Law School Resume Tips: How to Stand Out on Paper 

Law School Resume Tips: How to Stand Out on Paper 

When applying to law school, your resume isn’t just a summary, it’s a marketing tool that shows your leadership, impact, and readiness. 

At GradMissions, we’ve had the opportunity to help so many deserving students with their resumes. From traditional students, to stay-at-home-parents, to military leaders, no one person has the same background and experiences.

There is no magic or required formula for a strong resume for your law school application, but here are some tips to help you stand out among the crowd: 

1. Tailor Your Resume for Admissions 

• One page is generally ideal; but you can take it to two pages (double-check your desired school’s requirements on their website or ask an admissions officer).

• Emphasize academics, leadership, service, and work ethic. 

• Choose a format that makes your strongest experiences shine.

  TIP: Your experiences do not have to be legal-based to have impact! Despite what you may have heard, many law students' first experiences working in law are after they begin law school.

2. Use Active, Specific & Fact-Based Language

• Avoid passive phrasing and instead use action verbs like led, analyzed, organized.

• Make descriptions outcome-driven when possible: "Led weekly tutoring sessions for 20+ students, improving their exam scores by 15%.”

• Be concise and easy to scan.

3. Clear, Consistent, & Error-Free Formatting

• Stick to consistent fonts, spacing, and headings (also the same font type as your other application documents like personal statement and addendums).

• Avoid narrative prose, personal pronouns, and slang.

• Proofread and check for typos (typos and missing contact info rank among top mistakes).

4. Show, Don’t Just Tell

• Use metrics: “Coordinated a fundraiser raising $5K for local legal aid.”

• Quantify impact and emphasize initiative, leadership, or analytical skills.

5. Highlight Leadership, Service, and Growth

• Law schools seek advocacy, resilience, and leadership.

• Showcase roles like club presidency, public service, or part-time work, even non-academic jobs reflect responsibility and analytical thinking.

6. Include Relevant Experiences Outside Class

• Don’t overlook research, internships, community service, or entrepreneurial projects.

• Draw connections between these experiences and your legal ambitions.

7. Add Professional Certifications (If Relevant)

• If you have certification (paralegal, mediation, EMT, or tech-based credentials, just to name a few options) list them clearly under a dedicated section.

• Use full title, institution, and date.

8. Align With Your Application Story

• Your resume should reinforce your personal statement and essays: consistent dates, roles, and descriptions and will cross-reference key experiences for a cohesive narrative.

9. Optimize for Residency & Format

• Save and send as PDF to preserve formatting consistently across platforms and operating systems.

• Ensure white space and section hierarchy allow for quick reading.

Final Thoughts

• Keep it clean, fact-based, and focused on impact.

• Tailor each sentence toward admissions priorities: leadership, analysis, service.

• If you’re unsure, ask an advisor to review it for structure, clarity, and alignment.

• Understand no two resumes will look alike. It's ok to make yours as unique as you- being sure to highlight the experiences that align with law school admissions priorities.

Need help crafting a law-school–ready resume?

GradMissions offers personalized, one-on-one guidance to help you build an application that stands out, from paper to interview.

Book a free 20-minute strategy session here!