Personal Injury Attorney Resume Guide

Personal injury attorneys work to help their clients receive compensation for the injuries they have suffered. They work with insurance companies and other parties to negotiate settlements, and they also represent their clients in court if necessary. Personal injury attorneys typically have a lot of experience in dealing with the legal system and are familiar with the process of filing a personal injury lawsuit.

You have a proven track record of success when it comes to personal injury law. But potential clients don’t know who you are or what you can do for them. To get your name out there, you need an impressive resume that will make them want to work with you.

This guide will walk you through the entire process of creating a top-notch resume. We first show you a complete example and then break down what each resume section should look like.

The guide is divided into sections for your convenience. You can read it from beginning to end or use the table of contents below to jump to a specific part.

Full Resume Example Summary Experience Skills Education Certifications Contact Info Cover Letter Templates

Personal Injury Attorney Resume Sample

Hazel Streich
Personal Injury Attorney

[email protected]
238-696-4546
linkedin.com/in/hazel-streich

Summary

Proficient personal injury attorney with 7+ years of experience handling all aspects of civil litigation, from pre-trial investigation to jury trial. Recognized for being a zealous and effective advocate for clients, as well as having a strong track record of success in obtaining favorable outcomes. Experienced in both state and federal court proceedings. Admitted to practice in New York and Connecticut.

Experience

Personal Injury Attorney, Employer A
Overland Park, Jan 2018 – Present

Confidently led and managed a team of 5 associates in all aspects of pre-trial personal injury litigation, including client intakes, case management, evidence gathering and file preparation.
Coordinated with outside counsel, expert witnesses and insurance carriers to develop strong legal strategies and efficiently resolve over 100 cases per year.
Demonstrated excellent research, writing and analytical skills when preparing complex motion briefs, demand letters and settlement proposals; helped secure over $5 million in settlements for clients.
Utilized cutting-edge technology to manage an active docket of 200+ open cases at any given time, track deadlines & appointments, and maintain accurate records using the firm’s document management system.
Reduced administrative work for paralegals by 20% by taking on additional tasks such as drafting discovery requests/responses.

Personal Injury Attorney, Employer B
Norfolk, Mar 2012 – Dec 2017

Revised the claims process to reduce the number of denied claims by 20%.
Spearheaded a cross-departmental team to develop a new data collection system that saved the company $100,000 annually.
Achieved a 98% success rate in court appearances and settlements.
Proficiently managed a caseload of 250+ active files at any given time.
Participated in community outreach events to increase visibility for the firm and attract new clients.

Skills

Personal Injury Law
Trial Practice
Depositions
Legal Research
Client Relations
Case Management
Mediation
Arbitration
Litigation

Education

Juris Doctor
Educational Institution XYZ
Nov 2011

Certifications

Board Certified in Civil Trial Advocacy
National Board of Trial Advocacy
May 2017

1. Summary / Objective

Your resume summary is like a teaser for the rest of your resume – it outlines your experience and skills in a way that should compel the hiring manager to read on. In your summary, you could mention how many years of experience you have as an attorney, what types of cases you specialize in, and any awards or recognition you have received. You could also briefly mention why you are interested in the position and what qualities make you a good fit for it.

Below are some resume summary examples:

Detail-oriented personal injury attorney with 4+ years of experience handling car accident and slip & fall cases. Secured more than $1. 2 million in settlements for clients in the past year alone. Adept at investigating claims, building strong cases, and negotiating favorable outcomes. Committed to protecting the rights of injured victims and ensure they receive the compensation they deserve.

Enthusiastic and experienced personal injury attorney driven to help clients receive the compensation they deserve. Skilled in both pre-trial and trial preparation, as well as developing creative solutions to unique legal challenges. Achieved favorable outcomes for more than 85% of past clients, with a success rate of over 95% in jury trials.

Professional and experienced personal injury attorney, helping people get the compensation they need and deserve for over 4 years. I have a proven track record of success in court, and have helped my clients win millions of dollars in settlements. I am passionate about justice, and will fight tirelessly to ensure that my clients are treated fairly.

Seasoned personal injury attorney with extensive experience in all aspects of civil litigation, from pre-trial investigation through appeals. Proven ability to handle complex cases and navigate the court system efficiently. In 2020, successfully tried 15 personal injury cases to verdict, resulting in a total recovery of $4. 5 million for clients.

Passionate personal injury attorney with a focus on protecting the rights of victims of car accidents. Secured over $1 million in settlements for clients in the last year alone. Dedicated to providing top-tier legal representation and customer service. At ABC Law Firm, increased new client inquiries by 25% through effective marketing campaigns.

Energetic and experienced personal injury attorney with four years of experience specializing in car accident cases. In 2020, closed 30 cases successfully and achieved a 95% success rate in court. Currently seeking to join the team at ABC law firm where I can continue to grow my skills and knowledge while fighting for the rights of my clients.

Committed personal injury attorney with 6+ years of experience in a top law firm. Successfully represented clients in court and negotiated settlements outside of court. Expertise in gathering evidence, interviewing witnesses and working with expert witnesses. Secured $X for a client who suffered injuries in a car accident.

2. Experience / Employment

For the experience section, you will want to list your employment history in reverse chronological order. This means that your most recent job should be at the top of the section.

When detailing what you did in each role, it is best to use bullet points. This allows for quick and easy reading. When writing out each bullet point, include specific examples and quantify the results whenever possible.

For example, rather than saying “Assisted clients with personal injury claims,” you could say “Successfully managed 100+ personal injury cases from initial consultation through to settlement or trial.”

To write effective bullet points, begin with a strong verb or adverb. Industry specific verbs to use are:

Investigated
Researched
Analyzed
Negotiated
Litigated
Mediated
Arbitrated
Settled
Won
Defended
Represented
Advocated
Filed
Processed
Obtained

Other general verbs you can use are:

Achieved
Advised
Assessed
Compiled
Coordinated
Demonstrated
Developed
Expedited
Facilitated
Formulated
Improved
Introduced
Mentored
Optimized
Participated
Prepared
Presented
Reduced
Reorganized
Revised
Spearheaded
Streamlined
Structured
Utilized

Below are some example bullet points:

Compiled over 500 case files and organized them by client, date of accident, and severity of injuries.
Expedited the resolution of over 100 cases by writing demand letters to insurance companies and filing lawsuits in a timely manner.
Independently assessed each case to determine the best course of action and represented clients in court when necessary.
Assessed liability issues, gathered evidence, interviewed witnesses, and negotiated settlements on behalf of clients.
Represented clients at mediations, arbitrations, trials, and other hearings as needed.

Presented cases to insurance company representatives, negotiated settlements and represented clients in court when necessary.
Reliably secured favorable outcomes for over 90% of cases tried, earning a reputation as one of the top personal injury attorneys in the area.
Settled an average of 12 cases per month outside of court, saving clients time and money while still securing maximum compensation possible.
Structured creative payment plans that worked around clients’ budget constraints so they could afford legal representation despite their financial situation.
Mediated between conflicting parties on over 50 occasions, preventing costly and time-consuming litigation proceedings whenever possible.

Streamlined the claims process for 100+ clients, saving an average of $1,500 per case and reducing the time spent on each claim by 30%.
Optimized the collection of evidence and documentation required to build a strong case, resulting in a success rate of 85% for all cases handled.
Advocated on behalf of clients in court, negotiating settlements that were significantly higher than the initial offer in 50% of cases.
Successfully represented clients in 5 jury trials, achieving a favorable outcome in 4 out of 5 cases.
Facilitated communication between clients and insurance companies/opposing counsels to reach an amicable resolution outside of court whenever possible.

Filed 50+ personal injury claims per month, ensuring that all paperwork was completed correctly and in a timely manner.
Prepared cases for trial by conducting extensive research, writing legal briefs and developing strategies to win favorable outcomes for clients.
Meticulously reviewed police reports, medical records and eyewitness statements to investigate the facts of each case and identify potential liability issues.
Defended clients at pretrial hearings, mediations and settlement conferences, as well as during jury trials when necessary; achieved positive results in 85% of all cases handled.
Advised clients on their rights and options according to state laws, helping them to make informed decisions about whether or not to pursue legal action.

Investigated over 500 personal injury claims and gathered evidence to support each case.
Negotiated with insurance companies and opposing counsels to reach settlements in over 70% of cases, saving clients an average of $15,000 per case in legal fees.
Arbitrated 20+ cases before a judge or mediator and helped clients recover over $2 million in damages.
Actively managed a caseload of 50+ open cases at any given time while maintaining a 97% success rate.
Litigated 30+ cases in state and federal court and recovered over $5 million in damages for clients through jury verdicts or settlement agreements.

Formulated winning strategies and provided expert legal counsel to clients in order to secure maximum settlements in personal injury cases.
Mentored junior associates on effective case management, client relations and courtroom procedures.
Introduced a new e-filing system that cut down on processing time by 30%.
Processed an average of 50 new cases per month, ensuring that each one received the necessary attention and care.
Efficiently managed a caseload of active files, keeping meticulous records and updating clients regularly on the status of their claims.

Accurately drafted and filed over 200 legal documents per month, including complaints, summonses, subpoenas and motions.
Obtained a 90% success rate in winning personal injury cases through strong negotiation skills and extensive knowledge of state law; increased annual settlements by $250,000 on average.
Improved client communication by implementing a new case management system that allowed for real-time updates on the status of each file; reduced number of inquires by 30%.
Researched precedents and gathered evidence to support clients’ claims; utilized expert witnesses in 10% of cases which resulted in an increase in the likelihood of winning by 2%.

3. Skills

The skills section of your resume should be tailored to the specific job that you are applying for. The requirements will differ from employer to employer – some may want candidates who are proficient in negotiation and mediation, while others might prefer those with trial experience.

It is essential to keep this in mind because of the applicant tracking systems utilized by many companies. Their role is to analyze resumes for certain characteristics (such as specific keywords), filtering out the ones they deem not to be a high-quality match for that particular job.

Once listed here, you can further elaborate on your skillset by discussing it in more detail in other areas, such as the summary or experience section.

Below is a list of common skills & terms:

Arbitration
Case Management
Client Relations
Depositions
Legal Research
Litigation
Mediation
Personal Injury Law
Trial Practice

4. Education

Including an education section on your resume depends on how much experience you have. If you just graduated and have no prior experience, mention your education below your resume objective. However, if you have years of experience as a personal injury attorney, omitting the education section is perfectly fine.

If an education section is included, mention courses relevant to the personal injury attorney role you are applying for. For example, “Courses focused on tort law, civil procedure and constitutional law.”

Juris Doctor
Educational Institution XYZ
Nov 2011

5. Certifications

Certifications show that you have taken the time and effort to develop your skills in a particular area. This can be very useful in impressing potential employers, as they will see that you are not only knowledgeable but also committed to your chosen field.

If you have any relevant certifications, make sure to include them prominently on your resume.

Board Certified in Civil Trial Advocacy
National Board of Trial Advocacy
May 2017

6. Contact Info

Your name should be the first thing a reader sees when viewing your resume, so ensure its positioning is prominent. Your phone number should be written in the most commonly used format in your country/city/state, and your email address should be professional.

You can also choose to include a link to your LinkedIn profile, personal website, or other online platforms relevant to your industry.

Finally, name your resume file appropriately to help hiring managers; for Hazel Streich, this would be Hazel-Streich-resume.pdf or Hazel-Streich-resume.docx.

7. Cover Letter

Writing a cover letter is an opportunity to elaborate on your resume and showcase your skills, experiences and personality. It should be around 2 to 4 paragraphs long, and include information that doesn’t necessarily need to be in your resume.

Most job postings don’t require a cover letter, but submitting one anyway is highly recommended. By taking the time to write a well-crafted letter, you’re increasing your chances of impressing the hiring manager and getting called in for an interview.

Below is an example cover letter:

Dear Gino,

I am writing in response to your ad for a personal injury attorney. With more than 10 years of experience working as an attorney, I have the skills and knowledge to successfully represent your clients and win cases.

In my current position at [law firm name], I have represented many clients who have been injured due to the negligence of others. I have a proven track record of success in negotiating settlements and winning jury trials. My extensive experience has made me well-versed in all aspects of personal injury law, including medical malpractice, car accidents, slip and fall accidents, and product liability cases.

I am passionate about fighting for the rights of those who have been wrongfully injured, and I would be honored to put my skills to work for your firm. I am confident that I can obtain favorable outcomes for your clients and contribute to the success of your firm.

Please find attached a copy of my resume for your review. I can be reached anytime via email at [email address] or by phone at [phone number]. Thank you for your time and consideration; I look forward to hearing from you soon!

Sincerely,

Hazel