Crafting a CV that effectively showcases your expertise in various areas of law is a significant challenge you might face. Our guide offers insights on structuring your experience and qualifications in a manner that highlights your legal acumen, ensuring you stand out to potential employers.
In this Enhancv lawyer CV guide, you'll find out more about how to:
- Answer job requirements with your lawyer CV and experience;
- Curate your academic background and certificates, following industry-leading CV examples;
- Select from +10 niche skills to match the ideal candidate profile
- Write a more succinct experience section that consists of all the right details.
Do you need more specific insights into writing your lawyer CV? Our guides focus on unique insights for each individual role:
Resume examples for lawyer
Explore additional lawyer cv samples and guides and see what works for your level of experience or role.
By Experience
Junior Lawyer
- Effective Clarity and Structure - Leo Brown's CV presents information in a clear and structured manner, starting with a concise summary that encapsulates his expertise and professional focus. Each section is meticulously organized, enhancing readability and ensuring that key points stand out, which allows potential employers to quickly assess the candidate's qualifications and suitability for the role.
- Demonstrated Career Growth - The career trajectory shows a well-defined path from a Legal Intern to a Junior Lawyer in a relatively short time, highlighting his rapid advancement in the legal field. His transition from pro bono work to a commercial legal setting reflects not only growth but also an adaptable approach to expanding his professional horizon within public and police law.
- Industry-Relevant Achievements - The CV outlines specific achievements that are directly relevant to legal practice, such as the 30% increase in successful civil litigation cases and the development of a new advisory protocol. These accomplishments not only showcase his technical proficiency but also underline his ability to drive significant business outcomes, reinforcing his impact in improving service efficiency and litigation success.
Senior Lawyer
- Structured clarity and concise presentation - Elsie Murray's CV is structured with clarity, making it easy to navigate through her professional journey. Each section is clearly defined and presents information in a concise manner, allowing the reader to quickly grasp key points about her career achievements and capabilities.
- Career growth and industry focus - The career trajectory outlined in the CV demonstrates significant growth, evolving from a Junior Property Lawyer to a Senior Property Lawyer specializing in advisory for local governments. This progression highlights her increasing responsibilities and expertise within the legal property sector, particularly in advisory roles.
- Impactful achievements with business relevance - The CV details significant accomplishments that underline Elsie's impact on her organizations, such as fostering a 30% improvement in client retention and successfully negotiating high-value commercial lease agreements. These achievements illustrate her ability to deliver measurable business results, enhancing both client relations and operational efficiency.
Associate Lawyer
- Content Presentation and Structure - The CV is meticulously organized, presenting information in an easily digestible format. It clearly delineates sections for experience, education, skills, and achievements, ensuring that key aspects of Alfie Edwards' professional journey are highlighted without being overwhelming.
- Career Trajectory and Growth - Alfie Edwards demonstrates a robust career path, moving from a Junior Associate to a Senior Corporate Finance Lawyer, reflective of continuous professional growth and increased responsibilities. This upward trajectory within prestigious law firms illustrates dedication to career advancement in corporate finance law.
- Unique Industry-Specific Elements - The CV showcases Alfie's expertise in advanced corporate finance techniques, highlighting specialized knowledge in M&A and IPO. His engagement in advising FTSE100 clients and managing complex cross-border transactions demonstrates industry-specific technical depth and a thorough understanding of UK and international financial regulations.
Partner Lawyer
- Impressive Career Growth and Specialization - Freddie Hughes' career trajectory demonstrates a clear path of consistent professional development within the property law sector. Progressing from a Property Solicitor to a Senior Rural Property Lawyer, Freddie has honed his expertise in rural and residential property transactions, showcasing an upwardly mobile career marked by increased responsibilities and leadership roles.
- Effective Client Relationship Management and Business Development - The CV highlights Freddie’s significant soft skills and leadership in client relations, underlined by his ability to implement client-focused strategies that improve retention rates. His role in orchestrating a business development initiative underscores his aptitude for cultivating new business opportunities, generating substantial revenue, and enhancing firm visibility.
- Achieving Tangible Business Outcomes - Beyond superficial accomplishments, Freddie's CV emphasizes the business relevance of his achievements. His ability to lead high-value projects, such as a £15M estate acquisition, not only increased asset value by 30% but also strengthened client portfolios. Additionally, his work in optimizing asset assessments and investment strategies directly contributed to improved transaction efficiencies and departmental performance.
Consultant Lawyer
- Strong career growth and leadership development - The CV highlights a career trajectory marked by steady advancement from a Junior Conveyancer to a Senior Conveyancer role at JMW Solicitors LLP. It showcases the candidate's ability to lead teams and implement digital systems, reflecting their growth and leadership capabilities throughout their career.
- Adaptability through digital innovation - Jack Taylor’s experience emphasizes his adaptability in adopting and implementing new digital conveyancing systems, demonstrating his ability to embrace technological advancements in the legal field. This adaptation not only improved efficiency but also reduced processing times significantly.
- Impactful achievements with business implications - The CV effectively presents achievements with clear business impacts, such as reducing title defect rates by 25% and increasing repeat business by 20%. These metrics not only illustrate the candidate’s contribution to enhancing the company’s reputation but also their success in driving business growth through client satisfaction.
By Role
Corporate Lawyer
- Structured Presentation with Strategic Clarity - Ella Bennett’s CV is a model of structured clarity, with each section thoughtfully organized to systematically present her extensive legal experience. The content is concise yet comprehensive, offering enough detail to showcase her expertise without overwhelming the reader. The use of bullet points in the experience section helps in quickly highlighting her key accomplishments and responsibilities.
- Demonstrated Career Growth Through Prominent Roles - Bennett's career trajectory is notable, starting from an Associate Lawyer at Baker McKenzie to a Senior Corporate Lawyer at Allen & Overy. This progression reflects significant growth and dedication, as she moved from assisting in negotiations to leading strategic initiatives and managing global compliance issues. Her roles show an upward mobility and increasing responsibilities in high-profile law firms, illustrating her competence and reputation in the industry.
- Effective Showcase of Industry-Applicable Achievements - The CV effectively highlights achievements that have had a substantial impact on business outcomes. For instance, the notable 30% reduction in legal risks and the £15 million in licensing agreements negotiated stand as testaments to her strategic and negotiation skills. These achievements are not just impressive numbers but translate into clear benefits for the clients and firms she represents, aligning with business objectives and enhancing profitability.
Criminal Defence Lawyer
- Emphasis on Complex Case Management - The CV is structured to emphasize the candidate's ability to handle complex caseloads, particularly in transport regulatory cases. Multiple bullet points under each job position describe specific instances where they have managed and succeeded in intricate legal matters, highlighting both strategic acumen and client-focused results.
- Illustration of Career Development - Matilda's career trajectory is well-documented and logical, showing a clear path from Assistant Lawyer to Solicitor at esteemed firms like Clifford Chance and Pinsent Masons LLP. This progression reflects her ability to adapt and grow within the legal field, consistently acquiring more responsibilities and achieving significant outcomes for clients.
- Unique Expertise and Training - With specialized courses in advanced health and safety compliance and transport regulatory strategies, the CV underscores a deep well of industry-specific knowledge. These elements showcase Matilda’s dedication to continually enhancing her technical skills and staying ahead in her niche legal field, ensuring she brings cutting-edge solutions to her clients.
Family Lawyer
- Structured Career Progression with Leadership Focus - Grace Bailey's CV showcases a clear trajectory within the family law sector marked by advancements in roles that highlight her increasing responsibility, particularly her transition from solicitor to team manager. This progression is illustrative of her leadership capabilities and amplified influence in shaping team dynamics and fostering professional development among junior lawyers.
- Impressive Tangible Achievements and Client Impact - The CV meticulously details accomplishments that reflect Grace's capacity to leverage her legal expertise into business outcomes. Her track record in increasing client retention by 30% and enhancing service delivery efficiency by 25% underscores her strategic mindset and ability to produce substantial business impacts, not just operational efficiency.
- Strong Emphasis on Soft Skills and Team Synergies - Beyond technical legal prowess, there is a strong emphasis on Grace’s capability as a team leader and mentor. Her initiatives in leading workshops and community outreach illustrate her commitment to nurturing a holistic, community-forward approach, enhancing her impact both within and outside the firm, thereby improving client satisfaction and engagement.
Immigration Lawyer
- Structured and Comprehensive Presentation - The CV is impressively organized, offering a concise yet thorough overview of the candidate's qualifications, experience, education, and skills. It enables effortless navigation with clear headers and prioritized information that underscores expertise in immigration law, particularly focusing on children and families.
- Diverse Career Progression and Leadership Roles - Harry Williams demonstrates a steady career trajectory, moving from a Legal Adviser to a Senior Immigration Solicitor. This advancement indicates robust expertise within the legal domain, particularly in immigration law, and showcases a significant progression to leadership roles where he manages teams and develops strategic policies.
- Innovative and Effective Legal Strategies - The CV highlights industry-specific achievements such as the development of comprehensive immigration strategies for NRPF families and the creation of training programs. This emphasizes his ability to craft innovative solutions and influence organizational processes, leading to improved access to services and substantive cost reductions, thereby underscoring his impact on the business.
Intellectual Property Lawyer
- Content presentation and clarity - The CV is structured in a clear and concise manner, effectively organizing sections in an order that highlights the candidate's strengths. Each section flows logically, beginning with a powerful summary and followed by detailed experiences and notable achievements, ensuring that key qualifications are immediately evident to the reader.
- Progressive career trajectory - Jack Taylor's career showcases a clear progression from a Junior Intellectual Property Lawyer to a Senior Associate, demonstrating not only dedication to the field but also consistent growth in responsibilities. The career advancement reflects industry trust and recognition of the candidate's abilities to handle increasingly complex IP legal matters.
- Achievements with measurable business impact - The CV effectively underscores the candidate's ability to drive substantial business outcomes, with specific achievements like negotiating multi-million licensing deals and implementing systems that increased client satisfaction by over 90%. These accomplishments highlight a strong capability to create significant value for high-profile clients.
Employment Lawyer
- Emphasizes Strategic Leadership and Impact - Eva Fisher's CV highlights her strategic leadership capabilities through her success in tribunal advocacy and effective policy development. The structure clearly outlines her role in Pinsent Masons where she decreased grievances by 40% through strategic employee relations policies, demonstrating her ability to align legal strategies with organizational goals.
- Focuses on Continuous Professional Growth - The career progression from Employment Solicitor to Employment Lawyer illustrates Eva's dedication to advancing her expertise in employment law. Her transition from Leeds to Edinburgh-based roles, followed by her leadership position at a renowned firm like Pinsent Masons, indicates her upward trajectory and regional adaptability within the UK legal sector.
- Showcases Technical and Practical Expertise - Eva has developed specialized skills in employment law with significant achievements in tribunal advocacy, TUPE regulations, and compliance. Her CV emphasizes these industry-specific proficiencies alongside her dedication to policy development and risk assessment, making her an asset for organizations seeking legal guidance and risk management expertise.
Bankruptcy Lawyer
- Clarity in Content Presentation - The CV's structure is well-organized and concise, making it easy to navigate through the different sections. Each section is clearly labeled and bullet points are used effectively to summarize key responsibilities and achievements, ensuring that the reader can quickly grasp the essential information without becoming overwhelmed by detail.
- Progressive Career Trajectory - Sophia's career demonstrates a clear growth path within the legal and risk management field, progressing from an Associate Conflicts Analyst to a Senior Conflicts Analyst. Her steady advancement through roles at respected law firms like Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Clifford Chance, and Allen & Overy LLP highlights her ability to take on increasing responsibilities and lead with expertise.
- Impactful Achievements and Business Relevance - The CV emphasizes Sophia’s achievements in a way that not only provides quantifiable metrics but also underscores their business impact. For instance, reducing conflict resolution time by 40% and increasing compliance adherence to 99% reflect both her analytical skills and her contributions to operational efficiency and client satisfaction.
Real Estate Lawyer
- Clear Structure and Conciseness - The CV is well-organized, with sections logically arranged to guide the reader through Leo Brown's professional journey. Each section is cleanly defined, providing just enough detail to be informative without overwhelming the reader, ensuring clarity and conciseness in presentation.
- Impressive Career Growth - Leo Brown's career trajectory is notable, with experience in prestigious law firms like Clifford Chance and Allen & Overy. This progression highlights his successful transition from a Legal Advisor to a senior role, demonstrating continual growth and recognition in a competitive industry.
- Impactful Achievements Aligned with Business Goals - The CV emphasizes accomplishments that align closely with business objectives, such as leading a £20M acquisition with impressive cost savings, thus highlighting the candidate's ability to drive significant client success. These achievements are presented in a way that underscores their direct impact on the firms and clients served.
Civil Rights Lawyer
- Logical Structure and Clarity - The CV is well-structured, presenting sections like experience, education, skills, and achievements in a clear, chronological order. This approach facilitates easy navigation for recruiters, allowing them to quickly assess Ava Phillips’s qualifications and career trajectory, effectively minimizing the time spent on each section while maximizing information retention.
- Strategic Career Progression - Ava’s career trajectory demonstrates a focused progression within the legal and finance industries, moving from a Junior Legal Advisor to a Derivatives Lawyer. Each role showcases an increase in responsibility and expertise, reflecting a thematic deepening of specialization in derivatives law and regulatory consultancy. This upward path underlines a strong commitment to advancing within her field, adding credibility to her profile.
- Industry-Specific Achievements and Innovations - The CV highlights Ava’s involvement in introducing three innovative derivatives products to the market, showcasing her ability to enhance offerings within the financial sector. This initiative not only illustrates her capacity for innovation but also her ability to translate industry-specific knowledge into concrete, market-altering contributions, which is a highly valuable trait in regulatory and transactional law.
Personal Injury Lawyer
- Strategic Depth in Personal Injury Law - Alfie Edwards' CV effectively portrays a depth of knowledge in personal injury law. The inclusion of specific tools such as the MOJ Portal and clinical negligence points to a well-rounded grasp of niche legal processes, demonstrating Alfie's capacity to manage and expedite cases efficiently.
- Consistent Career Growth and Development - The career trajectory outlined demonstrates a steady progression from a Litigation Assistant to a Personal Injury Lawyer. This showcases a clear path of increasing responsibilities and skill enhancement, indicating a strong commitment to personal and professional development within the legal field.
- Impactful Achievements with Clear Business Relevance - Achievements like the 20% reduction in case resolution times and 30% growth in client base are not just numbers; they speak volumes about Alfie's ability to enhance client satisfaction and drive business development. Such metrics highlight tangible impacts on business objectives, reinforcing the lawyer's valuable contributions to the firms worked for.
Tax Lawyer
- Clear and Structured Presentation - The CV is well-organized, beginning with a succinct summary that captures key expertise areas like M&A and international client management. Sections are clearly defined, ensuring a reader can easily navigate through experiences, education, skills, and achievements. This clarity aids in quickly understanding the candidate’s qualifications and value proposition.
- Impressive Career Growth and Industry Expertise - Freya Richardson's career trajectory demonstrates consistent growth, moving from a Junior Tax Consultant role to a Senior Associate position. This upward progression highlights her capability to adapt and take on more complex responsibilities in tax advisory, particularly within the context of M&A transactions and international client relations. Her tenure in top firms like Deloitte and PwC confirms her expertise in this niche area.
- Significant Achievements with Strategic Business Impact - Emphasizing achievements with quantifiable business results, the CV showcases Freya’s ability to effect substantial organizational benefit. Examples like achieving a 25% increase in cross-border deal success rates and conducting tax structuring that saved clients millions establish her strategic influence. These accomplishments underscore her proficiency in translating technical skills into impactful business solutions.
Environmental Lawyer
- Clearly Articulated Roles and Responsibilities - The CV effectively utilizes bullet points to detail Louis Wood's responsibilities across different positions. Each role is broken down into specific tasks and results, which enhances readability and ensures that the key contributions and achievements are clear and concise.
- Diverse Career Progression in Public Sector Law - Louis Wood's career trajectory demonstrates a focused progression within public sector legal services, moving from a focus on litigation in Leeds City Council to strategic roles in environmental law and commercial solicitations at Durham and Newcastle City Councils. This shows a commitment to public service and an expanding expertise in different facets of legal work specific to local government operations.
- Demonstrates Significant Business Impact through Achievements - The CV effectively highlights specific achievements, detailing the measurable impact Louis had on legal outcomes and operational efficiencies. These include a 15% reduction in litigation costs and enhancing project completion rates by 20%, showcasing not just successful negotiation skills but also strategic influence that benefitted his employers financially and operationally.
Estate Planning Lawyer
- Concise and Structured Presentation - This CV effectively employs a structured format, beginning with a succinct summary and well-organized sections that facilitate effortless navigation through Ava's qualifications, experience, education, and skills. It maintains clarity and precision, avoiding unnecessary jargon while focusing on key points that highlight her estate planning expertise.
- Progressive Career Trajectory - Ava Phillips’ career trajectory is impressive, with clear professional growth from a Paralegal to an Estate Planning Solicitor. This progression illustrates her expanding responsibilities and expertise within the legal sector, punctuated by her movement between reputable firms which emphasizes her adaptability and ambition in estate management.
- Impactful Achievements with Business Relevance - The CV not only provides metrics but also contextualizes these accomplishments, such as a 25% increase in team productivity and a 20% growth in firm revenue. These achievements highlight Ava's contributions to business success, showcasing her ability to drive meaningful results beyond mere numerical improvements.
Military Lawyer
- Impressive Career Progression - Chloe Bell's career trajectory showcases significant growth and expertise within the commercial real estate sector. Transitioning smoothly from a Junior Real Estate Lawyer to a Senior Commercial Real Estate Associate, Chloe has demonstrated continuous professional development and increasing responsibilities. Each role builds upon the last, culminating in handling complex transactions and delivering substantial financial outcomes.
- Cross-Functional Collaboration Skills - The CV emphasizes Chloe's adeptness in working cross-functionally, highlighting her leadership in managing teams and cultivating client relationships. Chloe's ability to navigate different functional areas, from legal documentation to client engagement, underscores her versatility and capability in aligning various stakeholders to achieve common goals.
- Substantial Achievements with Business Impact - The achievements outlined in Chloe's CV are well-articulated with clear business relevance. For instance, increasing transaction efficiency by 15% and closing property deals worth over £500 million accentuate Chloe's role in driving significant value for her employers and clients. These accomplishments not only demonstrate her proficiency but also her strategic impact on business growth and operational efficiency.
Public Interest Lawyer
- Effectively highlights career progression - The CV illustrates a clear trajectory from Assistant Lawyer to Senior Lawyer, showcasing consistent career growth and development. It reflects deepening responsibility and expertise, particularly in complex litigation and human rights, which are central to the candidate's specialization.
- Showcases significant achievements with measurable impact - The CV effectively uses quantifiable data to highlight accomplishments, such as reducing council's legal costs by 15%, improving case outcomes by 20%, and securing a £200,000 funding increase. These statistics underscore the candidate’s ability to make a tangible impact within their roles, enhancing credibility and effectiveness.
- Demonstrates a blend of technical and leadership skills - The CV uniquely balances legal expertise with leadership capabilities, showcasing the candidate's ability to lead teams, manage high-stakes negotiations, and deliver impactful training programs. This blend demonstrates their capability to not only handle technical legal matters but also to influence and drive team success.
How complex should the format of your lawyer CV be?
Perhaps, you decided to use a fancy font and plenty of colours to ensure your lawyer CV stands out amongst the pile of other candidate profiles. Alas - this may confuse recruiters. By keeping your format simple and organising your information coherently, you'll ultimately make a better impression. What matters most is your experience, while your CV format should act as complementary thing by:
- Presenting the information in a reverse chronological order with the most recent of your jobs first. This is done so that your career history stays organised and is aligned to the role;
- Making it easy for recruiters to get in touch with you by including your contact details in the CV header. Regarding the design of your CV header, include plenty of white space and icons to draw attention to your information. If you're applying for roles in the UK, don't include a photo, as this is considered a bad practice;
- Organising your most important CV sections with consistent colours, plenty of white space, and appropriate margins (2.54 cm). Remember that your CV design should always aim at legibility and to spotlight your key information;
- Writing no more than two pages of your relevant experience. For candidates who are just starting out in the field, we recommend to have an one-page CV.
One more thing about your CV format - you may be worried if your double column CV is Applicant Tracker System (ATS) complaint. In our recent study, we discovered that both single and double-column CVs are ATS-friendly . Most ATSes out there can also read all serif and sans serif fonts. We suggest you go with modern, yet simple, fonts (e.g. Rubik, Lato, Raleway) instead of the classic Times New Roman. You'll want your application to stand out, and many candidates still go for the classics. Finally, you'll have to export your CV. If you're wondering if you should select Doc or PDF, we always advise going with PDF. Your CV in PDF will stay intact and opens easily on every OS, including Mac OS.
PRO TIP
Use bold or italics sparingly to draw attention to key points, such as job titles, company names, or significant achievements. Overusing these formatting options can dilute their impact.
The top sections on a lawyer CV
- Contact Information is essential to quickly reach the lawyer.
- Education Background showcases legal qualifications.
- Legal Experience reflects practical expertise in law.
- Bar Admissions highlight licensing in relevant jurisdictions.
- Key Skills underscore competencies like legal research.
What recruiters value on your CV:
- Highlight your legal qualifications and experiences, ensuring you detail your specialisation areas such as commercial law, criminal law, or intellectual property, and the specific legal matters you've handled.
- Detail any notable cases, transactions, or legal projects you've been involved in, emphasising your role, the skills you applied, and the outcomes, as measurable achievements demonstrate your competency.
- Include any publications or research you've completed in the legal field, as these showcase your expertise and ability to contribute thought leadership within the profession.
- Emphasise your professional memberships, such as being a member of the Law Society or other legal associations, as these indicate a commitment to the legal community and ongoing professional development.
- Mention your advocacy and verbal communication skills, providing examples such as court appearances or negotiations, which are critical for a lawyer in effectively representing clients.
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What information should you include in your lawyer CV header?
The CV header is potentially the section that recruiters would refer to the most, as it should include your:
- Contact details - your professional (non-work) email address and phone number;
- Professional photograph - if you're applying hinting at the value you bring as a professional.
Many professionals often struggle with writing their lawyer CV headline. That's why in the next section of this guide, we've curated examples of how you can optimise this space to pass any form of assessment.
Examples of good CV headlines for lawyer:
- Associate Solicitor | Commercial Law Specialist | LL.M in Intellectual Property | 5 Years of Practice
- Senior Legal Counsel | Corporate Governance Expert | Compliance | 10+ Years Experience
- Junior Barrister | Criminal Defence Advocate | Pupillage Completed | Emerging Practice in Jury Trials
- Legal Director | Real Estate & Property Law | Chartered Legal Executive | 15 Years at the Bar
- Family Law Attorney | Mediation and Collaborative Law | Accredited Resolution Member | 7 Years Experience
- Senior Partner | International Business Law | Mergers & Acquisitions | Over 20 Years of Legal Expertise
Your lawyer CV introduction: selecting between a summary and an objective
lawyer candidates often wonder how to start writing their resumes. More specifically, how exactly can they use their opening statements to build a connection with recruiters, showcase their relevant skills, and spotlight job alignment. A tricky situation, we know. When crafting you lawyer CV select between:
- A summary - to show an overview of your career so far, including your most significant achievements.
- An objective - to show a conscise overview of your career dreams and aspirations.
Find out more examples and ultimately, decide which type of opening statement will fit your profile in the next section of our guide:
CV summaries for a lawyer job:
- Seasoned commercial lawyer with over 15 years of experience in top-tier firms, specialising in mergers and acquisitions. Renowned for expert legal advice that resulted in a 20% increase in successful deal closures for a London-based legal practice. Outstanding negotiation skills and a proven track record of driving complex transactions to completion.
- Dynamic advocate with a solid background in criminal law and civil litigation amassed over a decade at a prestigious New York law firm. Instrumental in achieving a landmark court victory that set a new legal precedent in corporate fraud cases. Keen analytical abilities and a skillful approach to case strategy formulation.
- Experienced marketing director transitioning into legal consultancy, bringing a unique perspective on corporate law with an emphasis on intellectual property rights. Having successfully led a campaign that boosted a tech startup's market share by 30%, eager to offer a blend of creative strategy development and rigorous legal analysis.
- Accomplished engineer with 10 years of managing large-scale infrastructure projects, seeking to leverage robust problem-solving skills and detail-oriented mindset in the field of construction law. Proven expertise in negotiating multi-million-pound contracts and keen on applying technical knowledge to legal challenges within the construction sector.
- As a recent law graduate, I am eager to apply my rigorous academic training and moot court successes to practical legal work, with a specific interest in environmental law. My objective is to contribute fresh perspectives and enthusiastic efforts to advocate for sustainability and compliance with environmental regulations.
- Armed with a passion for social justice and a fresh LLB degree, my aim is to dive into human rights law and make a tangible difference through dedicated service. With top honours in legal research and writing, I am ready to tackle challenging cases that uphold individuals’ rights and freedoms.
The best formula for your lawyer CV experience section
The CV experience section is the space where many candidates go wrong by merely listing their work history and duties. Don't do that. Instead, use the job description to better understand what matters most for the role and integrate these keywords across your CV. Thus, you should focus on:
- showcasing your accomplishments to hint that you're results-oriented;
- highlighting your skill set by integrating job keywords, technologies, and transferrable skills in your experience bullets;
- listing your roles in reverse chronological order, starting with the latest and most senior, to hint at how you have grown your career;
- featuring metrics, in the form of percentage, numbers, etc. to make your success more tangible.
When writing each experience bullet, start with a strong, actionable verb, then follow it up with a skill, accomplishment, or metric. Use these professional examples to perfect your CV experience section:
Best practices for your CV's work experience section
- Highlight significant cases you have worked on, detailing the nature of the case and your role in achieving a favorable outcome, to show your hands-on experience and legal acumen.
- Enumerate specific legal skills, such as drafting contracts, negotiating settlements, or litigation, to demonstrate your expertise in practical legal work and technical ability.
- Include contributions to legal research and publications, if applicable, to underscore your proficiency in legal scholarship and staying abreast of current law.
- Detail your experience in client relations, including advisory roles and counselling, to illustrate your ability to communicate effectively and provide sound legal advice.
- Mention any leadership roles or project management experience within a legal context, such as heading a legal department or overseeing a major case, to show your capability in leading teams and managing substantial responsibilities.
- Specify any experience with regulatory compliance and risk management, highlighting your understanding of legal frameworks and ability to minimise legal risks for clients or your organisation.
- Document your proficiency in different areas of law, whether it be corporate, criminal, family, or others, to indicate your areas of specialisation and diverse legal knowledge.
- Include any involvement in professional legal associations or committees, to demonstrate engagement with the legal community and commitment to professional development.
- Detail your experience with legal software or case management systems, which shows you are adept at leveraging technology in legal practice.
Work Experience
Senior Litigation Attorney
Baker McKenzie
08/2019-Ongoing
- Lead counsel in over 30 high-stakes commercial litigation cases, consistently securing favorable outcomes for the firm's clients.
- Developed and implemented a comprehensive risk assessment protocol that reduced legal exposure for the firm's corporate clients by 25%.
- Authored and negotiated complex multi-party contracts for international transactions, improving client satisfaction ratings by 15%.
Work Experience
Corporate Counsel - Tech Sector
Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati
02/2017-07/2019
- Advised technology startups on intellectual property strategies, resulting in the successful patenting of 20 unique software products.
- Spearheaded regulatory compliance initiatives for clients in the fintech sector, enhancing their market positioning.
- Fostered strategic partnerships with client executives, contributing to a 30% increase in the law firm's tech industry client portfolio.
Work Experience
Employment Law Attorney
Littler Mendelson
05/2014-01/2017
- Managed a caseload of approximately 50 ongoing employment law cases for a diverse clientele, achieving a 90% success rate.
- Conducted extensive legal research that was used as the foundation for the firm's challenge of an existing labor law, leading to a precedent-setting court ruling.
- Educated and trained corporate clients' HR departments on compliance with new state labor statutes, minimizing legal risks by 40%.
Work Experience
Environmental Defense Attorney
Earthjustice
09/2011-04/2014
- Orchestrated a team of junior attorneys and paralegals in a landmark environmental case, resulting in a historic $50 million settlement.
- Led negotiations for community redevelopment projects, securing over $10 million in government funding for sustainable initiatives.
- Drafted amicus briefs on high-profile cases related to climate change policy, influencing legislative amendments and corporate practices.
Work Experience
Mergers & Acquisitions Attorney
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom
01/2009-08/2011
- Represented clients in complex mergers and acquisitions, valued at over $3 billion, facilitating seamless transitions and safeguarding against litigation.
- Acted as lead counsel in the negotiation of international joint ventures, expanding the firm’s global footprint by establishing partnerships in 5 new countries.
- Devised and led a training program for associates on cross-border transactions, enhancing firm expertise and leading to a 20% productivity increase in M&A operations.
How to ensure your lawyer CV stands out when you have no experience
This part of our step-by-step guide will help you substitute your experience section by helping you spotlight your skill set. First off, your ability to land your first job will depend on the time you take to assess precisely how you match the job requirements. Whether that's via your relevant education and courses, skill set, or any potential extracurricular activities. Next:
- Systematise your CV so that it spotlights your most relevant experience (whether that's your education or volunteer work) towards the top;
- Focus recruiters' attention to your transferrable skill set and in particular how your personality would be the perfect fit for the role;
- Consider how your current background has helped you build your technological understanding - whether you've created projects in your free time or as part of your uni degree;
- Ensure you've expanded on your teamwork capabilities with any relevant internships, part-time roles, or projects you've participated in the past.
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PRO TIP
If you have experience in diverse fields, highlight how this has broadened your perspective and skill set, making you a more versatile candidate.
Hard skills and soft skills to showcase your unique skill set on your lawyer CV
Did you know that your CV will mostly likely be assessed by recruiters based on skill alignment? And that means that the way you feature your key skills across different CV sections will play a crucial role in landing you that first interview. We recommend you add your:
- technical capabilities or hard skills in your CV experience, certificates, projects, etc. Use your past accomplishments to prove your technical capabilities. List up to a dozen different software or hardware in your dedicated skills section to match the job keywords;
- personal and communication skills or soft skills in your CV strengths, achievements, summary/ objective, etc. Soft skills are a bit more difficult to prove. How do you define your aptitude in active listening? So, instead of just listing the skill name, include a tangible metric to show your success.
On a final note, when you're in a hurry to create your profile, you may misspell a particular technology or soft skill. That's why we suggest you copy and paste the particular skill name (or keyword), directly from the job advert. This would also help you to pass any initial Applicant Tracker System (ATS) tests.
Top skills for your lawyer CV:
HARD SKILLS
Legal Research
Legal Writing
Litigation
Contract Negotiation
Legal Compliance
Client Advising
Intellectual Property Law
Corporate Law
Criminal Law
Real Estate Law
SOFT SKILLS
Analytical Thinking
Problem Solving
Communication
Attention to Detail
Negotiation
Time Management
Client Service
Empathy
Integrity
Stress Management
PRO TIP
Use mini case studies or success stories in your CV to demonstrate how your skills have positively impacted previous roles or projects.
Further professional qualifications for your lawyer CV: education and certificates
As you're nearing the end of your lawyer CV, you may wonder what else will be relevant to the role. Recruiters are keen on understanding your academic background, as it teaches you an array of hard and soft skills. Create a dedicated education section that lists your:
- applicable higher education diplomas or ones that are at a postgraduate level;
- diploma, followed up with your higher education institution and start-graduation dates;
- extracurricular activities and honours, only if you deem that recruiters will find them impressive.
Follow a similar logic when presenting your certificates. Always select ones that will support your niche expertise and hint at what it's like to work with you. Balance both technical certification with soft skills courses to answer job requirements and company values. Wondering what the most sought out certificates are for the industry? Look no further:
PRO TIP
If there's a noticeable gap in your skillset for the role you're applying for, mention any steps you're taking to acquire these skills, such as online courses or self-study.
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Key takeaways
What matters most in your lawyer CV-writing process is for you to create a personalised application. One that matches the role and also showcases your unique qualities and talents.
- Use the format to supplement the actual content, to stand out, and to ensure your CV experience is easy to comprehend and follows a logic;
- Invest time in building a succinct CV top one third. One that includes a header (with your contact details and headline), a summary or an objective statement (select the one that best fits your experience), and - potentially - a dedicated skills section or achievements (to fit both hard skills and soft skills requirements);
- Prioritise your most relevant (and senior) experience closer to the top of your CV. Always ensure you're following the "power verb, skill, and achievement" format for your bullets;
- Integrate both your technical and communication background across different sections of your CV to meet the job requirements;
- List your relevant education and certificates to fill in gaps in your CV history and prove to recrutiers you have relevant technical know-how.
