Legal Consultant Resume Example & Writing Guide

Lawyers are some of the most highly paid professionals in the world. And with good reason—they possess the kind of specialized expertise that allows them to advise clients on everything from intellectual property rights to international tax law.

As a legal consultant, you can help attorneys stay on top of their game by providing them with research and analysis, writing briefs and other documents, and managing their workloads. Or you can work directly with clients to solve their legal problems by researching cases and preparing them for court.

Legal consultants work in a variety of settings, including law firms, corporations, government agencies, and nonprofits. But no matter where you end up, you’ll need a resume that showcases your skills and experience in a way that will impress hiring managers. Here are some tips and an example to help you write yours.

How to Write a Legal Consultant Resume

Here’s how to write a legal consultant resume of your own.

Write Compelling Bullet Points

Bullet points are the most effective way to showcase your experience and qualifications. But rather than simply listing your responsibilities, you can make your bullet points much more interesting and compelling by using specific numbers and statistics.

For example, rather than saying you “provided legal counsel on a variety of matters,” you could say you “provided legal counsel on more than 100 matters during your first year as a legal consultant, including matters related to employment law, intellectual property, and corporate law.”

The second bullet point paints a much clearer picture of the scope of your work and the level of responsibility you had. And it provides a specific number to demonstrate your level of involvement.

Related What Is a Legal Consultant? How to Become One

Identify and Include Relevant Keywords

When you apply for a legal consultant role, your resume will likely be scanned by an applicant tracking system (ATS) that looks for certain keywords related to the job. If your resume doesn’t include enough of the right keywords, your application might not make it past the initial screening process.

To increase your chances of getting an interview, use this list of keywords as a guide when you’re writing your resume.

Showcase Your Technical Skills

As a legal consultant, 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 document management systems. You should also have experience with specific programs, like Microsoft Office Suite and Westlaw. Being able to list your level of expertise in each area will show that you’re a valuable asset to any law firm.

Related: How Much Does a Legal Consultant Make?

Remember The Basics

As you write your resume, it’s important to keep a few basic rules in mind.

Make Sure Your Resume Is Easy to Scan

There are a few things you can do to your resume to make it easier to read and understand quickly. Aligning everything to the left, using a standard font type and size, and keeping bullets under 2 lines will help make your resume more skimmable. You should also try to leave some white space on the page to help the recruiter easily scan through your information.

Be Concise

When you are crafting your resume, you want to make sure that you are succinct and get your point across quickly. A resume should be one page long if you are a recent graduate or have less than five to eight years of professional experience. If you have more experience than that, a two-page resume is more appropriate. However, be selective about the content that you include. You don’t want to overload an employer with information.

Check Your Work

Proofreading your resume is an important step in ensuring that it looks its best. There are a few key things to look for: spelling mistakes, punctuation mistakes, and grammatical mistakes. It is also important to be aware of easily confused words. Spell-checking your resume is a good way to catch mistakes, but it is important to have someone else read it over as well.

Use a Summary

When it comes to resumes, a well-crafted summary statement can be a key way to help recruiters and hiring managers understand your goals and how your skills might translate into the role you’re hoping to land. A summary statement is a great way to make a quick first impression, and it can be used to highlight your most relevant skills and experiences. If you’re looking to make a career change, or if you have a lot of experience that might be difficult to fit into a traditional resume, a summary statement can be a great way to showcase your qualifications.

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