The Ultimate Guide to Legal Resume Keywords and Practice Area Targeting | BCGSearch.com

The Ultimate Guide to Legal Resume Keywords and Practice Area Targeting

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In today's hyper-competitive legal job market, positioning yourself as a specialist rather than a generalist is crucial for landing interviews and advancing your career. This comprehensive guide draws from extensive placement data to help you identify the most promising legal practice areas based on your background, experience, and interests. It outlines which areas to target, which to avoid, and provides targeted keywords to incorporate into your resume. By tailoring your resume with these insights, you'll stand out to recruiters and hiring partners at law firms, who prioritize attorneys with demonstrated expertise in niche areas.
The Ultimate Guide to Legal Resume Keywords and Practice Area Targeting

 

 List of Practice Areas

 

 

Why Keywords Matter in Your Legal Resume: Avoiding Common Pitfalls for Career Success


Incorporating the right keywords into your legal resume isn't just a best practice—it's essential for survival in a field where over 85% of attorney resumes fail to make an impact. Drawing from insights in career resources like Why Over 85% of Attorney Resumes Are Failing—and How to Fix Yours Now and Top 10 Career Mistakes Lateral Attorneys Make—and How to Avoid Them for a Thriving Law Firm Career, here’s why keywords are critical and how to optimize them:
 
  • Specialization is Key in a Specialist-Driven Market: Law firms seek attorneys who excel in specific practice areas, not generalists. As noted in the articles, one of the top mistakes you can make as a lateral attorney is failing to specialize early, leading to resumes that appear unfocused. Keywords signal your expertise—e.g., "Chapter 11 reorganization" for bankruptcy specialists—helping you avoid being dismissed as a "jack-of-all-trades." Without them, your resume risks being overlooked, as firms prioritize those whose skills align precisely with open roles.
     
  • Beating Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) and Recruiter Screens: Many large firms and legal recruiters use software to scan resumes for keywords before a human ever sees them. If your resume lacks terms like "HSR filing" for antitrust mergers, it may never advance. The failing resumes article highlights how poor keyword optimization causes resumes to be filtered out, even for qualified attorneys. Optimize by mirroring job descriptions: Research postings on sites like LinkedIn or firm careers pages, and weave in exact phrases naturally.
     
  • Demonstrating Achievements and Fit: Keywords aren't just buzzwords—they tie into quantifiable successes. A common mistake is listing duties without impact (e.g., "handled cases" vs. "secured merger clearance under Clayton Act for $500M deal"). Use keywords to showcase specialization, as emphasized in the career mistakes guide, where not tailoring resumes to firm needs ranks high among errors. This boosts SEO for your LinkedIn profile or online resume, making you discoverable in searches like "antitrust litigation attorney keywords" or "bankruptcy resume optimization."
     
  • SEO Optimization for Your Resume and Online Presence: To rank higher in recruiter searches, treat your resume like SEO content. Include long-tail keywords (e.g., "antitrust merger review keywords for legal resumes") and variations. Update your LinkedIn with these terms, as recruiters often search there first. Avoid overstuffing—aim for 5-10 relevant keywords per section—to prevent ATS rejection for spam.
     
  • Avoiding Career-Stalling Mistakes: Lateral moves fail when resumes don't highlight transferable skills via keywords, per the articles. For instance, generalists struggle in niche markets, while specialists command higher salaries. Tailor for each application: A bankruptcy-focused resume might emphasize "debtor-in-possession financing," but switch to "creditor committee" for creditor rights roles.

By fixing these issues—specializing, keyword-optimizing, and tailoring—you'll increase interview rates dramatically. Use tools like Jobscan to analyze your resume against job postings for better matches. For quick tips: Focus on action verbs, quantify achievements, and keep your resume to 1-2 pages.

 


Action Verbs for Your Legal Resume


To make your achievements stand out, start each bullet point with strong action verbs. Drawing from resources like those from Yale Law School, here is a comprehensive list of recommended action verbs to incorporate into your resume descriptions: accomplished, achieved, administered, advised, analyzed, arranged, assessed, authored, compiled, conducted, constructed, coordinated, corresponded, counseled, created, designed, determined, developed, devised, directed, drafted, edited, established, evaluated, formed, guided, implemented, improved, initiated, instituted, instructed, investigated, led, managed, negotiated, organized, performed, planned, prepared, presented, produced, provided, recorded, represented, researched, reviewed, revised, served, solved, studied, trained, updated..

 

Detailed Practice Area Classifications

 TOP

Alcohol Beverage Law

1. Alcohol Beverage Law
Select If: You advise breweries, wineries, distilleries, or alcohol distributors on regulatory, licensing, or compliance matters. You handle matters before the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) or state alcohol control boards. Your experience includes distribution agreements, label approvals, or tied-house laws.
Avoid If: You mention alcohol law in passing without specific legal tasks. You have only general hospitality or restaurant law experience without alcohol-specific matters.
Your Resume Should Contain These Keywords To Stand Out: TTB, label approval, tied-house, alcohol licensing, alcohol distribution, craft brewery compliance, liquor law, alcohol permits, ABC board, state liquor authority, distillery regulation, alcohol tax law

 TOP

Antitrust and Competition Law

2. Antitrust and Competition
Select If: You work on matters involving competition, price fixing, market allocation, or monopolistic practices. You handle government investigations (FTC, DOJ Antitrust Division) or provide antitrust counseling for mergers.
Avoid If: You have only general corporate or litigation experience without reference to antitrust or competition law. You mention compliance generically without antitrust-specific duties.
Your Resume Should Contain These Keywords To Stand Out: Sherman Act, Clayton Act, FTC, DOJ Antitrust, price fixing, monopoly, cartel, antitrust merger review, market dominance, exclusive dealing, horizontal agreement, vertical restraint, antitrust compliance

3. Antitrust and Competition – General
Select If: You work in antitrust law across multiple domains (litigation, regulatory, compliance, transactions). Your resume lacks specific detail to classify under a narrower antitrust subcategory.
Avoid If: Your work clearly focuses on either litigation or M&A, which should be classified more specifically.
Your Resume Should Contain These Keywords To Stand Out: antitrust, competition law, restraint of trade, anti-competitive conduct, FTC compliance, market concentration, dominance, merger clearance, antitrust due diligence

4. Antitrust and Competition – Mergers and Acquisitions (Corporate)
Select If: You advise on merger filings, HSR Act compliance, or antitrust aspects of M&A transactions. Your experience includes coordinating with competition authorities in cross-border M&A.
Avoid If: You have only litigation or investigatory experience without M&A deal work. You are only involved in corporate work unrelated to antitrust concerns.
Your Resume Should Contain These Keywords To Stand Out: HSR filing, merger clearance, premerger notification, second request, antitrust due diligence, FTC merger review, EU competition filing, gun-jumping, concentration filing, merger control

5. Antitrust and Competition – Litigation and Investigations
Select If: You represent clients in antitrust litigation, including class actions, cartel investigations, or monopolization cases. Your experience includes responding to civil investigative demands (CIDs) or subpoenas from DOJ or FTC.
Avoid If: You only handle compliance or transactional antitrust work. You have no litigation-specific duties described.
Your Resume Should Contain These Keywords To Stand Out: cartel defense, price fixing litigation, bid rigging, civil investigative demand, antitrust subpoena, class action, Section 1 Sherman Act, Section 2 Sherman Act, antitrust investigation, DOJ Antitrust Division, FTC enforcement, antitrust trial, antitrust damages

 TOP

Art & Museum Law

6. Art & Museum Law
Select If: You handle matters involving art transactions, provenance, museum governance, or art lending. Your experience includes representation of artists, galleries, or cultural institutions.
Avoid If: You mention copyright or trademark only without art-sector relevance. You have general IP or entertainment law without museum/art focus.
Your Resume Should Contain These Keywords To Stand Out: provenance, art fraud, museum law, restitution, deaccessioning, cultural property, artist rights, gallery agreement, art appraisal dispute, art foundation, art insurance

7. Art & Museum Law – General
Select If: You advise broadly on art-related matters but no specific litigation or transactional detail provided.
Avoid If: Your work is clearly transactional or litigation and can be classified under more specific art subcategory.
Your Resume Should Contain These Keywords To Stand Out: art law, fine art, cultural institution, art market, art collection, museum compliance, art authentication, artist representation

8. Art & Museum Law – Litigation Transactional
Select If: You litigate art-related disputes or negotiate contracts for art sales, museum loans, or copyright issues.
Avoid If: You have no direct litigation or contract negotiation involving the art world.
Your Resume Should Contain These Keywords To Stand Out: title dispute, art sale agreement, art litigation, museum loan agreement, art consignment, gallery dispute, stolen artwork, art settlement, IP in art context

 TOP

Bankruptcy Law

9. Bankruptcy
Select If: You work in bankruptcy-related matters for individuals, businesses, or creditors. This includes filings, restructuring, adversary proceedings, or debtor-creditor negotiations.
Avoid If: You have only tangential involvement with bankruptcy matters (e.g., contract drafting during restructuring).
Your Resume Should Contain These Keywords To Stand Out: Chapter 7, Chapter 11, Chapter 13, debtor, creditor, bankruptcy trustee, reorganization, automatic stay, bankruptcy court, plan of reorganization, 341 meeting, preference action

10. Bankruptcy – Creditors Rights
Select If: You represent banks, lenders, landlords, or vendors asserting claims in bankruptcy. Your experience includes lifting stay motions, asserting liens, or negotiating creditor treatment.
Avoid If: You have only debtor-side experience or general restructuring without specific creditor advocacy.
Your Resume Should Contain These Keywords To Stand Out: secured creditor, creditor claim, relief from stay, collateral recovery, proof of claim, UCC lien, creditor committee, loan workout, bankruptcy enforcement

 TOP

Construction Law

11. Construction
Select If: You represent clients in construction-related transactions or disputes. Your experience includes advising developers, contractors, architects, or owners on construction law issues.
Avoid If: Your experience is limited to general real estate or contract law without construction context. Your focus is purely on insurance or product liability for construction-related materials without broader construction law involvement.
Your Resume Should Contain These Keywords To Stand Out: construction contracts, mechanic’s lien, construction defect, contractor agreements, general contractor, subcontractor disputes, delay claims, design defect, construction project management, OSHA, building codes, construction litigation, construction arbitration

 TOP

Corporate Law

12. Corporate
Select If: You provide legal advice to corporations on governance, compliance, and general business matters. You work with business entities on legal structure, formation, and strategic legal support.
Avoid If: Your experience is entirely litigation-focused with no business/corporate support work. You have only regulatory or government representation unrelated to private sector business.
Your Resume Should Contain These Keywords To Stand Out: corporate governance, entity formation, shareholder agreements, corporate resolutions, board counsel, SEC filings, corporate compliance, business formation

 TOP

Criminal Law - Defense

13. Criminal Law - Defense
Select If: You defend individuals or corporations in criminal investigations, charges, or trial matters. Your experience includes white-collar defense, federal criminal practice, or indigent defense.
Avoid If: You have prosecutorial background only or civil enforcement unless white-collar related. You have immigration or regulatory law unless tied to criminal exposure.
Your Resume Should Contain These Keywords To Stand Out: criminal defense, indictment, plea bargain, sentencing, white collar crime, federal court, public defender, felony, misdemeanor, habeas corpus, grand jury, FBI investigation, DOJ, arraignment
 TOP

Data Privacy Law

14. Data Privacy
Select If: You counsel clients on data protection laws (e.g., GDPR, CCPA), data breach response, or compliance programs. Your experience includes advising on cybersecurity policies or global privacy frameworks.
Avoid If: You have general IP, regulatory, or tech experience with no focus on privacy law. You have litigation-only profiles without policy or compliance experience.
Your Resume Should Contain These Keywords To Stand Out: GDPR, CCPA, data breach, incident response, privacy policy, PII, HIPAA, data transfer agreement, cybersecurity, privacy shield, data retention, data protection impact assessment, DPF, information governance
 TOP

Education Law

15. Education
Select If: You represent schools, students, or districts in regulatory, litigation, or compliance matters. This involves education policy, Title IX, or ADA/504 accommodations.
Avoid If: You have only employment law unless specifically involving schools or universities. You have no mention of education sector clients or issues.
Your Resume Should Contain These Keywords To Stand Out: Title IX, FERPA, student discipline, 504 plan, IEP, school board, charter school, higher education law, education compliance, Title VI, civil rights in education, campus safety
 TOP

Energy and Oil & Gas Law

16. Energy and Oil & Gas - General
Select If: You handle a range of oil, gas, or broader energy regulatory, transactional, or environmental matters. Your work involves upstream, midstream, or downstream energy clients.
Avoid If: Your work is limited to unrelated corporate sectors without energy involvement. Your experience focuses only on environmental law unrelated to energy.
Your Resume Should Contain These Keywords To Stand Out: oil & gas regulation, FERC, pipeline, drilling rights, mineral leases, upstream, midstream, downstream, refining, energy policy
 TOP

Entertainment and New Media Law

17. Entertainment and New Media
Select If: You work with clients in entertainment, music, television, film, or digital media sectors.
Avoid If: Your experience is limited to unrelated intellectual property or general corporate law.
Your Resume Should Contain These Keywords To Stand Out: TV deal, streaming rights, film finance, entertainment contract, music licensing, production counsel, studio agreement
 TOP

Gaming Law

18. Gaming Law
Select If: You practice in video gaming, gambling, casino regulation, or interactive gaming legal issues.
Avoid If: You have general entertainment work unrelated to gaming. You have no regulatory or compliance experience in the gaming sector.
Your Resume Should Contain These Keywords To Stand Out: casino compliance, online gambling regulation, loot box legality, sports betting law, game developer licensing, fantasy sports regulation
 TOP

Immigration Law

19. Immigration
Select If: You handle a range of U.S. immigration matters including employment, family, asylum, or removal defense.
Avoid If: You have international law without clear U.S. immigration practice. You have corporate work for foreign entities not involving U.S. immigration procedures.
Your Resume Should Contain These Keywords To Stand Out: USCIS, H-1B, green card, EB-5, naturalization, adjustment of status, I-140, I-485, visa processing, deportation defense
 TOP

Information Technology Law

20. Information Technology
Select If: You advise clients on software agreements, IT infrastructure contracts, SaaS, cloud, or related issues.
Avoid If: You have general tech experience without specific IT contractual or compliance elements.
Your Resume Should Contain These Keywords To Stand Out: SaaS agreement, cloud contract, IT services agreement, information security legal, outsourcing counsel, software licensing
 TOP

Insurance Law

21. Insurance
Select If: You are involved in advising or litigating on behalf of insurers or policyholders in a non-specific context.
Avoid If: You have only product liability or PI defense with no insurance reference. You have general commercial litigation without mention of insurance policies.
Your Resume Should Contain These Keywords To Stand Out: policy coverage, insurance law, claim denial, insurer, insured, insurance compliance
 TOP

Litigation – Real Estate Law

22. Litigation – Real Estate
Select If: You handle disputes involving real estate transactions, contracts, or development. Your experience includes landlord-tenant disputes, title claims, or zoning appeals.
Avoid If: You have transactional real estate work only. You have no litigation experience indicated.
Your Resume Should Contain These Keywords To Stand Out: real estate dispute, landlord-tenant litigation, property litigation, title defect suit, ejectment, zoning appeal, real estate fraud, quiet title action
 TOP

Litigation – Securities Litigation

23. Litigation – Securities Litigation
Select If: You handle disputes involving alleged securities fraud, misrepresentation, or breaches of fiduciary duty related to stocks, bonds, or other investments. Your experience includes SEC enforcement actions or private securities class actions.
Avoid If: You have only experience with securities compliance or transactional securities work (e.g., IPOs, 10-K filings).
Your Resume Should Contain These Keywords To Stand Out: securities fraud, Rule 10b-5, class action, stock fraud, insider trading, SEC litigation, misrepresentation, investment fraud, breach of fiduciary duty
 TOP

Litigation – Supreme Court

24. Litigation – Supreme Court
Select If: You have experience briefing or arguing cases before the U.S. Supreme Court or state supreme courts.
Avoid If: You have only lower court litigation experience without appellate or supreme court involvement.
Your Resume Should Contain These Keywords To Stand Out: certiorari, Supreme Court brief, oral argument, appellate litigation, SCOTUS, constitutional challenge
 TOP

Litigation – Tax

25. Litigation – Tax
Select If: You litigate disputes with tax authorities, including IRS or state tax agencies, on behalf of individuals or entities.
Avoid If: You only handle tax planning or transactional tax matters.
Your Resume Should Contain These Keywords To Stand Out: tax litigation, IRS dispute, tax controversy, audit appeal, tax court, state tax dispute
 TOP

Litigation – Technology and Software Disputes

26. Litigation – Technology and Software Disputes
Select If: You litigate disputes involving software licensing, data breaches, IT contracts, or technology service failures.
Avoid If: You have only transactional technology experience or no litigation background.
Your Resume Should Contain These Keywords To Stand Out: software litigation, tech contract dispute, IT failure, source code dispute, licensing breach, SaaS litigation
 TOP

Litigation – Trusts & Estates

27. Litigation – Trusts & Estates
Select If: You litigate matters involving disputes over wills, trusts, fiduciary breaches, or inheritance claims. Your experience includes probate court litigation or contested estate matters.
Avoid If: You practice only estate planning or administration without litigation. You have no fiduciary or inheritance dispute involvement.
Your Resume Should Contain These Keywords To Stand Out: trust litigation, will contest, fiduciary duty, probate court, inheritance dispute
 TOP

Litigation – Whistleblower

28. Litigation – Whistleblower
Select If: You represent clients reporting corporate or government misconduct under federal or state whistleblower statutes.
Avoid If: You have general employment disputes unrelated to protected whistleblower actions.
Your Resume Should Contain These Keywords To Stand Out: qui tam, False Claims Act, whistleblower retaliation, SEC whistleblower, whistleblower complaint
 TOP

Litigation – White Collar Crime & Government Investigations

29. Litigation – White Collar Crime & Government Investigations
Select If: You handle criminal or civil investigations involving corporate or government wrongdoing. Your experience includes DOJ, SEC, or internal investigations.
Avoid If: You have only minor or unrelated criminal law experience without white-collar focus.
Your Resume Should Contain These Keywords To Stand Out: white collar defense, FCPA, insider trading, internal investigations, grand jury, SEC subpoena, DOJ investigation
 TOP
Litigation – Workers' Compensation
30. Litigation – Workers' Compensation
Select If: You litigate disputes related to workplace injuries and compensation claims.
Avoid If: You have general employment law experience without focus on workers' comp litigation.
Your Resume Should Contain These Keywords To Stand Out: workers' comp hearing, WCAB, industrial injury, permanent disability claim, workers’ compensation board
 TOP

Municipal Law

31. Municipal Law
Select If: You advise or litigate on behalf of municipal governments or public agencies. This involves drafting ordinances, public contracts, or advising city councils or county boards.
Avoid If: You work for state or federal government only. You have no experience with city, county, or local agency matters.
Your Resume Should Contain These Keywords To Stand Out: municipal law, city attorney, county counsel, public agency representation, local ordinances, municipal litigation, zoning board, city council legal advisor
 TOP

Native American Law

32. Native American Law
Select If: You work with tribal governments, sovereignty, Indian gaming, or indigenous land rights.
Avoid If: You have general public law experience without tribal or indigenous law relevance.
Your Resume Should Contain These Keywords To Stand Out: tribal law, BIA, Indian gaming, tribal sovereignty, reservation law
 TOP

Nonprofit / Charities Law

33. Nonprofit / Charities Law
Select If: You counsel nonprofit organizations on tax exemption, formation, governance, and compliance.
Avoid If: Your focus is on for-profit entities or unrelated corporate work.
Your Resume Should Contain These Keywords To Stand Out: 501(c)(3), nonprofit formation, IRS Form 990, charitable trust, public charity
 TOP

Real Estate Law

34. Real Estate – Commercial Transactions
Select If: You draft, negotiate, and close commercial real estate transactions. Your experience includes office buildings, industrial properties, or retail leases.
Avoid If: You exclusively handle residential deals or only litigate commercial issues. You lack hands-on experience with purchase/sale agreements.
Your Resume Should Contain These Keywords To Stand Out: commercial lease, triple net lease, property purchase agreement, commercial development, real estate finance, title review
 TOP

Transportation Law

35. Transportation
Select If: You handle matters involving railroads, airlines, maritime law, logistics regulation, or motor carrier compliance. This references DOT, FAA, FMC, or similar regulatory bodies.
Avoid If: Your experience is limited to personal injury or general litigation with no transportation regulatory angle. You mention transit in non-legal context (e.g., logistics operations).
Your Resume Should Contain These Keywords To Stand Out: FAA, DOT, FMC, maritime regulation, transportation law, rail safety, air carrier compliance, shipping logistics, freight litigation
 TOP

Trusts and Estates Law

36. Trusts and Estates – General
Select If: You have experience drafting wills, trusts, and estate plans or handling probate and related matters. This mentions general estate administration or fiduciary representation.
Avoid If: You are only involved in litigation or elder law without core estate planning. You have no clear experience in wills/trusts/probate or estate structuring.
Your Resume Should Contain These Keywords To Stand Out: will drafting, estate planning, revocable trust, executor services, inheritance plan, legacy planning, trust administration
 TOP

Workers' Compensation Law

37. Workers' Compensation Law
Select If: You practice in the field of workers' compensation law (either defense or claimant side).
Avoid If: Your resume contains only general employment law without WC specialization.
Your Resume Should Contain These Keywords To Stand Out: workers’ comp, WCAB, temporary disability, permanent disability, comp claim
 TOP

Advertising & Marketing Law

38. Advertising & Marketing
Select If: You provide legal guidance on advertising regulations, promotional campaigns, or consumer protection compliance.
Avoid If: General commercial or IP work without specific advertising law reference.
Your Resume Should Contain These Keywords To Stand Out: FTC compliance, false advertising, endorsement agreement, sweepstakes, promotions law
 TOP

Asylum Law

39. Asylum
Select If: Represents clients seeking asylum or refugee status. Experience includes removal defense based on protected grounds.
Avoid If: No litigation or hearing experience for asylum seekers. General immigration with no asylum/refugee references.
Your Resume Should Contain These Keywords To Stand Out: asylum application, credible fear, refugee status, Convention Against Torture, withholding of removal, immigration court, I-589
 TOP

Business Immigration Law

40. Business Immigration
Select If: Candidate handles work visas, employment-based green cards, or corporate immigration compliance.
Avoid If: Only family-based immigration or asylum without business/corporate clients. General HR work unrelated to immigration filings.
Your Resume Should Contain These Keywords To Stand Out: H-1B, L-1, O-1, PERM, I-140, employment sponsorship, business visa, employer immigration compliance
 TOP

Family Immigration Law

41. Family Immigration
Select If: Handles marriage, fiancé, or family preference-based immigration. Includes adjustment of status and consular processing for relatives.
Avoid If: Employment-based only or asylum without family-based work. Corporate immigration only.
Your Resume Should Contain These Keywords To Stand Out: I-130, marriage green card, spousal visa, K-1, I-485, family petition, sponsor relative
 TOP

Health Care - Defense

42. Litigation - Health Care
Select If: The candidate litigates cases involving hospitals, providers, or insurers. Experience includes defense or prosecution of malpractice, fraud, or regulatory disputes in the healthcare industry.
Avoid If: Only regulatory compliance or transactional healthcare experience without litigation. Purely insurance defense not involving healthcare entities.
Your Resume Should Contain These Keywords To Stand Out: healthcare litigation, medical malpractice, fraud and abuse, False Claims Act, Stark Law, HIPAA violations, Medicare fraud, provider defense, hospital litigation
 TOP

Litigation - Construction

43. Litigation - Construction - General
Select If: Candidate litigates disputes involving construction projects, including contract breaches or delays.
Avoid If: Only involved in transactional or compliance construction work. No litigation background related to construction matters.
Your Resume Should Contain These Keywords To Stand Out: construction litigation, delay claims, design defect litigation, mechanic’s lien enforcement, construction arbitration, builder negligence, construction disputes
 TOP

Litigation - Health Care

44. Litigation - Health Care
Select If: The candidate litigates cases involving hospitals, providers, or insurers. Experience includes defense or prosecution of malpractice, fraud, or regulatory disputes in the healthcare industry.
Avoid If: Only regulatory compliance or transactional healthcare experience without litigation. Purely insurance defense not involving healthcare entities.
Your Resume Should Contain These Keywords To Stand Out: healthcare litigation, medical malpractice, fraud and abuse, False Claims Act, Stark Law, HIPAA violations, Medicare fraud, provider defense, hospital litigation
 TOP

Litigation - Entertainment

45. Litigation - Entertainment
Select If: Candidate litigates on behalf of clients in the entertainment or media industry over content, IP rights, contracts, or defamation.
Avoid If: Only transactional entertainment experience.
Your Resume Should Contain These Keywords To Stand Out: defamation, breach of talent agreement, copyright dispute, screen credit arbitration, royalty lawsuit, entertainment litigation
 TOP

Licensing Law

46. Licensing
Select If: Candidate handles licensing deals including software, brand, patent, or media licenses.
Avoid If: Licensing is incidental and not a focus of the role.
Your Resume Should Contain These Keywords To Stand Out: licensing agreement, royalty, patent license, brand licensing, royalty structure, technology licensing
 TOP

Probate Law

47. Probate
Select If: Candidate navigates court processes for estate administration, whether contested or uncontested. Mentions probate filings, asset distribution, or letters testamentary.
Avoid If: Only does planning or litigation not involving the probate court. Focus is entirely on tax planning or transactional aspects unrelated to probate administration.
Your Resume Should Contain These Keywords To Stand Out: probate administration, letters testamentary, personal representative, estate executor, intestate succession, court-supervised estate
 TOP

Telecommunications Law

48. Telecommunications
Select If: Candidate practices in regulatory, transactional, or litigation work involving the telecom sector.
Avoid If: General technology work not involving telecommunications.
Your Resume Should Contain These Keywords To Stand Out: FCC, spectrum, broadband, telecom policy, wireless regulation, VOIP, telecom compliance
 TOP

Workers' Compensation Law – Claimants

49. Workers' Compensation Law – Claimants
Select If: Candidate represents injured workers before WCAB or similar bodies. Focus on maximizing benefits or medical treatment access for individuals.
Avoid If: Only represents employers or insurers. No reference to individual claimant-side advocacy.
Your Resume Should Contain These Keywords To Stand Out: injured worker claim, applicant attorney, claimant-side WC, WCAB filing, work injury claim, disability rating, workers’ comp appeal
 TOP

Workers' Compensation Law – Employers

50. Workers' Compensation Law – Employers
Select If: Candidate defends employers or insurance carriers in workers’ compensation cases. Mentions representing TPAs (third-party administrators) or insurers before WCAB.
Avoid If: Only represents injured workers or plaintiffs. Mentions Social Security Disability (SSD) or long-term disability but not employer defense.
Your Resume Should Contain These Keywords To Stand Out: workers’ compensation defense, WC defense, carrier representation, TPA, employer-side comp, claims administrator, workers’ comp fraud defense
 

Quick Reference Tips for Attorney Job Seekers

 
  • Tailor Per Job: Customize keywords for each application to match the posting.
  • Quantify Impact: Pair keywords with metrics (e.g., "Handled Chapter 11 cases for $100M+ in assets").
  • Format for ATS: Use standard fonts, avoid tables/graphics, and include keywords in context.
  • Update Regularly: Refresh your resume and LinkedIn every 6 months with new keywords from recent experience.
  • Common FAQ: How many keywords? 10-15 per practice area section. What if I'm transitioning? Highlight transferable keywords and seek mentorship.

This guide is designed as a bookmarkable reference—share it with peers and revisit as your career evolves. For personalized advice, consult a legal recruiter.
 


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Unlike most recruiters who work with only a narrow subset of attorneys, Harrison Barnes works with lawyers at all stages of their careers, from junior associates to senior partners, in every practice area imaginable. His placements are not limited to only those with "elite" credentials-he has helped thousands of attorneys, including those who thought it was impossible to move firms, find their next great opportunity.

Harrison's work is backed by a team of over 150 professionals who work around the clock to uncover hidden job opportunities at law firms across the country. His team:

  • Finds and creates job openings that aren't publicly listed, giving attorneys access to exclusive opportunities.
  • Works closely with candidates to ensure their resumes and applications stand out.
  • Provides ongoing guidance and career coaching to help attorneys navigate interviews, negotiations, and transitions successfully.

This level of dedicated support is unmatched in the legal recruiting industry.

A Legal Recruiter Who Changes Lives

Harrison believes that every attorney-no matter their background, law school, or previous experience-has the potential to find success in the right law firm environment. Many attorneys come to him feeling stuck in their careers, underpaid, or unsure of their next steps. Through his unique ability to identify the right opportunities, he helps attorneys transform their careers in ways they never thought possible.

He has worked with:

  • Attorneys making below-market salaries who went on to double or triple their earnings at new firms.
  • Senior attorneys who believed they were "too experienced" to make a move and found better roles with firms eager for their expertise.
  • Attorneys in small or remote markets who assumed they had no options-only to be placed at strong firms they never knew existed.
  • Partners looking for a better platform or more autonomy who successfully transitioned to firms where they could grow their practice.

For attorneys who think their options are limited, Harrison Barnes has proven time and time again that opportunities exist-often in places they never expected.

Submit Your Resume Today - Start Your Career Transformation

If you want to explore new career opportunities, Harrison Barnes and BCG Attorney Search are your best resources. Whether you are looking for a BigLaw position, a boutique firm, or a move to a better work environment, Harrison's expertise will help you take control of your future.

Submit Your Resume Here to get started with Harrison Barnes today.

Harrison's reach, experience, and proven results make him the best legal recruiter in the industry. Don't settle for an average recruiter-work with the one who has changed the careers of thousands of attorneys and can do the same for you.


About BCG Attorney Search

BCG Attorney Search matches attorneys and law firms with unparalleled expertise and drive, while achieving results. Known globally for its success in locating and placing attorneys in law firms of all sizes, BCG Attorney Search has placed thousands of attorneys in law firms in thousands of different law firms around the country. Unlike other legal placement firms, BCG Attorney Search brings massive resources of over 150 employees to its placement efforts locating positions and opportunities its competitors simply cannot. Every legal recruiter at BCG Attorney Search is a former successful attorney who attended a top law school, worked in top law firms and brought massive drive and commitment to their work. BCG Attorney Search legal recruiters take your legal career seriously and understand attorneys. For more information, please visit www.BCGSearch.com.

Harrison Barnes does a weekly free webinar with live Q&A for attorneys and law students each Wednesday at 10:00 am PST. You can attend anonymously and ask questions about your career, this article, or any other legal career-related topics. You can sign up for the weekly webinar here: Register on Zoom

Harrison also does a weekly free webinar with live Q&A for law firms, companies, and others who hire attorneys each Wednesday at 10:00 am PST. You can sign up for the weekly webinar here: Register on Zoom

You can browse a list of past webinars here: Webinar Replays

You can also listen to Harrison Barnes Podcasts here: Attorney Career Advice Podcasts

You can also read Harrison Barnes' articles and books here: Harrison's Perspectives


Harrison Barnes is the legal profession's mentor and may be the only person in your legal career who will tell you why you are not reaching your full potential and what you really need to do to grow as an attorney--regardless of how much it hurts. If you prefer truth to stagnation, growth to comfort, and actionable ideas instead of fluffy concepts, you and Harrison will get along just fine. If, however, you want to stay where you are, talk about your past successes, and feel comfortable, Harrison is not for you.

Truly great mentors are like parents, doctors, therapists, spiritual figures, and others because in order to help you they need to expose you to pain and expose your weaknesses. But suppose you act on the advice and pain created by a mentor. In that case, you will become better: a better attorney, better employees, a better boss, know where you are going, and appreciate where you have been--you will hopefully also become a happier and better person. As you learn from Harrison, he hopes he will become your mentor.

To read more career and life advice articles visit Harrison's personal blog.


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