Federal Judge Resume Example & Writing Guide
Use this Federal Judge resume example and guide to improve your career and write a powerful resume that will separate you from the competition.
Federal judges are the ultimate arbiters of law, deciding the fate of individuals and corporations alike in their courtrooms. They interpret the Constitution, decide civil and criminal cases, and rule on everything from immigration to intellectual property rights to employment discrimination.
Federal judges are appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate. They serve lifetime terms and are subject to removal only via impeachment by Congress. Because of their powerful positions, federal judges have tremendous influence over the lives of Americans—and their careers are often highly coveted.
Here’s some tips and an example for writing a federal judge resume plus an
How to Write a Federal Judge Resume
Here’s how to write a federal judge resume of your own.
Write Compelling Bullet Points
When it comes to writing your resume, it’s important to use clear and concise language. Bullet points are a great place to do this by using specific examples and numbers.
For example, rather than saying you “managed a team of lawyers,” you could say you “managed a team of 15 lawyers, achieving a 15% increase in billable hours over the first six months.”
The second bullet point is much stronger because it provides specific details about what you did and the results of your work.
Identify and Include Relevant Keywords
When you submit your resume for a federal judge role, it’s likely that it will be screened by an applicant tracking system (ATS) that looks for certain keywords related to the job. If your resume doesn’t have enough of the right terms, your application might not make it past the initial screening process.
One way to make sure you have the right keywords on your resume is to read through a few job postings and take note of the terms and skills they list. Then, try to include some of those same terms on your resume. Here are some common federal judge keywords:
- Litigation
- Legal Writing
- Legal Research
- Civil Litigation
- Legal Advice
- Trials
- Appeals
- Arbitration
- Mediation
- Commercial Litigation
- Corporate Law
- Intellectual Property
- Criminal Law
- Jury Trials
- Trials & Litigation
- Product Liability
- Legal Issues
- Labor and Employment Law
- Administrative Law
- Westlaw
- Consumer Law
- Commercial Litigation Litigation
- Pleadings
- Motions
- Criminal Defense
- Civil Litigation Civil
- Criminal Law Practice
- Trial Practice
- Personal Injury Law
- Alternative Dispute Resolution
Showcase Your Technical Skills
The technical skills section of your resume is one of the most important sections to focus on, as it can be the deciding factor in whether or not you get an interview. Federal judges are typically expected to be proficient in programs like Microsoft Office Suite, Adobe Acrobat, and Westlaw. Additionally, if you have experience with other programs or systems that are relevant to the role, be sure to list them.