by David Mainiero
Most people mistakenly think that you put together one resume and then use and reuse it for everything you apply to. They are wrong. A resume is not a monologue—it is a dialogue. It is a conversation between you and your specific reader. You must design it specifically with that reader in mind. This means your law school application resume should be different from your resume for applying to other graduate programs or jobs.
What Should Be On a Law School Application Resume?
The content of your law school application resume closely resembles that of a typical employment resume. It still includes your education, experience, skills, and accomplishments. However, there are a few key differences that you should remember when creating your law school application resume.
Personal/Contact Information
This is pretty standard on any resume. For your law school resume, include:
- Full name
- Phone number and email
- Full address
- LSAC number
- Your LinkedIn profile (optional)
Education
You should include all your education history after high school with:
- Institution name
- Expected/actual graduation dates
- Degree titles, majors, and/or certificates
- Thesis or capstone project
- Academic honors or achievements
Extracurricular Activities/Leadership Service
In this section, focus on the roles you’ve taken on and activities you’ve been involved in that relate to your education institution(s) after high school or any community service/volunteer work. This could also include any sports teams, clubs, or organizations you were part of. It’s important to showcase not just your academic achievements, but also your involvement outside the classroom. These extracurricular activities can provide valuable insights into your character, interests, and skills.
When writing this section, showcase your leadership abilities and any relevant skills or experiences gained through these activities. Also, highlight any accomplishments or impact you made in these roles. Don’t forget to include the basic information:
- Name of the Organization
- Role title
- Involvement dates
- Detailed descriptions of your duties and tangible achievements
Work Experience
This is where you’ll add in your paid work experience and/or non-paid internships after high school. Remember to describe any relevant skills or accomplishments gained during these roles, such as leadership, teamwork, and problem-solving. Include the following information:
- Name of the Company/Organization
- Job Title/Position
- Employment dates
- Detailed descriptions of your responsibilities and achievements.
Should My LSAT Score or GPA Be On My Law School Application Resume?
Unless the law school specifically requests them, you don’t have to. Law schools will see both your LSAT score and GPA in your CAS.
What Are Some Skills You Should Highlight on Your Law School Resume?
Law school admissions is incredibly competitive, and schools are looking for the best of the best. In your activities and work experience descriptions, consider emphasizing some of these crucial skills:
- Analytical Skills
- Research Expertise
- Communication Abilities
- Persuasive Skills
- Attention to Detail
- Leadership and Teamwork
- Problem-Solving Capacity
- Cultural Competency
- Technical Proficiency
Tailoring Your Law School Resume
The resume you use for applying to Harvard Law School might accentuate different experiences and credentials than the resume you submit as part of your application to Yale Law School. Additionally, some schools might have specific instructions on what they want to see on your law school application resume.
Before getting into details, remember that law school or any grad school application resumes should differ from job-seeking resumes.
Although the tenets of good resume writing (prioritizing relevant skills and experiences and conveying them concisely and compellingly) are necessary, a law school application resume serves more as a table of contents for your entire application. Except, it doesn’t necessarily appear at the beginning.
It will contextualize both what your readers have read so far, as well as what they will read next. It gives them a sense of what you think is important about yourself and how you package yourself.
Your resume serves both as a vehicle for your reader to make a snap judgment about you and as a prism through which they will assess your entire candidacy.
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How To Create a Law School Application Resume
1. Ensure Consistency With the Rest of Your Application
If you list yourself as “Student Council President” on your resume, it will look a little odd to mention your co-president in your law school personal statement. It might be confusing or – worse – suspicious.
If you spent a year as a research assistant for a professor, you better make sure that that professor speaks about your position as a research assistant in her letter of recommendation. You are looking at trouble if she refers to you as her secretary instead.
If you indicate you took graduate coursework on your resume, make sure it is also reflected on your transcripts.
After creating a draft resume, check for grammar and spelling errors, as well as for any inconsistencies with the rest of your application.
2. You May Submit a Resume Longer Than One Page
Your resume allows you to add more context to some of your activities using bullet point descriptions, starting with vivid action verbs. This can be important in light of the character and word limitations of certain application forms. You want to add complementary context and information, rather than being repetitive, and this takes serious thought.
Unless the school states any length limits, you can submit a resume longer than a page. However, try not to submit anything more than two pages. There is such a thing as too much information.
3. Build a Thoughtful Structure
Unlike the resume you submit as part of a job application, the resume you include in your law school application is just one part of a larger whole. It should be carefully constructed to ensure that it fits with the information you are giving to the admissions committee. It should continue to portray the message that you would be a good fit for their school and this program.
By presenting a complete picture of who you are, your law school application resume becomes a powerful tool that illustrates the rich and varied experiences that have shaped you into a unique individual ready for the challenges of law school.
Final Thoughts
In the end, your law school application resume is just one piece of the puzzle. It should work hand in hand with your personal statement, letters of recommendation, and any other supporting materials to create a comprehensive and compelling representation of yourself.
When writing your resume, remember to be thoughtful and strategic in choosing which experiences and achievements to highlight. Be sure to tie them back to your overall narrative and future goals. By presenting a well-organized and thoughtful resume, you can make a strong impression on the admissions committee and increase your chances of being accepted into the law school of your dreams.
If you need more help building a strong law school application, Blueprint’s Law School Admission Consultants have years of experience helping students get into their dream law schools.
Schedule a free consultation here to find out how you can go from applicant to accepted this cycle!
What’s one of the most important pieces of your law school application? A competitive LSAT score! Whether you have the discipline to study on your own with a Self-Paced Course, want to navigate the LSAT with instructors in a Live Course, or prefer one-on-one attention through tutoring, we have the study method that fits your learning style.
David Mainiero graduated from Dartmouth College and Harvard Law School.
