Senior Legal Counsel Resume Example & Writing Guide
Use this Senior Legal Counsel resume example and guide to improve your career and write a powerful resume that will separate you from the competition.
As a legal counsel, you’re the voice of your organization when it comes to legal matters. You help protect the company from litigation, advise on contracts and other agreements, and provide guidance on compliance issues. You’re also the point person for external stakeholders like customers, suppliers, and regulators.
Legal counsel is a diverse field with lots of room for growth. Lawyers in this role tend to have different specialties and areas of expertise, so there’s something out there for everyone. Some legal counsels work in-house, while others might be found in private practice or at a law firm.
Here are some tips plus an example to help you write a great legal counsel resume that will get you noticed by hiring managers everywhere.
How to Write a Senior Legal Counsel Resume
Here’s how to write a resume of your own.
Write Compelling Bullet Points
The best way to make your resume stand out is to use strong action verbs. And the best way to do that is to focus on the results of your work. So rather than saying you “reviewed contracts,” you could say that you “reviewed 50 contracts in one week, resulting in a $1 million savings for the company.”
The second bullet point is much stronger because it provides specific details about what you did and the outcome of your work. And it also provides a number to help quantify your contribution.
Identify and Include Relevant Keywords
When you apply for a job as a senior legal counsel, your resume is likely to go through an applicant tracking system (ATS). This software will scan your resume for specific keywords related to the position, like “corporate law” or “patent law.” If your resume doesn’t include enough of the right keywords, the ATS might automatically reject your application.
That’s why it’s important to include relevant keywords in your resume. You can find them by reading through job postings and paying attention to words and phrases that are repeated throughout. Here are some common senior legal counsel keywords to get you started:
- Corporate Law
- Corporate Governance
- Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A)
- Legal Advice
- Legal Research
- Commercial Litigation
- Contract Law
- Joint Ventures
- Legal Writing
- Intellectual Property
- Due Diligence
- Corporate Compliance
- Shareholder Relations
- Litigation
- Contract Negotiation
- Legal Compliance
- Licensing
- Privacy Law
- Business Strategy
- Privacy Issues
- Civil Litigation
- Arbitration
- Trials
- Legal Opinions
- Litigation Management
- Legal Consulting
- Legal Issues
- Legal Document Review
- Legal Administration
- Administrative Law
Showcase Your Technical Skills
As a senior legal counsel, you will be expected to have a high level of proficiency in the use of technology. This includes being able to use 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.