A strong legal CV is short, accurate and full of evidence. Law firms read it for three things: your academic record, proof of the skills lawyers use every day, and the quality of your writing. Keep it to two pages at most (one page is standard for U.S. students), list education and experience in reverse chronological order, and turn every bullet into a specific achievement. A single typo can undo good grades, because attention to detail is one of the qualities being tested.
This guide is for law students, graduates, career changers and paralegals applying for training contracts, vacation schemes, summer associate roles, paralegal jobs and junior lawyer positions. It explains what recruiters look for, how to structure each section, how to describe experience that isn’t legal, and how to tailor your CV for different employers.
How law firm recruiters read a CV
Graduate recruitment teams at large firms can receive thousands of applications in a cycle. A first screen is often quick and focused on a few questions:
- Academic record: do your grades meet the firm’s threshold?
- Evidence of core skills: attention to detail, teamwork, communication, commercial awareness and resilience.
- Motivation for law: has the candidate taken steps to explore a legal career?
- Presentation: is the CV clear, consistent and error-free?
Partners and associates who interview later read more closely and often ask about anything on the page, so every line should be something you can explain in detail.
Many large firms now use online application forms rather than CVs for training contracts. Even then, you’ll need a CV for paralegal roles, smaller firms, in-house positions, lateral moves and networking, and preparing one helps you write better application answers.
The structure firms expect
1. Contact details
Name, phone number, professional email address, city and a LinkedIn profile if it’s up to date. In the UK and U.S., leave out photos, date of birth, marital status and nationality unless a role specifically requires work authorisation details.
2. Education
List your degree, university, dates and grade or expected grade. Add relevant modules, dissertation topics, scholarships and prizes. If you’re early in your career and your school results are strong, include them briefly. If you completed a law conversion course or SQE preparation, list it here.
3. Legal experience
Vacation schemes, internships, paralegal roles, law clinic work, mini-pupillages, court marshalling and pro bono projects. Give the organisation, role, dates and two to four achievement-focused bullets.
4. Other work experience
Part-time and full-time jobs outside law belong on a legal CV. Retail, hospitality, customer service and office roles show reliability, client care and commercial awareness. Many successful candidates’ strongest examples come from these jobs.
5. Positions of responsibility and activities
Society committees, mooting, debating, volunteering, sports leadership and other commitments that show initiative and teamwork.
6. Skills
Languages with your level (for example “Spanish: professional working proficiency”), legal research databases you’ve used, and relevant IT skills. Avoid listing generic soft skills without evidence.
Writing bullets that show achievement
The difference between an average and a strong legal CV is usually the bullets. Each should start with an action verb, describe what you did, and show a result or what it demonstrates.
| Weak | Strong |
|---|---|
| Helped with research | Researched limitation periods for a breach of contract claim and summarised findings in a two-page note for the supervising associate |
| Did admin at a law clinic | Interviewed 15 clients about housing disputes and drafted letters reviewed and sent by a supervising solicitor |
| Worked in a café | Trained four new staff and handled daily cash reconciliation for a team of ten |
| Member of the law society | Organised a commercial awareness event for 80 students with speakers from two law firms |
| Did a vacation scheme | Prepared a due diligence report on 30 supplier contracts during a corporate seat, highlighting change-of-control clauses |
Include numbers where they’re accurate and meaningful. Never exaggerate: interviewers often ask you to walk through the details.
Showing legal skills without legal experience
Many applicants have limited legal experience. Show the underlying skills instead:
- Attention to detail: proofreading, data entry, financial reconciliation, editing a student publication.
- Client service: retail, hospitality, call centre and tutoring work.
- Research and writing: dissertations, essays, journalism, blogs.
- Commercial awareness: business or investment societies, part-time jobs in businesses, entrepreneurial projects.
- Teamwork and leadership: sports captaincy, committee roles, group projects with clear outcomes.
Our guide to entry-level legal jobs lists roles that build this experience quickly.
Tailoring your CV for each application
A generic CV is easy to spot. Tailoring doesn’t mean rewriting everything; it means emphasising what each employer values most.
- Large commercial firms: commercial awareness, teamwork, attention to detail and interest in business clients.
- Specialist firms: relevant modules and experience in that practice area, such as employment, family or intellectual property.
- In-house legal teams: understanding of the company’s industry and practical, business-focused experience.
- Paralegal roles: organisation, document management, research and familiarity with legal software.
Keep a master CV with all your experience, then create a tailored version for each application.
Formatting rules that make a CV easy to read
Recruiters skim, so layout matters as much as content.
- One clear font at 10–12 points, such as Arial, Calibri or Times New Roman.
- Consistent dates aligned on the right, in the same format throughout (for example “Sep 2024 – Jun 2025”).
- Bold headings for each section, with plenty of white space.
- No tables, columns, graphics or photos if you’re submitting through online systems, because applicant tracking systems may not read them correctly.
- Margins of about 2 cm so the page doesn’t feel cramped.
- Consistent punctuation: either full stops at the end of every bullet or none.
Print the CV and read it on paper. Errors that are invisible on screen often stand out in print.
How the CV changes at different career stages
Students applying for vacation schemes or summer programmes
Lead with education. Add modules, prizes and any legal exposure, then part-time work and activities. One strong example of teamwork and one of attention to detail can carry the page.
Graduates applying for paralegal roles
Put relevant experience near the top, especially document review, research, administration and any time in a legal setting. Mention legal software and databases you’ve used, and any SQE study.
Career changers
Open with a two- or three-line profile explaining your previous career and why you’re moving into law. Then translate your experience: a project manager can show organisation and deadline management, a nurse can show client care under pressure, an accountant can show financial literacy. See our legal career guide for paths that suit career changers.
Qualified lawyers making lateral moves
Replace the student-style structure with a short profile, a summary of practice areas, and a deal or case list that describes representative matters: type of transaction or dispute, value range where appropriate, and your role. Keep client confidentiality in mind; describe matters generically if necessary.
Before and after: improving a section (hypothetical)
Before
Paralegal, Smith & Co, 2024–2025
– Helped with litigation work
– Admin and filing
– Dealt with clients
After
Paralegal, Litigation Department, Smith & Co, Sep 2024 – Aug 2025
– Prepared indexed trial bundles of up to 1,200 pages for three commercial disputes, working to court deadlines
– Reviewed and tagged more than 4,000 documents for disclosure using an e-discovery platform
– Drafted first versions of witness statement outlines and client update letters for associate review
– Managed the team’s deadline calendar for 25 active matters
The second version shows the same job, but it gives recruiters concrete evidence of detail, organisation and responsibility. The firm and figures here are invented for illustration.
What to do about weaker areas
Most candidates have something they worry about on their CV. Address it honestly rather than hoping it goes unnoticed.
- Lower grades in one year: if there was a reason, such as illness or caring responsibilities, many firms have a mitigating circumstances section. Use it briefly and factually. Show stronger results elsewhere.
- Little legal experience: emphasise transferable skills, and add accessible experience such as virtual work experience programmes, law clinic volunteering or court visits. Our paralegal career guide explains another practical route in.
- Gaps: add one line explaining the period, such as travel, family commitments or job searching, and mention anything useful you did during it.
- Many short jobs: group similar roles under one heading, for example “Retail and hospitality roles, 2021–2024”, with two bullets on the most relevant achievements.
Recruiters are looking for potential, not perfection. A clear, honest CV that shows growth usually beats one that tries to hide weaknesses.
Pairing your CV with the rest of your application
A CV rarely works alone. A cover letter or application answers should explain *why* you want this firm and role, while the CV provides the evidence. Make sure the stories in your cover letter match the experience on your CV, and that both are consistent with what you’ll say in interviews. Our legal interview questions guide covers how to turn CV entries into strong interview answers.
Common legal CV mistakes
- Typos and inconsistent formatting, the most common reason legal CVs are rejected.
- Long paragraphs instead of concise bullets.
- Listing duties instead of achievements.
- Unexplained gaps. Add a short line for travel, caring responsibilities, illness or study.
- Vague skills claims such as “excellent communicator” without evidence.
- Poor file naming. Save as a PDF named “Firstname-Lastname-CV” unless a firm asks otherwise.
Writing the skills section properly
The skills section is often wasted on vague claims. Make it factual and checkable:
- Languages: name each language and a realistic level. If you list a language, expect an interviewer who speaks it to test you.
- Legal research tools: list databases you’ve actually used, such as Westlaw, Lexis or Practical Law, and in what context.
- Technology: Microsoft Word and Excel at a stated level, document management systems, e-discovery platforms, case management software, and any AI or automation tools you’ve used in a legal or professional setting.
- Other qualifications: first aid, typing speed for legal secretarial roles, or professional certificates relevant to the role.
Leave out soft skills here. Your experience bullets should already prove teamwork, communication and attention to detail.
CV vs application form answers
Where firms use online forms, the same principles apply, but the format changes. Application questions such as “Tell us about a time you worked in a team” give you space to explain one example in depth using the STAR structure: situation, task, action and result. Use your CV as the source list of examples, then choose the strongest one for each question. Don’t paste the same paragraph into several answers; recruiters notice repetition.
Final checklist before you send
- Two pages or fewer (one page for U.S. student resumes)
- Education, experience and activities in reverse chronological order
- Every bullet starts with a verb and shows a result or responsibility
- Numbers and dates are accurate and consistent
- Grades are stated clearly
- Firm and role names are correct in any tailored version
- No typos: proofread on screen, on paper and aloud, then ask someone else to check
- Saved as a PDF with a professional file name
FAQ
Should I include a personal statement at the top?
For students, usually no; the space is better used for evidence. For career changers and experienced lawyers, a two- or three-line profile can help explain your direction.
How far back should my experience go?
Include what’s relevant and recent. Students can include school-era achievements if they’re strong; experienced candidates can drop early part-time jobs.
Should I include references?
No. “References available on request” wastes space; employers will ask when they need them.
Should a legal CV be one or two pages?
In the UK, up to two pages is standard. In the U.S., students and junior candidates normally use a one-page resume.
Should I include my grades?
Yes, especially if they meet or exceed the firm’s requirements. Firms often screen on academic results.
Do part-time jobs belong on a legal CV?
Yes. They show reliability, client care and commercial awareness, which firms value.
Next step
Rewrite your three most important CV entries tonight using the strong-bullet formula: verb, task, result. Then tailor one version for the firm or role you care about most, and ask a trainee, careers adviser or friend with sharp eyes to proofread it before you apply.
