Bar Association
Texas Christian University Fort Worth, Texas
Bachelor of Arts in Geography May 2024
Awarded Fort Worth Rotary Club Honor Scholarship, 2023
LEGAL EXPERIENCE
Sunil Patel, Attorney at Law Fort Worth, Texas
Legal Intern Summer 2025
Research and draft legal documents such as motions, complaints, answers,
discovery, and decrees for filing.
Assist in trial preparation including organizing trial notebook, research materials,
document review, and deposition summaries.
Interview and establish on-going communication with clients.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
MoneyGram International Fort Worth, Texas
Accounts Payable Clerk 2023 – 2024
Completed payments and controlled expenses by receiving, processing, verifying
and reconciling invoices.
TCU Department of Alcohol and Drug Education Fort Worth, Texas
Research Assistant for Dr. Alice Cho 2022 – 2023
Introduced and maintained a campus-wide Substance Abuse Inventory database.
Administered Substance Abuse Inventories to clients.
COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES
Panelist for Children’s Literature Festival, 2021
Red Ribbon Week keynote speaker, Paschal High School, 2020
Authored book and education video, ABC Productions, 2020
LANGUAGE SKILLS
Proficient in Spanish
Simplify dates by using
years & semesters rather
than months. This makes
your resume easier to read.
Include all prior work
experience. Employers
appreciate the value of
prior professional
experiences.
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Mike Elko
12 Kyle Field Drive
Fort Worth, TX 76102
(817) 555-0000
[email protected]
www.linkedin.com/in/jimbofisher
EDUCATION Texas A&M University School of Law, Fort Worth, Texas
J.D. Candidate, May 2027
GPA: 3.4, Top 33%; A+ in Criminal Law
Global Program, Land Use, Ghana, Africa, May 2025
Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida
B.S. with honors in Photography and Criminal Justice, May 2024
Scholarships: Presidential Scholarship, 2023; Faculty Scholarship,
2024.
Achievements: Financed 50% of education expenses through
work.
LEGAL Tarrant County District Attorney’s Office, Fort Worth, Texas
EXPERIENCE Legal Intern, Summer 2025
Observed court proceedings, participated in DWI jury trial and
conducted direct examination of law witness. Assisted the
investigative staff assigned to specific cases. Duties included
gathering information, data entry, file tracking, phone contact and
follow up work, and assistance with trial preparation.
Echolls Law Firm, Fort Worth, Texas
Legal Intern, September 2025 – May 2026
Assisted solo practitioner with all aspects of criminal defense
practice, including researching statutes and case law, document
review, and answering phone calls from clients.
PROFESSIONAL College Football Investigations, Tallahassee, Florida
EXPERIENCE Office Coordinator, 2021 – 2024
Maintained confidential client files, performed background checks
using internet resources and public records, composed business
letters and answered telephones for a private investigation firm.
ACTIVITIES The Floridian - student newspaper photographer, 2021 – 2023
Golden Key International Honor Society
Habitat for Humanity
SKILLS Read and write Spanish; proficient in HTML and Javascript Web
programming languages.
INTERESTS Marathon training; ran the Chicago Marathon four times.
Smaller margins can
be okay – but be sure
to do a test print
before moving them
lower than .75 in.
Study abroad experience can
be a separate entry in your
education section. Be sure to
include a line explaining your
program or coursework.
Have a unique experience that
doesn’t fit elsewhere, or other
compelling interest? You can use
this section to add a few words.
Use clear terms when
talking about your
language skills.
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Alan A. Applicant
444 Atlas Drive
Dallas, TX 75090
(817) 555-0000
aapplicant@gmail.com
www.linkedin.com/in/a.app
EDUCATION
Texas A&M University School of Law Fort Worth, Texas
Juris Doctor Candidate May 2027
• GPA: 3.79; Class Rank: 12/151 (Top 10% of class)
• Staff Member, Law Review, 2025 – 2026
• Received highest class grade in Criminal Appellate Procedure, Fall 2024
Cornell University Ithaca, New York
Bachelor of Science, Management Information Systems May 2024
• GPA: 3.85; Class Rank: 40/400, magna cum laude
• Member, Phi Alpha Delta, 2022 – 2024
LEGAL EXPERIENCE
Texas A&M University School of Law Fort Worth, Texas
Law Student Intern – Mediation Practicum Fall 2026
• Learned techniques of mediation through lecture and role play.
• Reached a successful resolution in three community disputes.
• Received mediation certification after completion of coursework.
Crane Law Firm Dallas, Texas
Law Clerk Summer 2025
• Conducted legal research and drafted motions and memoranda involving
civil litigation for a boutique litigation firm.
• Drafted and filed pleadings, including traditional and no-evidence motions
for summary judgment and pleas in abatement, in complex medical
malpractice cases with little or no revision by the partners.
• Answered discovery requests.
• Regularly communicated with clients by phone and in person.
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
Texas A&M University School of Law Fort Worth, Texas
Research Assistant for Professor Flemming 2025 – Present
• Conduct research on various topics concerning property rights.
• Edit academic work in preparation for submission to professional journals.
LANGUAGE SKILLS AND INTERESTS
• Fluent in French and Russian.
• Interests include international budget travel; backpacked through 15 countries.
Include clinical
experience in
this section.
Research Assistant positions can be
listed in a separate research
experience section. Use short, specific
sentences & include the name and
title of the department or professor in
the title.
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ACTION VERBS FOR USE IN RESUME
Research & Technical Skills
Analyzed
Correlated
Evaluated
Indexed
Located
Solved
Assessed
Critiqued
Examined
Interpreted
Organized
Sorted
Catalogued
Diagnosed
Extracted
Interviewed
Rectified
Summarized
Clarified Detailed Formed Invented Researched Surveyed
Collected
Discovered
Gathered
Investigated
Revised
Systematized
Compared
Earned
Generated
Justified
Reviewed
Tailored
Conducted
Effected
Identified
Litigated
Simplified
Tested
Management & Organization Skills
Administered
Directed
Implemented
Planned
Supervised
Approved
Devised
Improved
Prepared
Verified
Arranged
Engineered
Initiated
Presided
Assigned
Enhanced
Installed
Prioritized
Attained
Established
Instituted
Produced
Chaired
Evaluated
Led
Recommended
Contracted
Executed
Managed
Reorganized
Controlled
Founded
Maintained
Reviewed
Coordinated
Governed
Motivated
Scheduled
Delegated
Increased
Organized
Strengthened
Interpersonal & Achievement Skills
Achieved
Created
Facilitated
Operated
Sparked
Advocated
Demonstrated
Familiarized
Originated
Structured
Aided
Developed
Grouped
Overcame
Succeeded
Arbitrated
Diagnosed
Guided
Performed
Supported
Assisted
Educated
Innovated
Pioneered
Trained
Awarded
Encouraged
Inspired
Reduced
Transformed
Coached
Enlarged
Integrated
Referred
Unified
Consolidated
Expanded
Intervened
Rehabilitated
Volunteered
Constructed
Expedited
Provided
Represented
Counseled
Experienced
Motivated
Resolved
Communications & Language Skills
Addressed Converted Elicited Lectured Publicized
Authored
Corresponded
Explained
Mediated
Reconciled
Clarified
Designed
Formed
Moderated
Recruited
Collaborated
Directed
Formulated
Negotiated
Resolved
Composed
Distributed
Influenced
Persuaded
Spoke
Consulted Drafted Interpreted Presented Translated
Contacted
Edited
Keynoted
Promoted
Wrote