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Senior litigation attorney resume example

A resume for a trial lawyer with 15 years of experience, first-chair trials and appellate arguments. Hiring partners, general counsel and legal recruiters judge senior litigators on trial record, the size of matters they lead and whether clients trust them, so those lead every section.

Senior litigation attorney resume example, page 1 of 2LEONARD KACZMAREKSenior Litigation Attorneyleonard.kaczmarek@example.com | (312) 555-0144 | Chicago, IL | linkedin.com/in/leonardkaczmarekSUMMARYTrial lawyer with 15 years in commercial and product liability litigation in state and federal courts. I havefirst-chaired 6 trials and second-chaired 10, argued appeals in the Seventh Circuit and the Illinois AppellateCourt, and I build cases from the first deposition with the jury in mind. Member of the Northern District ofIllinois trial bar.EXPERIENCESenior Litigation AttorneyApr 2019 – PresentHollister Grange LLPChicago, IL•First-chaired 4 jury trials and 2 bench trials in Cook County and the Northern District of Illinois, winningdefense verdicts or judgments in 5.•Lead counsel on about 25 active matters at a time (product liability, contract and business torts) withexposure from $1 million to $80 million.•Won summary judgment for a manufacturing client in a $45 million product liability case after buildingthe expert record over two years.•Argued 3 appeals in the Seventh Circuit and the Illinois Appellate Court: two affirmances and one reversalin the client’s favor.•Lead teams of up to 6 associates and 3 paralegals, manage case budgets and report monthly to clients’in-house counsel.AssociateSep 2012 – Mar 2019Dearborn Whitley LLPChicago, IL•Second-chaired 10 jury trials and conducted 30 witness examinations.•Took and defended 120 depositions, including 25 of expert witnesses.•Drafted dispositive motions and appellate briefs in commercial and class action matters.Judicial Law ClerkSep 2011 – Aug 2012Illinois Appellate Court, First DistrictChicago, IL•Drafted opinions and bench memos in civil and criminal appeals.EDUCATIONJ.D., cum laude2008 – 2011Northwestern Pritzker School of LawChicago, ILB.A. in History2004 – 2008University of Notre DameNotre Dame, INBAR AND COURT ADMISSIONSIllinois2011Supreme Court of IllinoisU.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois (including trial bar)2014Federal courtLeonard Kaczmarek · 1 / 2
Senior litigation attorney resume example, page 2 of 2U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit2015Federal courtWRITING AND SPEAKINGFrye in the age of Daubert: expert testimony in Illinois product cases2024Bar association continuing legal education programSKILLSJury and bench trials · Appellate advocacy · Depositions · Expert witnesses · Dispositive motions ·Product liability · Commercial litigation · Case strategy and budgeting · E-discovery · MediationLeonard Kaczmarek · 2 / 2
Senior litigation attorneyUse this example

What recruiters look for

  • Trial record: first-chair and second-chair trials, jury or bench, with outcomes you can share.
  • Size and type of matters: exposure, practice area and courts. It sets your rate and the cases you will be trusted with.
  • Dispositive wins and appeals: summary judgments, dismissals and appellate arguments.
  • Leadership: running case teams, managing budgets, reporting to clients, training associates.
  • Admissions: state bars and federal courts, including trial bars where they exist.

Writing the summary

Lead with years and practice area, then your trial count and courts. Add a sentence on your approach or a distinction (clerkship, trial bar, a type of case you are known for).

The summary in this example

Trial lawyer with 15 years in commercial and product liability litigation in state and federal courts. I have first-chaired 6 trials and second-chaired 10, argued appeals in the Seventh Circuit and the Illinois Appellate Court, and I build cases from the first deposition with the jury in mind. Member of the Northern District of Illinois trial bar.

Plaintiff-side trial lawyer

Plaintiff’s trial lawyer with 14 years in catastrophic injury and wrongful death cases, with 9 jury verdicts and over $120 million in verdicts and settlements. I prepare every case for trial and know how to tell a client’s story to a jury.

Senior litigator moving in-house

Commercial litigator with 13 years at two firms, leading contract, employment and product cases for corporate clients. Looking to move in-house to manage a litigation docket, choose and supervise outside counsel, and help the business avoid disputes in the first place.

Bullet points that work

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

  • Won a defense verdict after a 3-week jury trial in a $60 million breach of contract case.
  • Obtained dismissal with prejudice of a putative class action on behalf of a national retailer.
  • Negotiated a $4 million settlement against a $35 million demand on the eve of trial.
  • Argued and won an interlocutory appeal reversing a $12 million preliminary injunction.
  • Managed a portfolio of 60 product liability cases for a manufacturer, cutting average resolution cost by 25%.
  • Deposed 18 expert witnesses in a single case and excluded 2 of the plaintiff’s experts on motion.
  • Led a team of 8 lawyers through a 2-week arbitration, winning a $9 million award.
  • Trained 15 associates in a firm trial skills program over 3 years.
  • Brought in 4 new clients with combined annual billings of $1.5 million.
  • Represented 6 pro bono clients, including a successful habeas petition.

Skills to list

Hard skills

  • Jury and bench trial advocacy
  • Appellate briefing and argument
  • Depositions, including experts
  • Dispositive and evidentiary motions
  • Case strategy and budgeting
  • Expert witness management
  • Mediation and settlement negotiation
  • E-discovery strategy

Soft skills

  • Judgment under pressure
  • Persuasive writing and speaking
  • Client counseling
  • Leading and developing associates
  • Calm with judges and juries

Certifications and licenses worth listing

  • Bar and court admissions: list every state bar and federal court with the year, and trial bar membership where a district has one.
  • Board certification in civil trial advocacy (National Board of Trial Advocacy or a state board): a strong signal for experienced trial lawyers.
  • Recognition from peer-reviewed directories may be worth one line if it is current; leave out pay-to-play listings.

Length and format

Two pages are normal at this level. Page one should carry your trial record and the current role; page two can hold earlier roles, admissions and selected writing and speaking. A separate representative matters list is common for lateral moves.

Common mistakes

  • Calling every case a win. Say what you can share (verdict, judgment, dismissal) and be honest about your role.
  • Leaving out the size of matters, which is how firms and clients judge seniority.
  • Breaching confidentiality. Use public results or describe matters by type.
  • No mention of leadership or business development, which senior litigators are now expected to show.
  • Long lists of every CLE attended. Keep teaching and writing that shows expertise.

Questions and answers

Should a litigation attorney list trial outcomes?

Yes, where they are public and your clients would not object. Give the type of case, the forum, your role and the result.

How do I show trial experience when most cases settle?

Count what you did: witness examinations, evidentiary hearings, arbitrations, depositions and summary judgment arguments. These show courtroom skill even without many verdicts.

Should I include a judicial clerkship from 15 years ago?

Yes, in one line. Clerkships stay meaningful for a whole career, especially for appellate and complex work.

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