5 Amazing counsel Resume Examples (Updated 2023) + Skills & Job Descriptions

If you've always had a gift for arguing your side of an issue, it's no surprise you went into law. You may also enjoy advising stakeholders, helping shape strategic decisions, and putting in the research required to stand on solid legal ground. Without a winning resume that presents a good case on your behalf, though, landing a new job can be difficult. Decision-makers are pressed for time when reviewing resumes, often making a judgment within six seconds on whether to discard your resume or continue the process. To ensure your counsel resume makes the cut, you need to do more than include your educational background, licensure, litigation experience, and ability to advise on legal matters. You also need a format and layout that lends itself to a quick scan. To get a head start, grab a resume sample from our collection and leverage the advice of our writers. Combined with your keen eye for detail, we're confident you can craft a compelling resume and be well on your way to landing the position you desire.

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counsel: Resume Samples & Writing Guide

Employment history

Lead Counsel, Morrison & Foerster San Francisco, California

May 2020 – Present

Keeping abreast of developments in the legal field
Developing and maintaining client relationships
Interpreting laws, rulings, and regulations

Associate Counsel, K&L Gates Seattle, Washington

May 2019 – April 2020

Negotiating settlements and other legal agreements
Supervising and training junior attorneys
Interpreting laws, rulings, and regulations

Junior Counsel, Latham & Watkins Los Angeles, California

December 2017 – April 2019

Negotiating settlements and other legal agreements
Managing caseloads and meeting deadlines
Advising clients on legal matters

Education

NYU School of Law, New York, New York

Bachelor of Science in Paralegal Studies, October, 2017

Skills

Reporting

Risk Management

Business Acumen

Professionalism

Litigation

Legal Research Analysis

Document Review

Statutory Interpretation

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Employment history

Senior Counsel, Nixon Peabody Rochester, New York

October 2019 – Present

Maintaining client confidentiality
Appearing in court to argue motions or defend clients
Developing strategies and arguments for cases

Associate Counsel, Jones Day Washington, DC

April 2019 – September 2019

Representing clients in court proceedings
Participating in professional development activities
Developing and maintaining client relationships

Entry Level Counsel, Skadden-Arps-Slate Meagher & Flom New York City, New York

October 2017 – March 2019

Developing strategies and arguments for cases
Managing caseloads and meeting deadlines
Maintaining client confidentiality

Education

University of Virginia School of Law, Charlottesville, Virginia

Doctor of Law and Policy, September, 2017

University of Virginia School of Law, Charlottesville, Virginia

Bachelor of Science in Legal Administration, September, 2013

Skills

Troubleshooting

Critical Thinking

Database Management

Stress Management

Court Procedure

Case Management

Regulatory Compliance

Legal Compliance

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Professional Summary

A highly experienced Counsel with a proven track record of providing sound legal advice and counsel to clients. Adept at handling complex legal matters and providing practical solutions to challenging legal issues.

Employment history

Chief Counsel, Jones Day Washington, DC

September 2011 – Present

Supervising and training junior attorneys
Negotiating settlements and other legal agreements
Keeping abreast of developments in the legal field

Associate Counsel, Hogan Lovells Atlanta, Georgia

February 2011 – August 2011

Preparing legal memoranda and reports
Supervising and training junior attorneys
Appearing in court to argue motions or defend clients

Entry Level Counsel, Baker McKenzie Chicago, Illinois

September 2009 – January 2011

Managing caseloads and meeting deadlines
Negotiating settlements and other legal agreements
Supervising and training junior attorneys

Education

Yale Law School, New Haven, Connecticut

Doctor of Philosophy in Law, July, 2009

Yale Law School, New Haven, Connecticut

Bachelor of Science in Law Enforcement, July, 2005

Skills

Research

Business Acumen

Reporting

Technical

Legal Writing

Negotiation.

Courtroom Experience

Pleadings Preparation

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Employment history

Chief Counsel, Baker McKenzie Chicago, Illinois

March 2022 – Present

Drafting legal documents, such as contracts, pleadings, motions, and briefs
Managing caseloads and meeting deadlines
Representing clients in court proceedings

Associate Counsel, Morrison & Foerster San Francisco, California

August 2021 – February 2022

Advising clients on legal matters
Representing clients in court proceedings
Appearing in court to argue motions or defend clients

Jr. Counsel, Jones Day Washington, DC

February 2021 – July 2021

Maintaining client confidentiality
Negotiating settlements and other legal agreements
Developing and maintaining client relationships

Education

University of Michigan Law School, Ann Arbor, Michigan

Court Reporting Certificate, December, 2020

Skills

Adaptability

Analytical

Stress Management

Professionalism

Legal Research

Court Procedure

Case Management

Litigation

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Employment history

Junior Counsel, Latham & Watkins Los Angeles, California

December 2021 – October 2022

Keeping abreast of developments in the legal field
Negotiating settlements and other legal agreements
Maintaining client confidentiality

Education

NYU School of Law, New York, New York

Doctor of Science in Legal Studies, November, 2021

NYU School of Law, New York, New York

Bachelor of Science in Legal Studies, November, 2017

Skills

Technical

Creativity

Collaboration

Presentation

Legal Research

Client Relations

Statutory Interpretation

Cross-Examination

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counsel Job Descriptions; Explained

If you're applying for an counsel position, it's important to tailor your resume to the specific job requirements in order to differentiate yourself from other candidates. Including accurate and relevant information that directly aligns with the job description can greatly increase your chances of securing an interview with potential employers.

When crafting your resume, be sure to use action verbs and a clear, concise format to highlight your relevant skills and experience. Remember, the job description is your first opportunity to make an impression on recruiters, so pay close attention to the details and make sure you're presenting yourself in the best possible light.

counsel

Evaluate other pilots or pilot-license applicants for proficiency.
Make announcements regarding flights, using public address systems.
Load smaller aircraft, handling passenger luggage and supervising refueling.
Plan and formulate flight activities and test schedules and prepare flight evaluation reports.
Conduct in-flight tests and evaluations at specified altitudes and in all types of weather to determine the receptivity and other characteristics of equipment and systems.

senior counsel

In-house coverage counsel for P&C insurance company.
Advise and counsel adjusters on coverage for first and third-party claims as well as claims handling.
Represented company before the Iowa Civil Rights Commission and Iowa Workforce Development Board.
Collaborate with underwriting and product management teams to develop and hone policy language.
Interpret national laws, court and administrative rulings and regulations that affect GuideOne and its policyholders.
Manage and direct outside counsel on first-party litigation involving coverage disputes and Minnesota property appraisal claims.
Lead team of six remote litigation attorneys.

junior counsel

Worked as a junior counsel for the firm.
Drafted several information and appeals to CCI and COMPAT relating to shipping industry in Maharashtra, mining industry in Karnataka and cinema broadcasting industry in West Bengal.
Drafted more than five (5) months of newsletters for the firm.
Gained knowledge and experience with respect to procedural work in CCI and COMPAT.

counsel Job Skills

For an counsel position, your job skills are a key factor in demonstrating your value to the company and showing recruiters that you're the ight fit for the role. It's important to be specific when highlighting your skills and ensure that they are directly aligned with the job requirements, as this can greatly improve your chances of being hired. By showcasing your relevant skills and experience, you can make a compelling case for why you're the best candidate for the job.

How to include technical skills in your resume:

Technical skills are a set of specialized abilities and knowledge required to perform a particular job effectively. Some examples of technical skills are data analysis, project management, software proficiency, and programming languages, to name a few.

Add the technical skills that will get hired in your career field with our simple-to-use resume builder. Select your desired resume template, once you reach the skills section of the builder, manually write in the skill or simply click on "Add more skills". This will automatically generate the best skills for your career field, choose your skill level, and hit "Save & Next."

Legal Research
Litigation
Contract Drafting
Case Management
Courtroom Experience
Legal Writing
Client Relations
Statutory Interpretation
Regulatory Compliance
Case Law Analysis
Evidence Collection
Legal Compliance
Court Procedure
Pleadings Preparation
Legal Research Analysis
Document Review
Cross-Examination
Legal Document Preparation
Time Management
Negotiation.

How to include soft skills in your resume:

Soft skills are non-technical skills that relate to how you work and that can be used in any job. Including soft skills such as time management, creative thinking, teamwork, and conflict resolution demonstrate your problem-solving abilities and show that you navigate challenges and changes in the workplace efficiently.

Add competitive soft skills to make your resume stand-out to recruiters! Simply select your preferred resume template in the skills section, enter the skills manually or use the "Add more skills" option. Our resume builder will generate the most relevant soft skills for your career path. Choose your proficiency level for each skill, and then click "Save & Next" to proceed to the next section.

Communication
Interpersonal
Leadership
Time Management
Problem Solving
Decision Making
Critical Thinking
Creativity
Adaptability
Teamwork
Organization
Planning
Public Speaking
Negotiation
Conflict Resolution
Research
Analytical
Attention to Detail
Self-Motivation
Stress Management
Collaboration
Coaching
Mentoring
Listening
Networking
Strategic Thinking
Negotiation
Emotional Intelligence
Adaptability
Flexibility
Reliability
Professionalism
Computer Literacy
Technical
Data Analysis
Project Management
Customer Service
Presentation
Written Communication
Social Media
Troubleshooting
Quality Assurance
Collaboration
Supervisory
Risk Management
Database Management
Training
Innovation
Documentation
Accounting
Financial Management
Visualization
Reporting
Business Acumen
Process Improvement
Documentation
Relationship Management.

How to Improve Your counsel Resume

Navigating resume pitfalls can mean the difference between landing an interview or not. Missing job descriptions or unexplained work history gaps can cause recruiters to hesitate. Let's not even talk about the impact of bad grammar, and forgetting your contact info could leave your potential employer hanging. Aim to be comprehensive, concise, and accurate.

Employment history

Lead Counsel, Nixon Peabody Rochester, New York

June 2019 – May 2022

Supervising and training junior attorneys
Advising clients on legal matters
Representing clients in court proceedings

Associate Counsel, WilmerHale Boston, Massachusetts

June 2018 – May 2019

Researching and analyzing legal issues
Supervising and training junior attorneys
Preparing legal memoranda and reports

Entry Level Counsel, Skadden-Arps-Slate Meagher & Flom New York City, New York

November 2017 – May 2018

Education

University of Texas School of Law, Austin, Texas

Doctor of Laws, October, 2017

University of Texas School of Law, Austin, Texas

Bachelor of Arts in Law Enforcement, October, 2013

Skills

Process Improvement

Computer Literacy

Teamwork

Written Communication

Client Relations

Legal Compliance

Litigation

Legal Document Preparation

Unexplained Year Gaps and Missing Job Experiences are a No-no

Gaps in your resume can prevent recruiters from hiring you if you don't explain them.

Key Insights

It's okay to have gaps in your work experience but always offer a valid explanation instead of just hiding it.
Use the gap to talk about positive attributes or additional skills you've learned.
Be honest and straightforward about the gap and explain it using a professional summary.

How to Optimize Your counsel Resume

Keep an eye out for these resume traps. Neglecting to detail your job roles or explain gaps in your career can lead to unnecessary doubts. Grammar blunders can reflect negatively on you, and without contact information, how can employers reach you? Be meticulous and complete.

Employment history

Junior Counsel, K&L Gates Seattle, Washington

March 2022 – December 2022

Negotiating settlements and other legal agrements.
Supervising, an trainning junior attornies.
Develeping and maintainging client relationships.

Education

Stanford Law School, Stanford, California

Doctor of Legal Studies, January, 2022

Stanford Law School, Stanford, California

Bachelor of Science in Law Enforcement, January, 2018

Skills

Innovation

Visualization

Database Management

Research

Statutory Interpretation

Legal Research

Legal Document Preparation

Contract Drafting

Avoid Spelling Mistakes and Include your Contact Information

Missing contact information prevents recruiters from understanding you're the best fit for the position.

Key Insights

Make sure you're not missing contact information on your resume. That should include your full name, telephone number and email address.
Make sure to use a professional email address as part of your contact information.
Highlight your contact information and double check that everything is accurate to help recruiters get in touch with you.

counsel Cover Letter Example

A cover letter can be a valuable addition to your job application when applying for an counsel position. Cover letters provide a concise summary of your qualifications, skills, and experience, also it also gives you an opportunity to explain why you're the best fit for the job. Crafting a cover letter that showcases your relevant experience and enthusiasm for the Accounts Payable role can significantly improve your chances of securing an interview.

Lead Counsel
Baker McKenzie
Chicago, Illinois

Esteemed Baker McKenzie Hiring Team

I am a highly motivated Counsel with 6 years of experience in the Legal field. I am excited to submit my application for the Lead Counsel position at Baker McKenzie, where I believe my skills and expertise would be an excellent fit.

My diverse life experiences have taught me the importance of adaptability, creativity, and resilience. Whether it was on the job, or simply on my day to day, I have learned to navigate challenges and find innovative solutions. I am confident that I possess the skills and expertise necessary to excel in the position at Baker McKenzie and I am excited about the opportunity to grow with a team that values these qualities and contribute to your organization's growth and success.

I cannot stress enough how thrilled I am about the chance to join a team of like-minded individuals who share my values and passion for this amazing field. Thank you for considering my application and I hope for the chance to work together.

Respectfully,
Albert Nelson
981-475-5028
nelsonalbert@protonmail.com

Albert Nelson

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