We expect our future clerks to approach this part of the process with exceptional attention to detail, poise and honesty. Below are my top five tips in how to prepare a strong resume.
- Make it concise: you should aim to keep a resume at around 2 pages in length with enough detail to give some insight into your work experience and extra curriculars.
- Make it broad: don't just think about transferrable legal experience. We want to get to know you! So include all of your experience up until this point. This will help us get a better impression of yourself and how you will fit into the firm!
- Make it thorough: don't leave us questioning anything! When we look at a resume we should get a sense of; Where you've been employed; How long were you at a particular employer; What were you involved with.
- Make it understandable: Ensure that you have no spelling mistakes and that your resume has a clear structure. We recommend the following structure: Contact Details > Executive Summary > Education > Employment History > Community & Extra-curricular Involvement. Have someone read through it to check for mistakes or grammatical errors.
- Make it yours: this is an excellent opportunity for you to showcase your singular talents and experience. Shine a light on the interesting things you have done in your life - charity work, sporting teams, awards etc. this will add some colour to your application and help you stand out.
These tips will help you prepare a stronger resume for when you are submitting your clerkship application.
