1L Tuesdays: Resumes

1. 1L Tuesdays: Resumes

2. Guiding Principle: Focus on what your resume is supposed to do ’80 Dodge Aspen. Automatic. 55Kmiles. $710. A great classic car at a very reasonable price. 1980 Dodge Aspen 4-door sedan in good mechanical condition, with super clean body and interior. Last of the extra-reliable rear wheel drive Chrysler line with many extra options, automatic, air, rear window defroster, etc. and only 55,000 original miles on the fabulous long-lasting extra-durable 225 cubic inch slant-6 engine. Asking only $710.

3. Address my needs and priorities, not your wishes and aspirations • Don’t tax my patience • Don’t tax my credulity • Give me the information I want, and only the information I want, in a sequence that lets me make a snap judgment about you.

4. Heading Education Experience Additional Information Sections

5. Qualities of an ideal lawyer: • Energy (hard work) • Follow-through • Ability to juggle multiple tasks and prioritize • Ability to pick up new information quickly • Ability to deal with time pressures and tight deadlines • Team player • Initiative • Motivation • Creativity/imagination/inventiveness • Self-confidence • Flexibility • Intelligence • Persuasiveness • Persistence • Attention to detail • Willingness to accept responsibility • Ability to handle stress • Goal-orientation • Enthusiasm Skills of an ideal lawyer: • Problem solving • Legal analysis and reasoning • Legal research • Factual investigation • Communication (written and verbal) • Counseling • Negotiation • Organization and management of legal work Brain Dump

6. Length: one page only • Make it easy to read • Font: Just one. Arial, Times, Garamond • Margins: Ideally an inch around, no less than .7 on the sides and .5 on the top and bottom • Headings should stand out • Use white space, underlining, bold, capital letters, italics and font size thoughtfully • Font size preferred: 10.5-12 pt • Use consistent formatting • Avoid visual distraction – no colors Format

7. Name – a little larger font & bold • Contact info: One mailing address unless geographically relevant • Email address/voicemail Heading

8. Reverse chronology • You attend: Loyola University Chicago School of Law • Juris Doctor NOT Juris Doctorate! • Only your expected graduation date, no date ranges • Bachelor of Arts, cum laude, May 2009 • Dean’s List is possessive • GPA: 3.141 (3 digits to the right of decimal) Additional Legal Education “Contemporary Issues for Trust Fiduciaries,” Continuing Legal Education Program, October 2, 2012, offered by Loyola University Chicago School of Law Education

9. Reverse chronology • Paid, unpaid, full-time, part-time, volunteer work • Employer’s name, city, state, dates of employment, title and job responsibilities • Use bullet points and begin with active verbs • Lead with most impressive skills, responsibilities • What is relevant to the employer? Skills, passion, interest • Read job description and gear to job posting • Include all legal-oriented transferable skills • Differentiate between current and former jobs • Use active language Experience

10. Volunteer/Community Services • Languages • Know your fluency level • Personal Interests • Licenses and Associations Additional Information

11. Objective Section • High school info • Computer skills, Lexis/Westlaw • References Available Upon Request • LSAT score • Personal data • Abbreviations, acronyms, terms of art • Using a form • Etc. Avoid