Three Key LinkedIn Profile Updates to Boost Your Job Search

Written by Ashley Camron Sumen, Principal at Solutus Legal Search. Ashley has spent over 20 years working in the legal industry and is an experienced legal recruiter and former practicing attorney, both in Big Law and in-house.

Depending on your circumstances, searching for a new legal role can be exciting or unnerving, or maybe a little bit of both. It can also seem like an uphill battle, with your efforts not yielding results as quickly or efficiently as expected.

In my role as a legal recruiter, I frequently hear from candidates frustrated with the process and seeking guidance in how best to position themselves to secure a new role. While there is no silver bullet, there are strategies that can make a real difference. One must-do for any job seeker is to update your LinkedIn profile.

Many hiring managers and recruiters use LinkedIn as a tool to find professionals who match open roles. As a result, the more relevant information you provide upfront, the better. If your profile lacks clear detail about your practice area and skill set, you may be overlooked for opportunities that actually align with your expertise.

If you are looking for new opportunities, updating these three key areas on your profile can increase the likelihood of being contacted for roles that fit your background. Of course, you can take additional steps – such as posting content, giving and asking for recommendations, engaging with the community by liking and commenting on others' posts – but starting with these essentials will give you an immediate advantage.

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Here’s what to include:

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Headline.

Your Headline is the first thing LinkedIn users see when they view your profile. This section is the quickest way to communicate what you do. I recommend including the title of your current role and company name, and keywords that describe your primary practice areas.

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Examples:

o? Assistant General Counsel, [Company] | AI, SaaS, Commercial, Privacy

o? Partner, [Law Firm], Mergers & Acquisitions and Private Equity Practice Groups

There are different schools of thought regarding the use of buzzwords with some professionals including phrases like Problem Solver, Collaborator or more personal statements like “Living the lawyer dream." While these descriptions can add personality, they rarely influence hiring decisions. If you feel strongly that you want people to know something personal about you, feel free to include it. With that said, the most effective approach is to clearly and concisely highlight your current role and areas of practice.

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About/Summary.

Your About section should provide a clear snapshot of your background and expertise. Think of it as a career synopsis. Summarize your specific experience and include relevant keywords as part of your narrative.

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Why are keywords important? LinkedIn’s search algorithm uses them to find profiles with keywords that match. Including the right terms ensures your experience is easily discoverable by potential employers.

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Examples:

o? Chief Legal Officer at Y Co. Legal executive with extensive experience building and leading large global teams in both public and private FinTech companies. Areas of expertise include advising the C-suite and Board, structuring and negotiating complex commercial transactions, M&A, crisis management, and overseeing high-stakes litigation.

o? Partner with 20 years of experience in Mergers & Acquisitions and Private Equity. Focus on representing public and private companies and private equity clients in connection with M&A and other corporate matters including joint ventures, tender and exchange offers, and public company filings. Industry expertise includes private equity, technology, and entertainment.

o? Experienced Assistant General Counsel leading commercial legal teams supporting sales. Specializing in drafting and negotiating complex technology agreements, including Software (SaaS) and Hardware. Additional focus on compliance with data retention, privacy, federal contracting laws, dispute resolution, and AI.

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Some professionals opt for a longer About section. If you choose to add more details, ensure they are organized, easy to read, and focused on the most important information. Remember, this section is also a potential employer’s first introduction to your writing skills. Make sure it is clear and easily understood.

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Work History/Education.?

Include your education history, the name of the company, and your title for each of your legal roles (or, if potentially relevant, non-legal roles as well), the dates you worked at each, and 3-4 bullet points for each role that provide a summary of your responsibilities.

Recent roles should include more detail, while earlier positions can be summarized more concisely. While this section doesn’t need to be as exhaustive as your resume, it should provide enough detail for the reader to understand your experience and expertise.

Importantly, ensure that your LinkedIn work history matches your resume. Inconsistencies are often noticed and can raise red flags for potential employers.

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Conclusion

LinkedIn is a powerful tool to showcase your professional skills and experience to a large number of potential employers. Take the time to update your profile and to include clear, detailed descriptions that make it easy for hiring professionals to see how your expertise aligns with their needs. Doing so will improve the chances that you will be contacted for that next role you are hoping to land.

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