Should You Mention Remote Work on Your Resume When Applying for an Onsite Law Firm Job?

The shift to remote work during the pandemic introduced a new dynamic to job applications and resumes. While working remotely has become a valuable skill in many industries, legal professionals often face a dilemma: should you highlight remote work on your resume when applying for an onsite position at a law firm?

The answer lies in understanding how to position your experience to align with the role and expectations of a law firm environment.

Why Law Firms Value Onsite Experience

For onsite roles, law firms prioritize candidates who demonstrate strong collaboration, adaptability, and the ability to thrive in face-to-face environments. Onsite work often involves:

• Collaborating with attorneys and staff: Legal work is inherently collaborative, requiring frequent in-person interaction with colleagues, clients, and other stakeholders to ensure efficiency and accuracy.
• Engagement in firm culture: Law firms place a high value on their culture, built through mentorship, networking, and day-to-day interactions. Being physically present helps foster relationships that are critical to professional growth.
• Client interaction: Many roles in law firms, especially those involving client-facing responsibilities, require strong interpersonal skills and the ability to meet with clients in person to build trust and rapport.

Highlighting remote work too prominently may inadvertently signal to employers that you prefer working independently, potentially raising concerns about your fit for an onsite role at a law firm.

Strategies for Positioning Remote Experience

If much of your recent experience has been remote, you can still present it effectively on your resume while keeping the focus on skills and achievements relevant to an onsite law firm role:

1. 1. Emphasize transferable skills: Instead of specifying “remote” in job titles, focus on accomplishments that demonstrate your adaptability, teamwork, and communication skills. For example:
      • “Collaborated with attorneys and paralegals to manage high-volume casework, ensuring deadlines were met.”
      • “Coordinated with cross-functional teams to prepare and file court documents with a 100% accuracy rate.”
   2. Highlight hybrid or onsite components: If your role included occasional in-office work or onsite client interactions, mention these aspects to showcase your comfort in physical settings:
      • Supported in-person depositions and hearings, ensuring all necessary materials were prepared and organized.
      • Facilitated onsite client meetings to discuss case strategy and progress.
   3. Avoid overemphasizing remote tools: While proficiency in tools like Zoom or Clio is valuable, listing them under every role may reinforce a remote-first impression. Instead, integrate them subtly under a broader “Technical Skills” section.
   4. Tailor your resume for each application: Research the law firm and job description to identify qualities the employer values. Tailoring your resume ensures your experience aligns with their priorities, whether that’s teamwork, attention to detail, or leadership.

Examples

Here are two ways to frame the same remote role for an onsite law firm position:

Less Effective:

• Worked remotely with a distributed team to manage case research and documentation.

More Effective:

• Partnered with attorneys and legal staff to conduct case research and prepare documentation, contributing to favorable case outcomes.

The Bottom Line

While remote work experience is an asset, the way you frame it on your resume should reflect the role you’re pursuing. For onsite law firm positions, focus on skills and achievements that demonstrate your effectiveness in collaborative, in-person environments. By strategically presenting your experience, you can reassure potential employers of your readiness to thrive in an onsite role while showcasing the adaptability you’ve gained from remote work.

Citations:

• LinkedIn Career Blog: “How to Position Remote Work Experience on Your Resume”
• Glassdoor: “Tailoring Your Resume for the Job You Want”
• SHRM: “Transitioning Back to Onsite Work: Tips for Legal Professionals”