What should I include on a litigation attorney resume?

Include a targeted summary that matches the role, a skills section with keywords from the job description, and experience bullets that show measurable impact. Lead each bullet with a strong action verb and follow it with a specific outcome. Education and relevant certifications round out a strong resume.

How do I make my litigation attorney resume ATS-friendly?

Use a clean, single-column format with standard section headers (Experience, Education, Skills). Include keywords from the job description naturally throughout your resume. Avoid tables, graphics, and unusual fonts. Stick to a standard file format like PDF and make sure your contact information is in plain text at the top.

What are the most important skills for a litigation attorney resume?

Review the job description carefully and match your skills section to their requirements. Include both technical skills and relevant soft skills. Use the exact terminology from the posting to pass ATS keyword filters. Group skills logically rather than listing them randomly.

Litigation Attorney Resume Example (2026)

Rachel Dominguez

Los Angeles, CA | [email protected] | (555) 738-2041 | linkedin.com/in/racheldominguez

Summary

Litigation attorney with 8 years of experience handling complex commercial disputes, employment claims, and regulatory enforcement actions. Managed a caseload of 35+ active matters with $180M in aggregate exposure. Achieved favorable outcomes in 90% of cases through strategic motion practice and settlement negotiation.

Technical Skills

Litigation: Commercial Disputes, Employment Law, Class Actions, Regulatory Defense
Trial Skills: Depositions, Motion Practice, Trial Preparation, Expert Witness Management
Discovery: E-Discovery, Document Review, Relativity, Predictive Coding
Research: Westlaw, LexisNexis, PACER, Legal Research & Writing

Experience

Senior Litigation Associate - Calderon & Park LLP Aug 2021 – Present

Managed a caseload of 35+ active matters with aggregate exposure exceeding $180M across commercial and employment disputes

Achieved favorable outcomes in 90% of cases, including 12 summary judgment victories and 8 favorable settlements

Took and defended 60+ depositions across 25 cases, reducing average deposition preparation time by 25% through standardized outlines

Led e-discovery efforts across 4 class action matters involving 3.2M documents, completing review 15% ahead of court deadlines

Litigation Associate - Hartfield McGraw LLP Sep 2018 – Jul 2021

Drafted 40+ motions and briefs with a 78% success rate on dispositive motions

Second-chaired 3 jury trials, contributing to 2 defense verdicts totaling $14M in avoided damages

Managed discovery for 20 matters, coordinating with outside vendors on document collections averaging 500K pages per case

Negotiated 15 settlements ranging from $50K to $3.2M, saving clients an estimated $8M in litigation costs

Education

J.D. - UCLA School of Law 2018

Why This Resume Works

Win rate is front and center

90% favorable outcomes instantly communicates litigation effectiveness.

Exposure value shows case complexity

$180M aggregate exposure demonstrates high-stakes experience.

Trial and deposition counts

Courtroom and deposition numbers prove hands-on litigation skill, not just research work.

Section-by-Section Breakdown

Summary

Lead with caseload size, exposure value, and win rate. Name your practice areas explicitly.

Skills

Separate litigation skills by phase: pre-trial, discovery, trial, and settlement. Include e-discovery tools.

Experience

Quantify cases managed, motions filed, depositions taken, and outcomes achieved. Results matter most.

Education

J.D. is required. Include clerkships if applicable. Bar admissions should be listed.

Key Skills for Litigation Attorney Resumes

Based on analysis of thousands of job postings, these are the most frequently required skills:

Commercial Litigation Employment Law Class Actions Motion Practice Depositions Trial Preparation E-Discovery Settlement Negotiation Relativity Legal Research Brief Writing Expert Witness Management Regulatory Defense Case Management Westlaw PACER

Common Mistakes on Litigation Attorney Resumes

⚠No case outcomes - Win rates, favorable verdicts, and settlement savings are what matter. Do not leave them out.
⚠Missing exposure values - Case complexity is measured by dollars at stake. Include aggregate exposure.
⚠Only listing research work - Senior litigators need deposition, motion, and trial experience visible. Pure research signals junior-level.
⚠Ignoring e-discovery metrics - Document volumes and review timelines show project management capacity in modern litigation.
⚠Overly long case descriptions - Keep bullets to one line. The case name and detailed facts belong in a portfolio, not your resume.

How to Write a Litigation Attorney Resume That Gets Interviews

Legal resumes must demonstrate your expertise, case outcomes, and attention to detail. Hiring partners and legal departments look for bar admissions, practice areas, and evidence of handling complex matters.

Lead with bar admissions and practice areas

Your jurisdictions and specializations (litigation, corporate, IP, employment) are the first things reviewers check. These determine whether your experience is relevant.

Show case outcomes and deal values

Cases won, settlements negotiated, deals closed, or regulatory matters resolved provide concrete evidence of your effectiveness.

Include legal technology proficiency

Westlaw, LexisNexis, Clio, iManage, or e-discovery platforms are increasingly expected. Legal departments are modernizing and value tech-savvy attorneys.

Demonstrate writing and research skills

Mention briefs filed, motions drafted, legal memoranda prepared, and any published articles. Legal writing quality is a core evaluation criterion.

Before submitting, run a free ATS check on your litigation attorney resume to catch keyword gaps.

Litigation Attorney
Resume Example

Rachel Dominguez

Why This Resume Works

Section-by-Section Breakdown

Summary

Skills

Experience

Education

Key Skills for Litigation Attorney Resumes

Common Mistakes on Litigation Attorney Resumes

How to Write a Litigation Attorney Resume That Gets Interviews

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