5 Details Your Resume Should Include

Lawyers often approach resumes like legal documents by listing what they do in the order they do it. Think of the resume instead like a marketing document. Highlight your track record in the very space you want a job in. So what details should you include in your resume?

1. Your clients/deals. For in-house lawyers, list the clients you counsel. Especially compelling are executives and cross-functional teams, including Engineering, Sales, Marketing, Finance, Product, etc. Also, include big names you have litigated against or closed deals with. For law firm lawyers, name your non-confidential clients. The purpose is to show you achieve results against tough competitors, compared to bad lawyers, who are not staffed on significant matters.
2. Evidence of business judgment. Have you set successful strategy in a case? Did you close the biggest deal in company history? Say that if you did and whom you advised (e.g., the CEO, the SVP, etc.).
3. Metrics. Your resume should be full of numbers and symbols (see how # % $ all stand out in a sea of text?). Some ways to quantify your work: $ size of your deals, % hyper growth, $ saved, the highest revenue generating product, the deal of the year, the trial of the century, awards won, etc.
4. Scaling. Many private companies are looking for lawyers who have helped businesses scale. Indicate how fast your group/company/product grew. Talk about systems and programs you set up and end result/dollar amount saved.
5. Explanation of obscure employers/clients. If you worked for a tiny company or a boutique with top clients, explain in a few words who they are to show relevance. For example, instead of just listing “Corporate Counsel” as a title, you could say “Corporate Counsel for leading private software services company.”

Remember: hiring managers need information to properly assess your skill set. Include the metrics necessary to highlight your relevant experience.