[NAME]

[address] [email]
[city, province][postal code] [phone number]

Education

Juris Doctor, [Law School] [year – year]

 [include distinctions(i.e. Dean’s List) and moots here]
Degree Program, Undergraduate University [year – year]
 [optional: include your major(s) here]
 [Include any distinctions (i.e. “Honours with high distinction”)]

Honours and Awards

[name of award], [institution] [year]

 [Description of Award] (i.e. Awarded to students at the University of Alberta "for outstanding
contributions to improving the world around them and inspiring others to do the same.")
[name of award], [institution] [year]
 [Description of Award] (i.e. “Recognition of exceptional student involvement”).

Current and Previous Employment

[position], [employer] [month, year – Present]

 Begin each sentence with a verb to describe the action you are taking. Current positions (like this one)
should use present tense verbs to describe your activities.
 Example: "Honing legal research and writing skills and synthesizing complex legal issues into concise
legal concepts for clients".
 Example “Building client relationships and marketing to prospective clients”.
 List all paid work experience in reverse-chronological order, starting with your most recent employment.
[position], [employer] [Month, year – month, year]
 Previous positions should use past-tense verbs to describe the action that you took.
 Example: Researched securities legislation and drafted a report highlighting the results of recent
changes to the Securities Act (Alberta) to [supervising professor].
 Interviewed securities lawyers and government officials and assisted in drafting updates to Canadian
Securities Regulation1 [use the McGill Guide for citing any publications or other materials].

1
David Johnston et al, Canadian Securities Regulation, 5th ed (Toronto: LexusNexis, 2014).
[las t name, page number]
Relevant Experience & Community Involvement

[Registered Charity], [Treasurer and Board Member] [month, year] – [present]

 Once again, for current positions, use present-tense verbs to describe your activities.
 Example: “Volunteering with and managing a registered charity that provides sustainable, long-term
housing relief for low income families.
 Your volunteer experience should follow the same format as your work experience (i.e. in reverse-
chronological order).
[Community Organization], [Volunteer] [month, year] – [present]
 Previous volunteering experienced should use past-tense verbs to describe your activities
 Example: “Regularly served breakfast at Hope Community Kitchen”
[Community Organization], [Volunteer] [month, year] – [present]
 Description.

[Keep your resume to two pages or less. Avoid using abbreviations, acronyms, slang, colloquialisms or
technical terms not understood by lay people].

[Make sure that your resume is devoid of any spelling, grammar or typographical errors. Employers have
indicated that this shows them whether you pay attention to detail, which is a very important practice. Have
someone else proofread your materials, as the drafter often times misses their own errors. A resume with
spelling, grammar and/or typographical errors is likely to end up in the “no” bin].

Skills

 [Include non-law skills that may be useful for your career (i.e. computer skills, language
proficiency, miscellaneous certificates, training, etc.)].

Personal Interests

 [Generally avoid including activities and interests that are arguably controversial. The interests section
adds a personal element to your resume and provides an opportunity for you to show that you are well-
rounded and relatable to other employees at your prospective workplace].

For a more detailed overview on “Tips for Writing Resumes” please login to the Resources section of Orbis
under Resumes and Cover Letters for more commentary and examples

[las t name, page number]