A well-crafted resume can open doors to internships, clerkships, and your first legal job. Yet, most law students make avoidable mistakes that stop recruiters from even giving their resume a second look. Let’s fix that. In this guide, you’ll learn the most common mistakes law students make in their resumes and how you can avoid them to make yours stand out.
Why Is a Strong Resume So Important for Law Students?
Your resume is your first impression. It tells employers whether you’re detail-oriented, professional, and serious about the law. It isn’t just a list of qualifications; it’s a reflection of your clarity of thought and communication.
Recruiters at law firms, legal startups, or even judges looking for interns spend less than 30 seconds skimming a resume. A single error, poor formatting, or irrelevant information can cost you that opportunity.
What Are the Most Common Mistakes Law Students Make in Their Resumes?
Before learning how to perfect your resume, it’s important to know what not to do. Let’s explore the biggest red flags employers notice.
Using a Generic Resume
Every recruiter can spot a generic resume from a mile away. When you send the same version to every firm or organisation, it lacks relevance and intent.
Instead, tailor your resume for each opportunity. If you’re applying for a litigation internship, highlight moots, research on procedural law, and courtroom exposure. If you’re applying to a corporate law firm, showcase contract drafting, M&A workshops, or company law internships.
Tip:
- Always match your resume to the role you’re applying for.
- Use the same legal terminology as the job description.
Poor Formatting and Layout
Visual clarity is as important as content. A cluttered layout, inconsistent font size, or excessive use of bold and italics can make your resume hard to read.
What to do instead:
- Stick to a clean, professional design (preferably one page for students).
- Use clear section headings: Education, Internships, Research & Publications, Positions of Responsibility, and Skills.
- Align text properly and maintain consistent spacing.
A neat, balanced resume shows your attention to detail- a quality every lawyer must have.
Including Irrelevant Information
Listing your school drama participation or generic online courses (like “Basics of MS Word”) does not strengthen your legal resume. Recruiters want to see evidence of your legal aptitude and analytical thinking, not every activity you’ve done.
Avoid adding:
- Personal details like religion, marital status, or photo (unless required).
- Non-legal hobbies without context.
- Courses not related to law, unless they demonstrate a valuable transferable skill (like AI, research writing, or public speaking).
Ignoring Achievements and Impact
One of the biggest resume mistakes is only listing roles instead of results. For instance:
❌ Interned at XYZ Law Firm
✅ Drafted legal notices under senior supervision and assisted in research for commercial arbitration cases.
Show what you did and what impact it had. This helps the recruiter understand your contribution rather than just your presence.
Overloading with Legal Jargon
Law students often think that using heavy terms like inter alia, ab initio, or prima facie will impress recruiters. In reality, it often makes the resume harder to read.
Use plain, professional language. Simplicity reflects clarity – one of the most valued legal traits.
Failing to Proofread
Even one typo or grammatical error can make your resume look careless. Imagine writing “trail experience” instead of “trial experience.”
Always proofread multiple times and, if possible, get someone else to review it. Tools like Grammarly can help, but a second pair of human eyes is better.
Remember: Law is about precision — your resume should reflect that.
Using an Unprofessional Email ID or File Name
Your email address and file name form part of your first impression. Avoid email IDs like [email protected] or [email protected].
Instead, use a clean and professional one: [email protected]
Similarly, name your resume file professionally:
✅ Aishwarya_Agrawal_LawResume.pdf
❌ MyResumeLatestFinal(1).docx
Poorly Structured Education and Internship Sections
Your education and internship experiences should be clear, chronological, and easy to scan. Don’t bury important details.
Education Section:
- Name of institution, degree, duration, and current semester or graduation year.
- Highlight academic achievements (like rank, scholarships, or distinctions).
Internship Section:
- Mention organisation, duration, area of law, and your key contributions.
- Use 2–3 crisp bullet points for each internship.
Not Highlighting Legal Skills
Recruiters want to see what practical legal skills you bring. Yet, many resumes skip this section entirely.
Skills to include:
- Legal drafting (agreements, petitions, contracts)
- Legal research (using SCC, Manupatra, or LexisNexis)
- Case law analysis and citation
- Microsoft Office, legal formatting, or online filing portals
- Communication and negotiation
Pro Tip: Don’t just list skills — show them through achievements. For example:
“Drafted NDAs and MoUs during internship under XYZ Partner.”
Lack of Keywords
In the digital hiring world, many firms use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to screen resumes. These systems pick up on relevant keywords like “legal research,” “contract drafting,” “corporate law,” or “litigation.”
If your resume lacks these, it may never reach a human recruiter.
How to fix this:
- Use role-specific keywords naturally throughout your resume.
- Don’t stuff them; integrate them into your achievements and descriptions.
Ignoring LinkedIn or Online Presence
In today’s digital age, your resume doesn’t exist in isolation. Recruiters often check LinkedIn or personal portfolios to learn more about you.
If your LinkedIn profile is incomplete or inconsistent with your resume, it can create a negative impression.
Ensure that:
- Your LinkedIn headline and experience match your resume.
- You share articles, achievements, or publications to showcase your interest in law.
Using an Overly Long Resume
As a law student, you don’t need a three-page resume. Recruiters prefer concise, one-page resumes unless you have substantial experience.
Focus on relevance, not volume. Prioritise internships, moots, publications, and research projects that matter to the role.
Ideal structure:
- Contact Details
- Education
- Internships
- Research & Publications
- Positions of Responsibility
- Skills & Certifications
Missing Career Objective or Summary
Many students either skip the career summary or use vague lines like “To work in a challenging environment.”
A better approach is to craft a targeted objective that shows what kind of legal career you’re building.
Example:
“Final-year law student with strong research and drafting skills seeking corporate law internship opportunities. Interested in M&A, contracts, and company law compliance.”
A concise summary sets the tone for the entire resume and helps the recruiter understand your direction.
Ignoring Formatting Consistency
Even small details like inconsistent bullet styles, misaligned dates, or different fonts can ruin your resume’s visual appeal.
Formatting checklist:
- Use one professional font (like Calibri, Garamond, or Times New Roman).
- Keep font size between 10 and 12.
- Ensure uniform alignment and margins.
- Avoid fancy designs unless you’re in a creative field (not recommended for legal roles).
Submitting Without a Cover Letter
Even a perfect resume can fall flat if not accompanied by a well-written cover letter. A personalised cover letter explains why you’re applying, what you bring, and why you fit that specific role.
It also allows you to address gaps or showcase motivation that may not reflect in your resume.
Tip: Always attach a concise, one-page cover letter tailored for each application.
How Can You Make Your Law Student Resume Stand Out?
Once you’ve avoided these mistakes, focus on showcasing your individuality. Here’s how:
- Add measurable impact: Instead of writing “assisted in research,” mention “conducted case law analysis for arbitration matter leading to favourable brief.”
- Include achievements: Publications, moot court awards, or leadership positions can make your resume shine.
- Keep updating: As you progress in law school, keep refining your resume to reflect growth.
Remember, your resume is a living document — not a one-time draft.
Common Questions Law Students Have About Resumes
Should I Include My Grades or CGPA?
Yes, if your grades are strong (above 7.0 or distinction). Otherwise, highlight academic achievements without drawing attention to the number.
Can I Mention Online Courses?
Only if they’re credible (from Coursera, HarvardX, etc.) and relevant — like Contract Law, Legal Research, or AI in Law.
Should I Add References?
You can mention “Available upon request.” Adding names directly isn’t necessary unless specifically asked.
Final Thoughts
Your resume is your first client in the legal profession. The way you present yourself here will often determine how the world perceives your seriousness towards law.
Avoid these mistakes, keep refining your presentation, and remember: clarity, precision, and professionalism always stand out.
If you wish to polish your professional presence and master legal career presentation, check out our Course on CV and LinkedIn Profile Building — designed to help law students create resumes and profiles that get noticed by top law firms and recruiters. Use Code “SAVE10” for exclusive discounts.
