City attorney job application letters are different than most other job application letters you may write. A good city attorney applicant will not only have the skills necessary for the job, but will also exude the personality type of a top-notch NYC attorney.
A city attorney is typically responsible for handling cases involving police misconduct, regulating the NYC taxi cab industry, and negotiating contracts for the city. In some cases, a city attorney may be required to give closing arguments in court. While some of this work may be done on a case-by-case basis, the bulk of your work as the city attorney’s office may involve preparing for hearings, negotiations, or court cases. The work is intense and requires a high degree of legal expertise.
As with any other job application, you must tailor your resume to match the specific demands of the job you’re pursuing. A resume that matches the specific demands of the city attorney position will stand out among the other candidates. There are several key points you need to include in your resume, and we’ve compiled a list of the essential information you need to include in each section.
Qualifications
Every city attorney job application should include the following information:
- A summary of your education
- Your graduation date
- The name of your university
- A copy of your diploma or license
- Experience
- Previous employers
- Contact information
- A copy of your resume
- Your social security number
- A digital image of your photo ID
- Your e-mail address
As previously stated, a qualified city attorney will have the legal expertise necessary for the job. One of the primary ways to prove your legal expertise is by including your education in your resume. You must include your Juris Doctor (J.D.) or Paralegal Certificate if you have one, as well as your undergraduate degree. You should also include any other professional credentials you have, such as the Bar Association of the City of New York’s certification. In addition, you should include relevant experience, either in a law firm or in-house.
Education
Your educational background is one of the most important things a potential employer will look at when reviewing your application. A good place to start is with your undergraduate degree program. In addition to your undergraduate degree, you should include the following items:
- The name of your university
- The graduate school you completed
- The name of the degree
- The year you graduated
- Your major
- Any relevant coursework
- Your GPA
- Any relevant publications
- Extra-curriculars
- A link to a professional organization membership
- A digital image of your photo ID
Experience
Now that you have a good understanding of what the city attorney’s office entails, you can start to put together a good experience section of your resume. Start by including your previous employers, in addition to your education. You should include all of your work experiences, whether you were a partner at a law firm or worked as a legal assistant for a general practitioner. Your experience section should not be overly lengthy, so keep the resume to one page. You should include information about the following:
- Your responsibilities
- The dates you worked
- The locations
- The names of your immediate supervisors
- What types of cases you worked on
- The outcomes of these cases
- Any trial briefs, arguments, or other legal research you did
- What types of clients you represented
- Any awards or citations you received
- Any professional licenses you have
- Your accomplishments
- Your responsibilities
- Your work style
- The languages you speak
Keywords
A good legal resume typically includes a combination of the following:
- Labor & employment law
- Class action & mass torts
- Civil rights & discrimination
- Land use & Zoning
- Real estate law
- Premises liability
- Tort law
- Insurance law
- Public safety & protection
- Criminal law
While your resume should always be tailored to the specific job you’re applying for, don’t be afraid to use a few general keywords in your resume. Remember, recruiters and hiring managers will search for your resume using keywords, so it’s important that you choose words that are relevant to the job you’re applying for.
Keep your resume to one page and make sure you include all of the necessary information. You can attach a short note describing your interests and relevant skills, or provide a short bio in the space provided on the job application form. You should also include a short email address in the note, so recruiters can get in touch with you if necessary. You never know what kind of unexpected questions you may be asked during the interview process, so it’s better to be prepared!