Lawyer Resume Examples & Tips for 2025

A lawyer is a highly specialized individual who aims to solve legal problems for civilians, businesses, state and federal governments, and more.

There are many specializations a lawyer can take. For example a criminal defense lawyer will defend the accused party, whereas a prosecutor will defend the party making the accusation. There are also lawyers who specialize in real estate transactions, corporate transactions, children’s rights, and more. In any case, the lawyer's job is to convince a third-party, frequently a judge and jury, that their client is in the “right”. To become a lawyer, you will first need a bachelor’s degree in law, English, or criminal justice. Then, you will need to go to law school to earn your title as a lawyer, which includes a test often referred to as the BAR exam. After passing the test, many aspiring lawyers must take on pro-bono or internship legal work to build skills and their reputation. Lawyers must have superb communication, persuasion, and negotiation skills. They also must be effective performers with the ability to speak to a large variety of audiences.