Struggling to get your foot in the door for that coveted law internship? Crafting a standout resume is your first, most crucial step. Follow these essential law internship resume tips to make your application shine.
Quick summary
- Focus on relevant legal coursework, moot court, and pro bono experiences.
- Quantify achievements whenever possible to demonstrate impact.
- Tailor your resume for each specific legal internship application.
- Proofread meticulously for any errors.
Before You Begin: Gathering Your Assets
Think of your resume as your personal legal brief. Before you start writing, you need to gather all the evidence. This means compiling a comprehensive list of your academic achievements, extracurricular activities, volunteer work, and any prior work or internship experiences. Even seemingly unrelated jobs can showcase valuable transferable skills like communication, problem solving, and client service.
For students pursuing legal internship opportunities, it's vital to identify your core strengths and how they align with the requirements of a legal setting. What specific legal knowledge have you gained? What soft skills have you developed that would make you a valuable asset to a law firm or legal department? Having this information readily available will make the writing process much smoother and more effective.
Building Your Legal Profile: Step by Step
1. Start with a Clear and Concise Header
Your contact information should be front and center. Include your full name, phone number, professional email address, and LinkedIn profile URL (ensure it's up to date!). Avoid personal email addresses or outdated phone numbers.
2. Craft a Compelling Objective or Summary
For students, an objective statement is often more appropriate. Clearly state your career aspirations and the type of legal placement you are seeking. For example: "Highly motivated [Your Name], a third-year law student with a strong interest in corporate law, seeking a challenging summer internship to apply academic knowledge and develop practical legal skills." If you have some prior experience, a summary might be better, highlighting your key skills and accomplishments.
3. Detail Your Education Strategically
List your university, degree, and expected graduation date. Include your GPA if it's strong (generally 3.5 or higher). Crucially, highlight relevant coursework that demonstrates your legal knowledge. Think courses like Contract Law, Criminal Procedure, Legal Research and Writing, or Constitutional Law. If you've received any academic honors or scholarships, mention them here.
4. Showcase Your Legal Experience (Even Without Formal Internships)
This is where you prove your commitment to the legal field. Under this section, include:
- Moot Court/Mock Trial: Detail your role, the cases you worked on, and any successes (e.g., "Argued appellate brief in national moot court competition, advancing to the quarterfinal rounds").
- Pro Bono Work/Volunteer Legal Aid: Describe the types of cases you assisted with and the skills you utilized (e.g., "Assisted supervising attorneys with client intake and document preparation for low-income individuals seeking legal assistance").
- Law Review/Journals: Mention your role and any published work.
- Student Bar Association or Legal Societies: Highlight leadership roles and any initiatives you spearheaded.
- Any previous work experience: Frame these roles to highlight transferable skills relevant to law. For instance, a customer service role can demonstrate strong communication and conflict resolution abilities.
This section is paramount when applying for legal internship positions. Even without formal experience, these activities demonstrate your initiative and dedication.
5. Highlight Relevant Skills
Divide your skills into categories for clarity:
- Legal Skills: Legal research (mention specific databases like Westlaw or LexisNexis), legal writing, contract drafting, case analysis, litigation support.
- Technical Skills: Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, legal practice management software, and any other relevant technology.
- Language Skills: If you are bilingual or multilingual, this is a significant asset.
- Soft Skills: Communication (written and verbal), critical thinking, problem solving, attention to detail, time management, teamwork, professionalism.
6. Add Additional Sections Where Appropriate
Consider sections for awards and honors, publications, or presentations if they are relevant and add value to your application. If you are looking for remote legal opportunities, ensure your technical skills are clearly listed and emphasize your ability to work independently.
Tailoring Your Resume: The Key to Success
One of the most critical resume tips is that a generic document rarely cuts it. Each application you submit should be tailored to the specific firm or organization and the internship role. Read the job description carefully and identify the keywords and required skills. Then, strategically incorporate these into your resume, especially in your objective or summary, experience descriptions, and skills section. This shows the employer you've done your homework and are genuinely interested in their specific opportunity. For instance, if a firm emphasizes litigation, highlight your moot court experience. If it focuses on transactional work, emphasize any contract drafting or analysis you've done.
Consider using Apply My Internship's robust filtering options to find legal opportunities that align with your interests. Our platform allows you to search for paid, remote, or nearby internship opportunities, making it easier to find roles that fit your needs. Once you've identified a promising listing, use the job description to guide your resume's customization.
Common Pitfalls to Sidestep
Even with the best intentions, many students make common errors that can cost them an interview. Here are a few to watch out for:
| Do | Don't |
|---|---|
| Use action verbs to start bullet points (e.g., Drafted, Researched, Analyzed). | Use passive voice or weak verbs. |
| Quantify your achievements whenever possible (e.g., "Managed a caseload of 15 clients," "Increased research efficiency by 20%"). | Use vague language or make unsubstantiated claims. |
| Keep your resume to one page, especially as a student or fresher. | Exceed one page unless you have extensive, highly relevant experience. |
| Proofread multiple times and ask someone else to review it. | Submit a resume with typos or grammatical errors. |
Mini Case Study: From Generic to Targeted
Sarah, a second-year law student, was applying for various legal internships. Her initial resume was a general overview of her academic and extracurricular activities. She applied to ten different firms and heard back from none. After seeking advice, she realized her mistake. She took the time to research each firm, noting its practice areas and the specific skills mentioned in its internship postings. For a corporate law position, she reordered her bullet points to emphasize her coursework in business law and any relevant analytical projects. For a litigation-focused role, she brought her moot court experience to the forefront, detailing her oral advocacy and brief writing. By tailoring her resume, she received three interview requests for her next five applications, ultimately landing a fantastic internship.
Things people also ask
Is it necessary to include my GPA on my law internship resume?
It depends. If your GPA is strong (generally 3.5 or higher), it can be a definite advantage. However, if your GPA is lower, it's often best to omit it and focus on other strengths like relevant experience, skills, and coursework. You can also consider listing your GPA for specific law-related courses if they are particularly impressive.
How much detail should I include for my coursework?
For each relevant course, list the course title and the semester it was taken. You don't need to go into extensive detail about the syllabus, but highlighting specific legal areas covered or significant projects can be beneficial. For example, "Contract Law (Fall 2025): Analyzed key case precedents and drafted sample contract clauses."
Can I include part-time jobs that aren't law related?
Yes, absolutely. Non-law-related jobs can still showcase valuable transferable skills. Focus on achievements and responsibilities that demonstrate your work ethic, communication abilities, customer service skills, or problem-solving capabilities. Frame these experiences to highlight their relevance to a professional environment.
What if I have no formal legal internships?
This is very common for students. Focus heavily on your academic achievements, moot court, mock trial, legal research projects, volunteer work with legal organizations, and any relevant leadership roles in student societies. These experiences demonstrate your interest and potential for legal work.
Should I use a resume template?
It depends on the template. Clean, professional, and easy-to-read templates can be helpful. However, avoid overly stylized or graphic-heavy templates, as they can be difficult for applicant tracking systems (ATS) to read. A simple, chronological format is usually best for legal internship applications.
How do I list my legal research skills?
Be specific. Instead of just "Legal Research," list the databases you are proficient in, such as "Legal Research (Westlaw, LexisNexis, Bloomberg Law)." Mention any specific types of research you've conducted, like statutory analysis or case law review.
Is it okay to use abbreviations on my resume?
Generally, it's best to spell out abbreviations, especially for common terms, unless they are widely recognized in the legal field (e.g., "LLM" for Master of Laws). When in doubt, spell it out to ensure clarity for the reader.
How important is a cover letter for a law internship?
Extremely important. While this guide focuses on resume tips, a well-written cover letter is your opportunity to expand on your resume, express your enthusiasm for a specific internship, and connect your experiences to the firm's needs. It's where you can truly show your personality and passion for law.
Your Resume: The First Step to Your Legal Career
Crafting an effective legal internship resume is an art and a science. By focusing on relevant experiences, tailoring your content, and avoiding common mistakes, you can create a document that truly represents your potential. Remember, your resume is your introduction; make it count!
Ready to find the perfect internship to showcase your skills? Explore the latest opportunities on the Apply My Internship platform today!
Ready to take the next step? Browse law internships on Apply My Internship.
