Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) are used by top law firms and corporate legal departments to filter out unqualified candidates. To ensure your resume reaches a hiring partner, you must strategically incorporate the right attorney skills and keywords. This guide covers the essential hard skills, soft skills, and action verbs you need to optimize your legal resume.
Top hard skills for attorney resumes
These are the technical skills that ATS systems and hiring managers look for on attorney resumes. Include the ones you genuinely have experience with.
Legal Research
Fundamental for finding case law and statutes; mention specific tools like Westlaw or LexisNexis.
Contract Drafting
Crucial for transactional attorneys; highlight your ability to draft, review, and negotiate complex agreements.
Litigation Strategy
Essential for trial lawyers; showcase your experience in developing case strategies from inception to trial.
Regulatory Compliance
Highly sought after in corporate roles; emphasize your knowledge of industry-specific regulations and laws.
Client Counseling
Demonstrates your ability to advise clients on legal rights, obligations, and risk management.
Brief Writing
A core skill for litigators; highlight your proficiency in writing persuasive legal memos and appellate briefs.
Negotiation
Critical for reaching settlements and closing deals; quantify the value of agreements you've negotiated.
Due Diligence
Important for M&A and real estate attorneys; mention your experience in conducting thorough legal investigations.
Trial Preparation
Shows your readiness for court; include experience with witness prep, exhibits, and motion practice.
Corporate Governance
Key for in-house counsel roles; highlight your experience advising boards and ensuring corporate compliance.
Intellectual Property (IP) Law
A specialized skill; mention experience with patents, trademarks, copyrights, or IP litigation if applicable.
Mediation & Arbitration
Valuable for alternative dispute resolution; showcase your ability to resolve conflicts outside of court.
Document Review
Essential for discovery phases; mention proficiency with e-discovery platforms like Relativity.
Risk Assessment
Important for advising businesses; highlight your ability to identify and mitigate potential legal liabilities.
Statutory Interpretation
A foundational legal skill; emphasize your ability to analyze and apply complex legislation to specific cases.
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Build your resume →Essential soft skills
Beyond technical ability, these soft skills differentiate strong attorney candidates.
- Analytical Thinking
- Persuasive Communication
- Attention to Detail
- Time Management
- Empathy
- Problem Solving
- Resilience
- Active Listening
- Adaptability
- Ethics and Integrity
Recommended certifications
| Certification | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| State Bar License (Bar) | The mandatory credential required to practice law in a specific jurisdiction. |
| Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP) | Highly valuable for attorneys specializing in data privacy and cybersecurity law. |
| Board Certification in a Legal Specialty (BCLS) | Demonstrates expert-level knowledge and experience in a specific area of law, such as family or criminal law. |
Power action verbs
Start your bullet points with these strong verbs to demonstrate impact.
Example resume bullet points
Here's how to use these skills in real resume bullets with quantified results.
ATS optimization tips
Spell out your credentials
ATS software might not recognize abbreviations like 'JD' or 'Esq.' consistently. Always spell out 'Juris Doctor' and list your specific State Bar admissions clearly.
Match the practice area
Tailor your keywords to the specific practice area of the job description. If applying for an M&A role, emphasize 'due diligence' and 'corporate governance' rather than general litigation terms.
Use exact legal terminology
Law firms use ATS to find highly specific expertise. Ensure you use the exact legal terms and software names (e.g., 'Westlaw', 'Relativity') mentioned in the job posting.
Frequently asked questions
What are the most important skills for an attorney resume?
The most critical skills depend on your practice area, but universally important hard skills include legal research, contract drafting, and negotiation. Essential soft skills include analytical thinking, attention to detail, and persuasive communication.
How many skills should I list on my attorney resume?
Aim to include 10 to 15 highly relevant skills. Rather than just listing them in a skills section, weave these keywords naturally into your work experience bullet points to provide context and demonstrate impact.
Should I include my billable hours on my resume?
Yes, if you consistently met or exceeded your firm's billable hour requirements, it is a strong metric to include. For example, 'Consistently billed 2,100+ hours annually while maintaining a 98% client retention rate.'
Put these skills to work
Now that you know which skills to highlight, use our free resume builder to create an ATS-optimized resume with the right keywords in the right places.
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