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Trial attorney skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025
3 min read
Quoted experts
Jason Cieslik,
James Tomaszewski
Below we've compiled a list of the most critical trial attorney skills. We ranked the top skills for trial attorneys based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 20.6% of trial attorney resumes contained litigation as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a trial attorney needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 trial attorney skills for your resume and career

1. Litigation

Here's how trial attorneys use litigation:
  • Complied with litigation plans/procedures and reporting requirements implemented by State Farm, American International Group, Nationwide and Risk Enterprise Management.
  • Lead trial attorney in general practice litigation firm managing a diverse portfolio of cases representing individuals faced with difficult legal problems.

3. Property Damage

Property damage is the destruction or damage of tangible personal property. Property damage can be caused by negligence, irresponsible handling of the property, willful destruction, or any other destructure act of nature.

Here's how trial attorneys use property damage:
  • Represented developers, homeowners, condominium associations, retailers, and commercial property clients for property damage lawsuits.
  • Represented insureds in defense of moderate to high exposure bodily injury and property damage claims.

6. Civil Litigation

Civil litigation is a legal process that is followed when a non-criminal legal dispute occurs between two parties. Such a legal process does not involve any criminal charges or penalties. The plaintiffs in such cases only seek compensation for the damages done by the defendants.

Here's how trial attorneys use civil litigation:
  • Represented federal agencies and federal employees in their official capacities in civil litigation.
  • Practice also involved criminal defense and other general civil litigation.

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7. Appeals

Here's how trial attorneys use appeals:
  • Researched and drafted numerous criminal appeals and performed oral arguments in defense thereof.
  • Participated and argued Appeals and post-verdict negotiations.

8. Arbitration

Here's how trial attorneys use arbitration:
  • Participated in all dispute resolution forums including mediation, binding and non-binding arbitration and settlement conferences.
  • Participated in numerous mediation and arbitration hearings with excellent results, including trial preparation and representation.

9. PIP

Here's how trial attorneys use pip:
  • Developed strong knowledge of PIP law.
  • Handled BI, UM/UIM and PIP matters.

10. Bodily Injury

Here's how trial attorneys use bodily injury:
  • Provide legal defense for insureds and corporation in higher exposure bodily injury actions in Connecticut and Massachusetts courts.
  • Defended insurers, corporations and individuals against higher exposure bodily injury claims.

11. Plaintiff

Here's how trial attorneys use plaintiff:
  • Drafted motions and successfully defeated plaintiff's well-argued but ill-taken Motion for Summary Adjudication.
  • Secured defense verdict in trucking accident case where Plaintiff alleged that trucking company driver was responsible for damages to totaled vehicle.

13. District Court

Here's how trial attorneys use district court:
  • Managed attorneys litigating employment discrimination cases in federal district court.
  • Prosecuted all varieties and classifications of crime before the magistrate and district courts of San Juan County, New Mexico.

14. Law Firm

Here's how trial attorneys use law firm:
  • Owned, operated and managed the biggest solo practice law firm in Western Maryland for almost a decade.
  • Gained and retained 100+ new clients for this respected boutique law firm, doubling profits in 4 years.

15. Oral Arguments

Here's how trial attorneys use oral arguments:
  • Appeared at specialty hearings including 50H hearings, DMV compliance hearings, framed issue hearings and oral arguments on various motions.
  • Drafted pleadings and motions, attended and argued oral arguments in Superior and Federal Courts across the state.
top-skills

What skills help Trial Attorneys find jobs?

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

What skills stand out on trial attorney resumes?

Jason CieslikJason Cieslik LinkedIn profile

Assistant Professor & Academic Advisor of Legal Studies, Illinois State University

Proofread, proofread, proofread! This is one absolute that the pandemic has not changed. The legal profession places a high value on written communication. Grammatical mistakes are an easy way to guarantee that you will not receive an opportunity to interview.
Since many employers are permitting their employees to work from home, the resume should demonstrate the ability to be a self-starter, ability to resolve a problem on their own, and computer literacy. Legal professionals that have training in specific legal technology platforms should make sure they emphasize those skills on their resume. Most ABA Approved Paralegal Programs require their students to take a course in legal technology. These skills should be emphasized, especially if they are going to be expected to work from home. On the flip side, employers should be as specific as possible in their job advertisements as to what qualities and skills they are seeking in a future employee.

When applying for any legal position, the applicant should modify their resume to the job that they are applying for, emphasizing the skills and qualities that the employer is seeking. Obviously, no applicant should stretch the truth, because those "facts" will eventually become exposed. Thus, if an applicant were applying for a position as a litigation paralegal, the applicant should emphasize the discovery experience they obtained during their internship, as opposed to their familiarity with probate law.

What soft skills should all trial attorneys 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 trial attorneys?

James Tomaszewski

Director of the Center for Professional Development, University of Cincinnati

Excellent writing skills.

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

Hanna Royce

Assistant Dean of Career Services, University of New Hampshire Franklin Pierce School of Law

The key to success is to add new and relevant legal experience to their resume. If graduates are not taking on full-time roles, this could mean completing document review or project work on a contract basis.

List of trial attorney skills to add to your resume

Trial attorney skills

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

  • Litigation
  • Legal Research
  • Property Damage
  • Legal Advice
  • Legal Issues
  • Civil Litigation
  • Appeals
  • Arbitration
  • PIP
  • Bodily Injury
  • Plaintiff
  • Legal Opinions
  • District Court
  • Law Firm
  • Oral Arguments
  • Motion Practice
  • Jury Trials
  • Insurance Defense Litigation
  • Premises Liability
  • Criminal Cases
  • DUI
  • Settlement Negotiations
  • Strong Negotiation
  • Federal Courts
  • Complex Litigation
  • General Liability
  • Court Appearances
  • Commercial Litigation
  • Subpoenas
  • Federal Agencies
  • Securities
  • Criminal Litigation
  • Injury Claims
  • Labor Law
  • Real Estate
  • Administrative Hearings
  • Settlement Agreements
  • Post-Trial Motions
  • Bench Trials
  • Criminal Law
  • Employment Law
  • Criminal Defense
  • Insurance Coverage
  • Family Law
  • Medical Malpractice
  • Wrongful Death
  • Civil Cases
  • Construction Defect

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.