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Associate attorney resume example

A resume for a fifth-year corporate associate at a regional firm, written for a lateral move. Hiring partners and legal recruiters read for class year, practice area, deal experience and the level of responsibility you carry, so the bullets say what you ran, not just what you touched.

Associate attorney resume example, page 1 of 1NIKHIL RAGHUNATHANCorporate Associatenikhil.raghunathan@example.com | (678) 555-0181 | Atlanta, GA | linkedin.com/in/nikhilraghunathanSUMMARYCorporate associate with five years advising private companies and private equity funds on mergers andacquisitions, venture financings and commercial contracts. I run deals day to day from diligence to closing, draftthe main agreements, and keep clients informed in plain language.EXPERIENCEAssociate, CorporateSep 2023 – PresentAshford Kell LLPAtlanta, GA•Represented buyers and sellers in 14 M&A transactions from $15 million to $420 million, mostly in healthcareservices and software.•Draft purchase agreements, disclosure schedules and ancillary documents, and lead diligence teams of 2 to 4associates and paralegals.•Run signings and closings with up to 60 deliverables, coordinating lenders, escrow agents and opposingcounsel.•Counsel 10 venture-backed companies on Series A to C financings, board matters and equity plans.•Lead the corporate group’s diligence training for incoming associates each fall.AssociateSep 2021 – Aug 2023Pemberton Hale LLPAtlanta, GA•Prepared diligence memos and transaction documents for 20 M&A and financing deals.•Drafted and negotiated about 150 commercial contracts (supply, services, licensing) for 2 manufacturingclients.•Pro bono: formed 8 nonprofit corporations and obtained 501(c)(3) recognition for 6.EDUCATIONJ.D., cum laude2018 – 2021Emory University School of LawAtlanta, GA•Executive Articles Editor, Emory Corporate Governance and Accountability Review.B.B.A. in Finance2014 – 2018University of Georgia, Terry College of BusinessAthens, GABAR ADMISSIONState Bar of Georgia2021AdmittedSKILLSMergers and acquisitions · Venture capital financings · Due diligence · Purchase agreements ·Disclosure schedules · Commercial contracts · Corporate governance · Equity compensation ·Closing management · Virtual data rooms
Associate attorneyUse this example

What recruiters look for

  • Class year and admission: the year you graduated and were admitted sets your level and salary band.
  • Practice and deal types: M&A, financing, capital markets, venture, real estate. Name the deal types and sizes.
  • Level of responsibility: running deals, drafting first drafts of main agreements, managing junior lawyers.
  • Industry focus: healthcare, software, energy. Firms building a sector team look for it.
  • Academic credentials: law school, honors and journal still matter for laterals in their first five or six years.

Writing the summary

Name your practice, class year or years, client types and the deals you run. One sentence on how you work with clients helps; avoid generic lines like “detail-oriented attorney”.

The summary in this example

Corporate associate with five years advising private companies and private equity funds on mergers and acquisitions, venture financings and commercial contracts. I run deals day to day from diligence to closing, draft the main agreements, and keep clients informed in plain language.

Litigation associate

Litigation associate with four years in commercial and securities cases in federal court. I take and defend depositions, draft dispositive motions and have second-chaired two jury trials. Looking for a firm with a busy trial practice.

Associate at a small firm moving to a larger one

Associate with five years at a 12-lawyer business firm, handling small business acquisitions, commercial leases and contracts with direct client responsibility from my first year. Looking for a larger corporate team with more complex transactions.

Bullet points that work

Strong lines for this role, beyond the ones in the example. Borrow the shape and put in your own numbers.

  • Ran diligence on a $250 million carve-out, coordinating 9 specialist teams and producing a 90-page report in 4 weeks.
  • Drafted the first draft of a stock purchase agreement for a $120 million sale, negotiated through 7 turns to signing.
  • Closed 6 credit facilities totaling $340 million for borrowers in a single year.
  • Advised a board special committee on a $75 million related-party transaction.
  • Supervised 4 junior associates and 3 paralegals across 3 concurrent deals.
  • Billed about 2,000 hours a year for 3 consecutive years while keeping 50 pro bono hours.
  • Negotiated 40 customer contracts for a software client during a 2-month sale process.
  • Wrote a client alert on changes to the HSR premerger filing form, sent to 2,000 clients and contacts.
  • Handled entity formation and governance for 30 portfolio companies of a growth equity fund.

Skills to list

Hard skills

  • M&A (stock, asset and merger structures)
  • Venture and growth equity financings
  • Due diligence management
  • Drafting purchase agreements and ancillaries
  • Commercial contracts
  • Corporate governance and board matters
  • Securities law basics (Regulation D)
  • Closing logistics and data rooms

Soft skills

  • Managing clients’ expectations
  • Leading deal teams
  • Negotiation
  • Clear written updates

Certifications and licenses worth listing

  • Bar admissions: list each state and the year. Mention pending admissions (“Admission to New York pending, waiver application filed”).
  • Court admissions: for litigators, list federal district and circuit courts.
  • No other certifications are expected for associates; CLE courses do not belong on the resume.

Length and format

One page for most associates up to about sixth year. A lateral can add a deal sheet or representative matters list as a separate page, which recruiters often ask for.

Common mistakes

  • Describing deals vaguely (“worked on M&A”). Give the number, size range and your role.
  • Leaving out the class year or admission date, which firms need to set your level.
  • Naming clients who have not approved it or whose deals are not public.
  • Listing billable hours without context. Include them only if they are strong and the reader will care.
  • Typos and inconsistent formatting, which partners notice immediately.

Questions and answers

Should an associate attorney include a deal sheet?

Yes, for lateral moves. Keep the resume to one page and add a separate representative matters list with deal type, size, client type and your role.

Do associates still list law school honors?

Yes, through about the first five or six years. After that, keep the degree and major honors but drop smaller awards.

How do I describe my level?

By class year and responsibility: “fifth-year associate who runs mid-market deals day to day”. Firms compare laterals by class year first.

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