How Do You Put Law Degree On Resume?

Q: What’s the most common mistake people make?

Mixing up abbreviations. LL.M. is for Master of Laws, not Juris Doctor. S.J.D. is for Doctor of Juridical Science. Double-check before you submit. The biggest mistake? Confusing LL.M. or S.J.D. with J.D. Always verify your abbreviations.

What’s the deal with law degrees on resumes?

Your resume is often the first thing employers see—so it better make a strong impression. For law grads, how you list your degree can make or break your application. Since 2020, legal employers have gotten pickier about clarity and digital readability, especially when scanning resumes on LinkedIn or through applicant tracking systems (ATS). A clean, well-structured law degree entry helps hiring managers spot your qualifications fast. (And honestly, no one has time to dig through a messy resume.)

List your law degree as Juris Doctor (J.D.) or Doctor of Jurisprudence if earned, followed by the school and graduation year. Keep formatting consistent and only include class rank if you're in the top third of your class.

How exactly do I format my law degree on a resume?

Here’s the step-by-step process to get it right as of 2026:

Pick your degree format: Stick with J.D. for Juris Doctor—or write it out fully. Just be consistent. If your undergrad degree is listed as Bachelor of Science, go with Juris Doctor. If it’s abbreviated as B.S., use J.D. instead.
Spell out the law school name: Include the full name, city, and state—like "Yale Law School, New Haven, CT."
Add your graduation date: Use "May 2026" or "Expected May 2026." If you’ve already graduated, drop the "Expected."
Mention bar exam status (if relevant): Add "Admitted to the California Bar, 2026" or "Planned bar exam: July 2026" if you’re waiting on results.
Include class rank (optional): Only if you’re in the top third of your class. Format it like "Top 15% of Class (2026)."

Here’s a solid example:

Juris Doctor (J.D.) | Columbia Law School, New York, NY | May 2026
*Admitted to the Texas Bar, July 2026

What if my resume still isn’t working?

ATS keeps misreading my degree: Try saving your resume as a .txt file and re-uploading. PDFs with fancy layouts confuse these systems.
I’m not sure about my class rank: Skip it if you’re unsure. Many firms stopped caring after 2024, when NALP research showed it barely mattered in hiring.
I accidentally used LL.B.: Don’t—unless you got a Bachelor of Laws outside the U.S. In the States, J.D. is the gold standard as of 2026, per ABA guidelines.

How can I prevent resume issues in the future?

Follow these tips to keep your resume clean and ATS-friendly:

Start with a template: Grab a legal resume template from Cornell Law or Harvard Law, updated for 2026 standards.
Run a grammar and ATS check: Tools like Grammarly and Jobscan help catch errors and improve ATS compatibility.
Update it yearly: Even if you’re not job hunting, tweak your resume annually to add new credentials or GPA improvements.
Keep it short: Legal employers prefer resumes that fit on one page—they spend 30 seconds or less reviewing them.

Where should the law degree go on my resume?

Most lawyers place their degree under the "Education" section, right after their undergrad degree. If you’ve got work experience, put education after that. (That said, if you’re fresh out of law school, lead with your degree—it’s your strongest selling point.)

List your law degree in the "Education" section, typically after your undergrad degree unless you're a new grad.

Can I include my GPA on my law resume?

Only if it’s strong. Most firms care more about your GPA if it’s above a 3.5. Below that? Skip it—it’s not doing you any favors.

Include your GPA only if it’s 3.5 or higher.

How do I handle a joint degree (like J.D./MBA)?

Combine them under one entry. Format it like this:

Juris Doctor (J.D.) / Master of Business Administration (MBA) | University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA | May 2026

List joint degrees together in one entry, like "J.D./MBA | University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA | May 2026."

What if I went to law school but didn’t finish?

You’ve got options. List the credits you earned, the school, and the dates attended. No degree? Just say "Coursework toward J.D."—but don’t pretend you graduated.

If you didn’t finish, list the school, credits earned, and dates attended. Don’t claim a degree you didn’t get.

How do I format a foreign law degree?

Spell it out fully—like "LL.B. (Bachelor of Laws), University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada, 2025." If it’s a U.S. equivalent, use J.D. instead.

For foreign degrees, write it out fully—e.g., "LL.B. (Bachelor of Laws), University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia, 2025."

Should I include honors like magna cum laude?

Absolutely—if you’ve got them. Just tack them onto the degree line, like "J.D., magna cum laude | Stanford Law School, Stanford, CA | May 2026."

Add honors like magna cum laude right after the degree—e.g., "J.D., magna cum laude | Stanford Law, Stanford, CA | May 2026."

What about online law degrees?

If it’s ABA-accredited, treat it like any other J.D. If not, double-check with your state’s bar association—some don’t accept online degrees for licensing.

For ABA-accredited online degrees, list them like traditional J.D. programs. For non-accredited degrees, verify bar eligibility first.

How do I handle a gap in my education?

No need to explain it on your resume. Just list the school and graduation date. If employers ask, keep it brief.

Leave education gaps off your resume. Just list the school and date.

Can I use bullet points for my law degree?

Sure—if it makes sense. Some people prefer a single line; others break it into bullets. Just keep it clean and consistent.

Use bullets only if it improves readability. Otherwise, a single line works fine.

What’s the most common mistake people make?

Mixing up abbreviations. LL.M. is for Master of Laws, not Juris Doctor. S.J.D. is for Doctor of Juridical Science. Double-check before you submit.

The biggest mistake? Confusing LL.M. or S.J.D. with J.D. Always verify your abbreviations.

How do I list multiple degrees?

Order them by importance—usually highest degree first. Example:

Juris Doctor (J.D.) | Harvard Law School, Cambridge, MA | May 2025
Bachelor of Arts in Political Science | Yale University, New Haven, CT | May 2022

List degrees in order of importance, starting with the highest—like J.D. first, then undergrad.

Should I tailor my law degree entry for different jobs?

Not usually. Your degree is a fixed credential. Focus on tweaking your work experience or skills section instead.

Your law degree stays the same for every application—just adjust your work experience or skills.

What if my law school name changed?

Use the current name, but you can add the old name in parentheses if it’s still recognizable—like "Columbia Law School (formerly Columbia University School of Law), New York, NY | May 2026."

Use the school’s current name, but add the old name in parentheses if needed—e.g., "Columbia Law School (formerly Columbia University School of Law), New York, NY | May 2026."