You sit in front of your computer, take a deep breath, and feed on the heavens. You apologize for all the bad things you’ve done while reviewing the state bar pass list, hoping your name will be on it… There it is: YOU PASSED!!!

After you wake up the next morning with a well-deserved hangover, you think: what now? As the market continues its downward spiral (don’t be fooled by the numbers, most of the “1,000,000 new jobs” you read or hear optimistically about on NPR are actually just temp positions), sits at his desk, confused. You Finished Law School And Passed The Bar – How Hard Can Writing A 1-2 Page Resume Really Be? Unfortunately for you, it’s MUCH HARDER than you think.

The problem is twofold: first, as lawyers we are less than humble most of the time. Most of us can’t fathom the fact that we can’t, or shouldn’t, write the resume ourselves. Secondly, as lawyers we are also smart enough to know that maybe we should throw up our kidneys and pass the baton to someone who does this professionally. Whether you can’t let go of control or financial pressures are a concern, I’ll provide you with a list of 5 things to remember in your quest to write your own legal resume.

For reference, I am an attorney and certified professional resume writer who has worked with thousands of applicants over the past 7 years, both inside and outside of the legal field. These problems are the most common and easy to avoid:

1. Outline: Just like any other document you would prepare or prepare as a lawyer, your best bet is a well thought out plan of attack. Summarize each section of the resume. This will help you both organize your thoughts and remember your past accomplishments, awards, and achievements.

2. Prepare a first draft as if you were writing it for someone else: Even the most narcissistic lawyers have trouble writing about themselves. Once you have your outline, prepare a first draft of the resume. Remember, this is NOT an essay or a PERSUASIVE document. It’s a CAREER TOOL designed to get you the interview.

3. Be confident, not cocky: We all have strengths and weaknesses, that’s a fact of life. But, with that being said, you don’t want to dismiss a potential employer as someone who can’t work in a team environment. (Translation: “I wrote and successfully filed a motion for summary judgment which was summarily granted” is good, rather than “I wrote the best report in the history of the world, as told by my peers and by everyone who heard my oral argument” .not good.) Before you laugh, trust me: you’ll be surprised at what you found on my desk.

4. A resume is not a substitute for an interview: For lawyers, this is the KEY problem. Look, even if you hate interviews, can’t sleep the night before, feel nauseous moments before the presentation, it’s inevitable that you WILL have to interview for the position. In other words, there is no way around the interview process. As such, trying to include potential interview responses on a resume won’t work. It will make you look detailed and rambling instead of simplified and succinct.

5. Hire an Attorney-Certified Resume Writer – Leave your resume to the experts. By hiring a certified professional resume writer who is also an attorney, you will have the industry knowledge, experience, and ability to write an effective resume for yourself. You spend millions of thousands of dollars on your legal education, don’t blow it!

Good luck!!!!!