Transcript The Resume - Washington and Lee University School of Law

Office of Career Planning
and Professional Development
LL.M. Orientation
The Resume
 A profile of your educational and experiential
qualifications
 The basis on which employers grant an interview
 Use of US resume style is important - conveys to
employers that you are comfortable in the US
employment market
 Accuracy is paramount
 Single page highly preferred
 Visual aesthetics are important - reader needs to be
able to "scan" or "skim" the resume and glean highlights
CONTACT INFORMATION
 Name centered at top of page, set off with bold or large type
 Employers will use your resume heading to determine how to
address you in conversation:
• if you use your middle rather than your first name, consider
using only your first initial:
 A. Maria Gonzalez, rather than Anna Maria Gonzalez
• if you go by an American name or a diminutive of your
name, include that name:
 Weeravej (William) Sirichatchai
 Yetunde (Titi) Talabi
• if your name may be gender neutral to a US reader, add the
title Mr. or Ms.
 Include your current mailing address, email address and telephone
number (cell phone is ok). You may also include an address in your
home country.
BAR ADMISSION
 All headings flush left
 Placed first because your ability to provide
legal advice and service is of paramount
importance to a prospective employer
 Include certifications/memberships in home
country and elsewhere
 Indicate your intentions regarding bar admission
or other certification/licensure in the US
EDUCATION
 List educational institutions in reverse chronological order, with
Washington and Lee first
 Include the city/state/country (if outside the US)
 Include the degree expected or received and the year in which it
was awarded
 Include your grade point average, if it is an asset (3.0 or greater is
our guideline)
 Subsections listing honors and activities:
• include academic honors, scholarships, your thesis or
dissertation topic, etc.
• include positions of leadership in university or community
organizations
• include team sports
EXPERIENCE

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List positions of employment in reverse chronological order
No large time gaps left unaccounted for
Need not include non-legal employment while a student
Format:
• name of employer, location, time period employed, position
title
• job description, using active verbs (list available on OCS
website) and present tense
• what were your responsibilities?
• what tasks or projects did you undertake?
• what specific examples of your work would assist the reader in
understanding your experience?
• what lawyering skills did you develop?
SKILLS AND INTERESTS
 Optional. May provide insight into your personality
 May provide opportunity to develop rapport with
interviewer by revealing common interests
 Appropriate entries:
• charitable, civic or political involvement
• travel
• business skills, public speaking
• Athletics
 Avoid general statements like "Reading and Sports"
LANGUAGES
Identify your native language
Truthfully indicate your level of skill
• Native German, Fluent English,
Conversational Spanish
• Native Spanish, Fluent written
English
WHAT TO EXCLUDE FROM YOUR
RESUME
 Job Objective (not appropriate for legal market)
 Personal statements about health, age, weight, marital
or parental status
 Scores on LSAT, TOEFL or other examinations
 Basic Computer skills
 Indication that references or a writing sample are
available upon request
 Names of references
• should be on a separate sheet entitled
“References”
• include your name on an upper corner of your
References sheet
• 3 references are sufficient
THE DETAILS
• 8.5 x 11 paper
• white or off-white (cream, ecru) bond
• use same paper for resume, reference sheet
and cover letter
• your resume and related documents MUST be
error free:
• proofread yourself, and have another
person proofread as well
• do not rely on computer “spell-check”
ALBERTO GRANDE
5555 Academy Street
Lexington, Virginia 24450
Home: (540) 463-0000 Cell: (540) 461-0000
BAR STATUS
Admitted to practice in Peru since 1996
Will take the New York State bar examination in July 2004
EDUCATION
Washington and Lee University School of Law, Lexington, Virginia
Candidate for LL.M. in United States Law, May 2004
Coursework: Introduction to United States Law; Contracts; Constitutional Law; Legal Writing
Activites: International Law Society
Universidad Del Peru, Lima, Peru
Law Degree, May 1995
GPA: 3.75/4.00, ranked 34/235
Coursework: Advanced study in corporate and international law
Honors: Recipient, Outstanding Corporate Law Student award
Activities: President, Law Student Association
EXPERIENCE
Javier, Diaz & Pena Law Firm, Lima, Peru
Attorney, 1996-2003: Represented clients on cases involving international law, business and corporate matters
including purchase of corporations. Advised corporate clients concerning trade law, corporation law, stock exchange
regulations and contractual matters. Represented clients in trial and appellate courts. Prepared briefs, contracts,
settlement agreements and corporation charters.
Contreras & Ortega Law Firm, Lima, Peru
Legal Intern, 1994-95: Assisted partners on general corporate matters, international commercial contracts, intellectual
property matters, trademarks agreements and real estate negotiations.
LANGUAGE SKILLS
Fluent in written and spoken English and Spanish (native)
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
Colegio de Abogados de Lima, Lima, Peru
INTERESTS
Scuba diving; Tae Kwon Do