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Judge skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025
3 min read
Quoted Experts
James Tomaszewski,
James Tomaszewski
Below we've compiled a list of the most critical judge skills. We ranked the top skills for judges based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 18.2% of judge resumes contained legal issues as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a judge needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 judge skills for your resume and career

2. Civil Law

Here's how judges use civil law:
  • Assisted with drafting opinions on civil law topics with a focus on commercial litigation.
  • Prepared legal opinions on Commanders' proposed actions and enforcement of civil laws.

3. International Law

International law refers to the set of governmental rules and regulations followed by a foreign country. In jobs where collaboration with other countries is required, e.g., in aviation-related jobs or import/exports, international law knowledge is essential. One must respect the country's law they are residing in, visiting, or working together. Most countries are strict about their rules, and if you break international law, the authorities can fine or even charge you.

Here's how judges use international law:
  • Served as international law advisor to the International/Operational law Division supporting sub-Saharan Africa.
  • Advise commanding officers regarding domestic operations, fiscal law, rules of engagement, and international law.

5. Defense Counsel

A defence attorney is a counsel representing the defendant in a criminal prosecution or lawsuit. A defence attorney aims to solve court cases as swiftly and satisfactorily as possible. Client representations at arraignments, hearings, and court trials along with preparing and drafting legal documents, including legal briefs and appeals is all part of their job description. They are responsible for presenting convincing evidence to a jury and/or judge if the case goes to trial.

Here's how judges use defense counsel:
  • Supported Area Defense Counsel function as case paralegal for numerous criminal and administrative proceedings.
  • Served as defense counsel before courts-martial and administrative discipline hearings.

6. Trial Counsel

Here's how judges use trial counsel:
  • Lead Trial Counsel for prosecution of major felony-level criminal trials including fraud, sexual assaults and drug cases.
  • Served as a trial counsel for a brigade and prosecuted 10 felony trials.

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7. Pre-Trial Conferences

Here's how judges use pre-trial conferences:
  • Attended settlement negotiations at pre-trial conferences.
  • Observed Daily Courtroom Procedures, such as Motion Calls, Status, Settlement and Pre-Trial Conferences, Trials and Sentencing Hearings.

9. Court Proceedings

Here's how judges use court proceedings:
  • Attended and observed federal and state court proceedings, and participated in sentencing conferences
  • Observed court proceedings involving criminal and civil litigation.

11. Criminal Cases

A criminal case is a court proceeding in which a person is charged with committing a crime against the state or the community. Such individuals are brought for trials, to decide they are guilty or not. There are two kinds of criminal cases misdemeanors and felonies. A misdemeanor is a crime on a lower level like traffic offenses or minor assaults. While felonies are offenses on a higher level.

Here's how judges use criminal cases:
  • Assisted defendants with criminal cases for defensive driving and deferred disposition.
  • Conducted depositions for deploying personnel in criminal cases.

12. Criminal Law

Here's how judges use criminal law:
  • Researched several criminal law topics, especially the law and science of eyewitness identifications
  • Reviewed and researched criminal law motions for accuracy.

13. Administrative Law

Here's how judges use administrative law:
  • Investigated and prepared endorsements on staff employment, aviation mishaps, equal opportunity, and administrative law.
  • Provided legal advice on all aspects of military operations, military justice and administrative law.

15. District Court

Here's how judges use district court:
  • Performed and completed other duties as assigned within the Office of the Staff Judge Advocate and the U. S. District Courthouse.
  • Prepared bench briefs, research, memorandums, and draft orders for District Court Judge and his staff.
top-skills

What skills help Judges find jobs?

Tell us what job you are looking for, we’ll show you what skills employers want.

What skills stand out on Judge resumes?

James Tomaszewski

Director of the Center for Professional Development, University of Cincinnati

Demonstrated commitment to a particular practice area, especially experiential learning opportunities such as externships and clinics.

What soft skills should all Judges possess?

James Tomaszewski

Director of the Center for Professional Development, University of Cincinnati

Engagement, Resilience, Responsiveness, Respectfulness, Integrity.

What hard/technical skills are most important for Judges?

James Tomaszewski

Director of the Center for Professional Development, University of Cincinnati

Excellent writing skills.

What Judge skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?

Kimberly DasseKimberly Dasse LinkedIn Profile

Assistant Professor, University of North Dakota

By taking the steps I have outlined above, new entrants will set themselves up for success by finding the right roles for themselves and developing valued skills.

List of judge skills to add to your resume

Judge Skills

The most important skills for a judge resume and required skills for a judge to have include:

  • Legal Issues
  • Civil Law
  • International Law
  • Legal Services
  • Defense Counsel
  • Trial Counsel
  • Pre-Trial Conferences
  • Legal Research
  • Court Proceedings
  • Legal Assistance
  • Criminal Cases
  • Criminal Law
  • Administrative Law
  • Legal Memoranda
  • District Court
  • Court Orders
  • Legal Advice
  • Family Law
  • Oral Arguments
  • Law Enforcement
  • Civil Cases
  • Legal Intern
  • Jury Trials
  • Summary Judgment
  • Legal Opinions
  • Real Estate
  • Windows
  • Settlement Conferences
  • Judicial Opinions
  • Contract Law
  • Estate Planning
  • Legal Support
  • Circuit Court
  • Cross-Referencing
  • Court Cases
  • FOIA
  • Motion Hearings
  • Court Hearings
  • Domestic Violence
  • Criminal Trials
  • Fiscal Law
  • Voir Dire

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.