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5 Legal Intern Resume Examples
Use these legal intern samples as a guideline, or visit our extensive library of customizable resume templates.
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Legal Intern Resume Example (Text Version)
Aspiring or existing legal interns may struggle to create compelling resumes showcasing their skills and potential — these legal intern resume samples and writing tips can teach you how to write each resume section based on your current and previous internships.
[Your Full Name]
[City, State]
[Phone Number]
[Email Address]
Resume Summary
Dedicated and detail-oriented law student with two years of volunteer experience at the UConn legal clinic, supporting underserved communities. Skilled in legal research, client intake, and case management. Passionate about utilizing legal knowledge to advocate for justice while gaining practical experience in a professional legal setting.
Education
Master of Law | University of Connecticut, School of Law
Hartford, CT | Expected Graduation: May 2027
Legal Experience
Volunteer Legal Assistant | Housing and Eviction Defense Clinic, UConn
Hartford, CT | September 2024 – May 2025
- Provided client intake services, gathering necessary information for case files and ensuring confidentiality.
- Drafted legal documents, including affidavits and simple motions, under attorney supervision.
- Assisted in organizing community outreach programs to educate underserved populations on their legal housing rights.
Mock Trial Team Member | University of Connecticut, School of Law
Hartford, CT | January 2024 – May 2024
- Collaborated with a team to prepare case strategies and present arguments in simulated court settings.
- Gained practical knowledge of courtroom procedures and evidentiary rules.
Skills
- Client intake
- Interviewing
- Case management
- Time management
- Multitasking skills
- Legal research and writing
How to Write a Legal Intern Resume
The resume format of your legal intern resume is just as important as your education and relevant experience. Use this sample resume layout as a guide: maintain 1-inch margins, organize information with bullet points, and include clear headings for each section.
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Professional header and contact info
Include your name, contact information, and a professional email address.
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Compelling summary statement
A brief resume summary or objective highlighting two or three law-relevant skills, experience, or accomplishments.
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Highlight your skills
Create a dedicated section to showcase hard and soft skills specific to law work, like legal research, legal writing, and case analysis.
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Additional sections
You can add resume sections for core qualifications, licenses, certifications, memberships, volunteer experience, or spoken languages.
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Emphasize your work history
List your work experience in reverse-chronological order. Include job titles, company names, dates of employment, and key responsibilities or achievements for each role in a bullet list.
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Supporting education section
Detail your educational background, mentioning any relevant degrees, diplomas, or certifications obtained.
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How to Write a Legal Intern Resume Summary
As a professional newcomer, your resume summary plays double duty: introducing your skills, education, and career goals while downplaying your lack of relevant experience. A compelling summary can make a lasting impression on potential employers and set you apart from other candidates. Follow these guidelines to create an impactful legal intern resume summary:
Be concise and engaging
Keep the summary brief, ideally two to three sentences, while maintaining its impact and holding the reader’s attention.
Highlight relevant skills
Emphasize key skills and qualifications that align with the legal intern role, such as legal research, writing, and knowledge of relevant laws and regulations.
Showcase achievements
Highlight any accomplishments or notable contributions from previous internships, coursework, or extracurricular activities demonstrating your legal intern potential.
Tailor to the job
Customize the summary for each application, aligning it with the specific requirements and responsibilities of the desired legal internship.
Good and poor legal intern resume examples
“Diligent and detail-oriented law student with a strong legal research and writing foundation. Demonstrated success in assisting senior attorneys with complex cases and contributing to key research projects. Eager to leverage my analytical skills and passion for justice to support the legal team at Bernstein Law Firm and excel as a legal intern.”
Why this resume example works:
This legal intern resume summary effectively showcases the job seeker’s relevant skills, including legal research and writing.
They highlight their specific achievements from previous internships, indicating their ability to support senior attorneys and contribute to meaningful research projects. The job seeker also expresses enthusiasm and readiness to contribute to Bernstein Law Firm.
“Hardworking and motivated law student seeking a legal intern position. I have some experience with legal research and writing. I want to gain more exposure to the legal field and work with professionals.”
How this sample fails:
This legal intern resume summary needs more specific details and quantifiable achievements. This job seeker can upgrade this resume summary by adding specific skills or details.
Instead of legal research, the job seeker can specify if they specialize in property, environment, or local zoning research.
PRO TIP:
Try the resume objective if you’re a first-time job seeker, freelancer, or career changer. This alternative introduction pitches your transferable skills and downplays your lack of relevant experience.
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How to Add Your Legal Intern Work History
The work history section of your legal intern resume is an opportunity to showcase your relevant experiences and legal contributions during internships, clerkships, or other legal roles. It allows potential employers to understand your practical skills and how you’ve applied legal knowledge in real-world settings. Follow these guidelines to create an impactful legal intern work history resume section:
Relevance is key
Focus on legal internships, clerkships or any positions where you gained legal experience. include relevant job titles, the organization’s name, location, and involvement dates.
Highlight legal responsibilities
Detail specific legal tasks and responsibilities you handled during your internships, such as legal research, drafting legal documents, client interviews, and case support.
Showcase achievements
Emphasize notable contributions or accomplishments during legal internships, such as assisting with significant cases or research projects.
Quantify impact (where applicable)
Use quantifiable measures or examples to demonstrate the impact of your work, such as the number of legal documents drafted, cases supported, or successful outcomes.
Good and poor legal intern resume examples
Legal Intern | Seeley Law Firm | Baltimore, MD | May 2022 – August 2022
- Conducted extensive legal research on labor laws and regulatory compliance, contributing to preparing client advisories and memoranda.
- Drafted pleadings, motions, and legal correspondence under the guidance of senior attorneys, ensuring accuracy and adherence to court requirements.
- Assisted in client interviews, taking detailed notes, and summarizing case information for case strategy discussions.
- Supported trial preparation by organizing case documents and exhibits, resulting in streamlined proceedings.
Why this resume example works:
This legal intern work history effectively showcases the job seeker’s relevant experiences during the internship. They focus on specific legal tasks, such as legal research and drafting, demonstrating their practical legal skills.
The candidate also quantifies their impact by mentioning their contributions to client advisories and trial preparation, showing their value as a legal intern.
Legal Intern | Seeley Law Firm | Baltimore, MD | May 2022 – August 2022
- Assisted with various legal tasks.
- Conducted legal research and drafted documents.
- Supported attorneys in court proceedings and case preparation.
How this sample fails:
This legal intern work history needs specific details and measurable achievements. You can improve it by sharing your legal clinic contributions and legal skills. Otherwise, your legal intern resume loses its impact.
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How to Write a Legal Intern Education Section
The education section of your legal intern resume is a critical component that highlights your academic qualifications and any relevant training or certifications in the legal field. This section gives potential employers insights into your legal education and specialized knowledge. Follow these guidelines to create an impactful legal intern education resume section:
1Start with your highest degree
Begin with your highest level of legal education attained. Include the degree earned, the name of the educational institution, location, and graduation year.
2Include relevant coursework
Mention any specialized coursework or legal subjects you studied that align with the specific legal intern role you’re applying for.
3Highlight honors and awards
If you achieved any academic honors, scholarships, or awards during your legal studies, consider mentioning them to demonstrate exceptional achievements.
4Relevant legal workshops or seminars
Include any relevant legal workshops, seminars, or conferences you attended, especially those related to your desired field.
5Certifications or Bar admissions (if applicable)
If you have passed the bar exam or obtained any legal certifications, include them in this section.
Education formatting example:
Education
Juris Doctor (J.D.) Loyola University
Chicago, IL | Graduated: May 2022
Relevant Coursework and Workshops
Intellectual Property Law | Loyola University Chicago
Criminal Law and Procedure | Loyola University Chicago
Civil Procedure | Loyola University Maryland
Workshop on Contract Law and Negotiations, Legal Professionals Conference, 2021
Academic Honors
Dean’s List Scholar,
Loyola University Chicago | Fall 2020
Certifications
Admitted to the Illinois State Bar
PRO TIP:
Tailor your education section with relevant education and training that directly align with the skills and requirements of the legal intern position you are applying for.
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15 Skills for Your Legal Intern Resume
The skills section of your legal intern resume is a vital aspect that showcases your abilities and competencies relevant to the legal field. This section includes soft, hard, and technical skills specific to a legal intern. Follow these guidelines to create an impactful legal intern skills resume section:
Soft skills
- Communication
- Critical Thinking
- Analytical Skills
- Attention to Detail
- Time Management
Hard skills
- Legal Research
- Legal Writing
- Case Analysis
- Document Review
- Contract Drafting
Technical skills
- Westlaw or LexisNexis Research
- Document Management Systems (e.g., Relativity)
- Electronic Filing Systems
- Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
- Trial Presentation Software (e.g., TrialDirector)
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20 Legal Intern Action Verbs
As a legal intern seeking to make a strong impression on potential employers, infusing your resume with dynamic action verbs that showcase your proactive approach and legal capabilities is essential.
Here are 20 resume power words specifically tailored for legal interns. These verbs will invigorate your resume, emphasizing your active contributions and readiness to excel in the legal profession.
- Analyze
- Collaborate
- Draft
- Evaluate
- Investigate
- Negotiate
- Organize
- Present
- Research
- Review
- Strategize
- Synthesize
- Advocate
- Compose
- Defend
- Facilitate
- Mediate
- Persuade
- Propose
- Resolve
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Additional Resume Sections
Consider adding the following sections to your legal intern resume based on your specific circumstances and to enhance your qualifications:
Use a Cover Letter to Express Yourself
A resume is a concise overview of your skills and experience — a cover letter expands on this foundation. Add a cover letter to share one or two examples of how you excelled in similar roles or how your skills match a company’s needs. Use this sample as a guide, or visit our helpful resources to boost your application.
Law Cover Letter Examples
Legal Intern Resume FAQ
How can I make my legal intern resume stand out to potential employers?
Tailor your resume to the specific legal internship and emphasize relevant skills, coursework, and any legal experience you gained during law school or previous internships.
Share your personal mission statement to prove your motivations. Showcase your achievements and highlight any unique contributions that set you apart from other candidates.
Should I include my law school GPA on my legal intern resume?
If your GPA is competitive and showcases your academic excellence, you may include it on a resume with no experience. However, if your GPA could be stronger, highlight other strengths like relevant legal experience and skills.
Is it necessary to include references on my legal intern resume?
No, including references directly on your resume is not recommended. Instead, create a separate reference page with names, titles, contact information, and a brief description of your relationship with each reference. Provide this page when requested during the interview process.
How can I demonstrate my legal research skills on my resume?
Showcase your legal research skills by mentioning any research projects you undertook during law school or internships. Emphasize the legal databases and resources you used (e.g., Westlaw or LexisNexis) and any research papers or memos you authored.
Should I include non-legal work experience on my legal intern resume?
Yes, it can be valuable to include if your non-legal work experience demonstrates transferable skills such as communication, leadership, or problem-solving. Focus on skills relevant to the legal field and highlight how they can contribute to your effectiveness as a legal intern.
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Last edited by: Gabriela Barcenas, CPRW, Content Writer II -
Gabriela Barcenas
CPRW, Content Writer IIGabriela is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) and career adviser. With 10 years of digital media experience and five years of resume writing expertise, her publication history includes fashion, education, travel, social justice, equitable design and career advice.