Assistant District Attorney Resume Example & Writing Guide
Use this Assistant District Attorney resume example and guide to improve your career and write a powerful resume that will separate you from the competition.
District attorneys—or DAs—are the most common type of prosecutor in the legal world. They’re responsible for investigating crimes, building cases against alleged perpetrators, and prosecuting them in court.
If you enjoy being part of a team but also love being in the spotlight, this could be the perfect role for you. Here are some tips and an example resume to help you write a winning district attorney resume that will catch the attention of hiring managers everywhere.
How to Write an Assistant District Attorney Resume
Here’s how to write an assistant district attorney resume of your own.
Write Compelling Bullet Points
The most effective resumes are clear and concise. Bullet points are a great way to do this because they allow you to quickly and easily describe your experience.
For example, rather than saying you “prosecuted cases in court,” you could say you “prosecuted 15+ cases in court each month, resulting in 90% conviction rate.”
The second bullet point is much more specific and provides a clear sense of the scale and impact of your work.
Identify and Include Relevant Keywords
When you apply for a job as a district attorney, your resume is likely to be scanned by an applicant tracking system (ATS) for certain keywords. These programs look for terms that are relevant to the position, like “prosecutorial experience” or “criminal law.” If your resume doesn’t include enough of the right keywords, the ATS might automatically reject your application.
To increase your chances of being seen by a recruiter, make sure to include keywords throughout all sections of your resume. Here are some common DA keywords to get you started:
- Criminal Law
- Legal Writing
- Litigation
- Civil Litigation
- Legal Research
- Legal Advice
- Trials
- Hearings
- Appeals
- Public Speaking
- Westlaw
- Trial Practice
- LexisNexis
- Criminal Justice
- Motions
- Criminal Defense
- Jury Trials
- Mediation
- Personal Injury Law
- Prosecution
- Criminal Investigations
- Interrogation
- Police
- Homeland Security
- Evidence
- Criminal Justice System
- Intelligence Analysis
- Counterterrorism
- National Security
- Police Practices
Showcase Your Technical Skills
As an assistant district attorney, you will need to be proficient in the use of technology in order to effectively do your job. This includes being familiar with legal research databases, case management software, and Microsoft Office Suite. Additionally, you should have experience with specific programs relevant to your field, such as Westlaw. Being able to list your level of expertise in each area will show that you’re a valuable asset to any law firm.