We've already discussed which "power words" a legal professional should use in their resume and cover letter; but there are some words that are best avoided or minimized if you want your resume/cover letter to have the greatest impact possible.

Avoid using abbreviations.  Even if abbreviations are understood by those reading the resume, too many abbreviations and acronyms can overwhelm a resume and make it difficult to read.

Avoid using words such as, "I" "Me" and "My." Using these pronouns in a resume or cover letter may seem intuitive; but it can give an amateurish quality to your resume/cover letter.  It's best to avoid the use of these pronouns.  For example, instead of saying "I supported two senior attorneys" you could say "Supported two senior attorneys."

Avoid negative words. Using words such as "hate," fired," "arrested," or "boring" will basically kill any chances of your resume making it past the trash bin.  If you had a negative experience at a firm or experienced something else negative that affected your job, don't mention it directly in your resume.  For example, if you were arrested and that's why you were fired from a job, calmly explain the circumstances during the interview NOT via your cover letter or resume.

Avoid the overuse of buzzwords and phrases.  For example, words like synergize, facilitate and integrate have been overused and may not have the impact you desire.  Consider using other words to express your ideas.