Resume question - same job duties

I'm updating my resume and the job I have now and my previous job are identical in my duties. Do I lump the 2 companies together on the resume and have the job description beneath the two or do I do 2 separate paragraphs?

A.

Company A
Associate
Company B
Associate
Job duties.........

or B.

Company A
Associate
Job duties........

Company B
Associate
Job duties..........

Re: Resume question - same job duties

Different entries on your resume and find a way to differentiate your job duties in some way. If you worked at two different law firms and your resume reads the same, exact job duties for each, I think you should re-consider how you are writing your resume. You may need to be slightly more specific. Lawyer resumes can be extremely generic, but I think they are more effective when they are more specific, especially as you get more experienced.

You don't want to just have generic things like, "Research and draft pleadings and memoranda of law." You want something more specific like "Successfully defended generic pharmaceutical company against a preliminary injunction motion relating to the drug rinitidine" or "Defended Fortune 500 company against sharehold derivative lawsuit, including trial through verdict." Then add in a few of the generic duties toward the end, such as "Extensive experience researching and drafting pleadings and memoranda of law," etc.

Obviously this is litigation focused, but the same can be done on the deal side.

I assume at two different companies, you worked on different matters, even if the overall subject (M&A, bank finance) and general duties were the same.

If it's a situation where you held more than one title with a company or a company changed names and your duties remained unchanged, then I would list it as one entry. I would not combine totally separate jobs, though. You want to make it look like you have broader experience.

Re: Resume question - same job duties

Thank you! I had a professional help me the last time and you just did a way better job. Thanks for the tips!

Re: Resume question - same job duties

You're welcome. Are you litigation focused by any chance? If so, I can send you some sample language I have used and seen in other resumes.

I had my resume worded more generically until someone (a legal professional) helped me make it a bit more specific. I got a lot more interest in it after changing it to be more specific and detailed. I think this is also somewhat expected in our industry as you get more and more experience (at least, this is what I am told / am learning).

I hope that helps! Good luck!