How to Tailor Your Legal Resume for In-House Counsel Roles

Thinking about making the move in-house? Transitioning from law firm life to a corporate legal department can be incredibly rewarding—but it requires more than just a solid resume. You need to speak the language of business. Here’s how to tailor your resume to stand out for in-house counsel roles:

🔍 Focus on What In-House Teams Value

Law firms want subject-matter depth. In-house teams want practical, strategic, and business-oriented lawyers. Emphasize:

• Experience partnering with business units (e.g., sales, HR, finance)

• Cross-functional collaboration

• Risk assessment and mitigation strategies

✂️ Trim the Legalese

Replace dense legal language with clear, outcome-focused bullet points. For example:

Instead of: "Drafted and negotiated NDAs, MSAs, and SaaS agreements"
Try: "Streamlined contracting process for sales team by negotiating key NDAs and vendor contracts to reduce turnaround time"

📈 Show Impact, Not Just Activity

In-house legal departments are lean. They value efficiency and results. Add metrics or context:

• “Reduced outside counsel spend by 20%”

• “Closed 30+ commercial agreements per quarter under aggressive timelines”

🧠 Highlight Business Acumen

Demonstrate that you understand the business—not just the law. Showcase experience with:

• Budget management

• Product development or launch support

• Compliance program building

🧩 Customize for the Role

Don't send the same resume to every company. Read the job description closely and mirror the language. A resume for a fintech company will differ from one for a consumer goods brand.

Final Tip: Your resume should show that you’re not just a great lawyer—you’re a great partner to the business.

At Premier Pursuit, we’re here to help. Contact us today for help tailoring your resume!

Martina Ellerbe
Legal Recruiter
PREMIER PURSUIT
Expert Legal Recruitment | Empowering Attorneys. Elevating Legal Teams.
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