Crafting your CV to stand out in the competitive legal job market is a significant challenge for solicitors. Our guide offers tailored advice to enhance your document's impact, ensuring your skills and experience resonate with top law firms.
In this Enhancv solicitor CV guide, you'll find out more about how to:
- Answer job requirements with your solicitor 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 solicitor CV? Our guides focus on unique insights for each individual role:
Resume examples for solicitor
Explore additional solicitor cv samples and guides and see what works for your level of experience or role.
By Experience
Senior Family Law Solicitor
- Structured and Comprehensive Presentation - The CV is well-organized with clearly defined sections, such as experience, education, skills, and achievements, which allows for easy navigation and quick identification of relevant details. Each section succinctly conveys essential information, making it accessible and ensuring clarity.
- Diverse Career Path with Consistent Growth - Sophia's career trajectory shows a clear progression from a Paralegal to a Family Law Solicitor, indicating professional development and increased responsibility. Her move through different law firms illustrates a broadening of her experience within the legal industry, with a consistent focus on family law.
- Emphasizes Key Achievements and Business Impact - The CV skillfully highlights Sophia's achievements with metrics that demonstrate her impact, such as a 30% increase in client retention and a 15% rise in productivity. These accomplishments underscore her ability to contribute significantly to business success beyond mere compliance with job duties.
Trainee Criminal Solicitor
- Structured and Concise Presentation - The CV is well-organized, with a clear structure that allows for easy navigation through different sections. Each section provides concise yet comprehensive information, making it simple for the reader to quickly grasp the candidate's qualifications and track record. Key achievements are highlighted, ensuring that the most important points stand out without overwhelming the reader with excessive detail.
- Steady Career Progression - The career trajectory reveals a consistent and logical progression in the field of criminal law, showcasing the candidate's growth from a Trainee Solicitor to a Criminal Solicitor. This advancement reflects increasing responsibility and expertise, evidenced by the transition from supporting roles to leading high-profile criminal defense strategies. Such progression underlines the candidate's commitment and capacity for professional development within the legal sector.
- Impactful Achievements with Business Relevance - The candidate's achievements are not only numerous but also demonstrate significant business relevance. For instance, securing an acquittal in a national case illustrates superior legal strategy and has likely contributed positively to the firm's reputation. Additionally, a 20% increase in client retention reflects strong client relationship skills, which is crucial for sustainable business growth in the legal profession.
Junior Employment Solicitor
- Structured and Cohesive Presentation - The CV is presented in a clear and structured manner, effectively using sections to neatly organize personal information, experience, education, skills, achievements, and passions. This format aids in quick comprehension and ensures that each section seamlessly builds on the last, maximizing the reader's understanding of the candidate's professional profile.
- Consistent Career Growth in Employment Law - William Hall's career trajectory shows a robust and consistent growth path within the field of employment law. Starting as a Legal Intern and advancing to the role of Employment Solicitor demonstrates a clear upward progression, highlighting dedication and expertise in his chosen field.
- Business Impact through Measurable Achievements - The CV efficiently highlights significant achievements, bringing attention to the candidate's ability to drive concrete business outcomes. Notable accomplishments such as increasing firm revenue by £150,000 and achieving a 95% win rate in tribunal cases underscore his impact on both client satisfaction and the firm’s financial growth.
Principal Immigration Solicitor
- Structured and Concise Presentation - The CV is well-organized, featuring clear sections such as experience, education, and skills, each contributing to an easy-to-follow narrative. The use of bullet points ensures that key accomplishments and responsibilities are illustrated succinctly, allowing the reader to quickly grasp essential information.
- Consistent Career Progression in Immigration Law - Charlotte Powell's career demonstrates a focused trajectory within immigration law, marked by steady advancements from Legal Assistant to Senior Immigration Solicitor. This progression not only reflects her growing expertise and leadership in the field but also highlights her commitment to this specialized area of law.
- Emphasis on Leadership and Mentorship - Throughout her roles, Charlotte has shown a strong dedication to leadership and mentorship, engaging in activities like training junior solicitors and developing a mentorship program. Her efforts indicate an aptitude for fostering talent and guiding team development, crucial for sustaining a dynamic legal practice.
Associate Personal Injury Solicitor
- Clarity and structure in content presentation - The CV is meticulously structured, starting with a concise summary that clearly outlines the attorney's experience and areas of expertise. Each section is easy to navigate, with well-defined headers and bullet points that efficiently communicate key information, highlighting Joshua Patel's skills and achievements succinctly.
- Demonstrated career growth and leadership - Joshua's career trajectory reflects a steady progression from an Associate Attorney to a Senior Litigation Attorney, demonstrating tangible growth and increasing responsibility. Notably, his role evolution includes leadership aspects such as supervising a team and developing a mentorship program, emphasizing his capability to lead and inspire.
- Technical depth in personal injury law and client advocacy - The CV features specific industry-related methodologies, including drafting complex legal documents, negotiating settlements, and conducting mediation sessions. Joshua's proficiency in achieving high-profile verdicts and setting precedents in landmark cases showcases an advanced technical understanding of personal injury litigation.
Senior Real Estate Solicitor
- Strong Career Progression - Grace Bailey's CV demonstrates impressive career growth, starting as a Real Estate Litigation Solicitor and advancing to a Senior Associate role within reputable firms. Her trajectory reflects a consistent commitment to developing her expertise in real estate litigation and shows her adaptability in moving between major law firms while enhancing her responsibilities and influence.
- Integration of Technical and Soft Skills - While Grace excels in technical areas like lease renewals, dilapidation claims, and telecoms law, her CV also highlights key soft skills such as client relations, negotiation, and strategic planning. This combination suggests she is not only proficient in legal strategies but also adept at nurturing client relationships and driving effective team collaboration.
- Impactful Achievements with Tangible Outcomes – The CV lists several quantifiable achievements, such as an 85% client win rate in lease renewal disputes and a 20% improvement in client satisfaction. Her contributions have led to measurable improvements in client retention and departmental efficiency, evidencing a direct link between her work and positive business impacts.
Junior Litigation Solicitor
- Clear and Structured Presentation - The CV is well-organized, presenting information in a logical order that progresses from personal details and contact information to a detailed career summary, education, skills, and achievements. This structure not only enhances clarity but also makes the document easy to navigate, ensuring important details capture the reader’s attention quickly.
- Impressive Career Growth - Emily Cox’s career trajectory highlights a clear path of progression within the legal field, moving from a legal intern to an associate solicitor and then to a solicitor role. This advancement underscores her increasing responsibilities and expertise, showing a strong record of career development and adaptability to new challenges within the industry.
- Impactful Achievements with Business Relevance - The CV emphasizes key achievements that are not only quantified but also qualified in terms of business impact. For example, increasing client satisfaction by 20% and negotiating significant settlements demonstrate not only legal acumen but also a deep understanding of client needs and business objectives, which are crucial for success in dispute resolution.
Partner-level Banking Solicitor
- Clear Structure and Readability - The CV is well-organized, with distinct sections for experience, education, skills, achievements, and more. Each section is presented in a concise manner, maintaining clarity and focus throughout. This structured format allows for easy navigation and highlights Chloe Bell's credentials and experience effectively.
- Progressive Career Trajectory - Chloe Bell’s career shows a clear progression from a Junior Solicitor to positions with increasing responsibility, demonstrating significant growth and expertise within the Banking and Finance sector. Each role builds upon the previous one, showcasing her ability to take on more complex tasks and lead major projects, indicating her upward mobility in the legal field.
- Impactful Achievements with Business Relevance - The achievements section is particularly compelling, as it ties specific accomplishments to business outcomes. For instance, negotiating interest rate reductions and contributing to revenue growth are not just numerical successes but illustrate her strategic impact on client satisfaction and firm performance, underscoring her effectiveness as a solicitor.
Associate Solicitor in Medical Negligence
- Clarity and Structural Organization - The CV is strategically structured, presenting Henry's professional journey in a clear and concise manner. Each section is delineated with bullet points that succinctly capture key responsibilities and achievements, making it easy for potential employers to quickly assess his qualifications and expertise in clinical negligence law.
- Career Growth and Specialist Expertise - Henry's career trajectory showcases a clear progression from a Legal Advisor to an Associate Solicitor, underscoring continuous growth and expertise in clinical negligence. His experience at distinguished firms like Slater and Gordon and Irwin Mitchell emphasizes his deepening specialization in medical negligence law, reflecting both professional advancement and industry-specific prowess.
- Empathetic Client Advocacy and Leadership - The CV highlights Henry's commitment to client care and advocacy, as demonstrated by awards recognizing his client service excellence and high settlement success rates. His leadership capabilities are evident in his roles involving team leadership, strategy development, and training junior solicitors, suggesting a well-rounded proficiency in both technical and soft skills within the legal domain.
Senior Civil Litigation Solicitor
- Strategic Career Progression - Charlotte Powell's CV illustrates a clear upward trajectory in her career, demonstrating a progression from Solicitor at Deloitte Legal to Senior Associate at Pinsent Masons LLP. This growth is underlined by increasing responsibilities and her specialization in contentious tax cases, showcasing targeted career development within the legal sector.
- Industry-Specific Expertise in Tax Litigation - The CV emphasizes Charlotte's in-depth knowledge and application of tax litigation strategies and professional negligence in tax law, as evidenced by her success in high-profile cases and her role in developing innovative legal approaches. Her specialized courses and certifications further solidify this expertise.
- Effective Client Management and Relationship Building - Her achievements in enhancing client retention by 30% and managing high-stakes negotiations highlight Charlotte's exceptional communication skills and ability to build trust with clients. These abilities are crucial for maintaining and expanding a law firm's client base.
By Role
Commercial Property Solicitor
- Content presentation - The CV is organized in a clear and logical manner, presenting information concisely across each section, making it easy to follow Alexander Jackson's professional journey. The use of bullet points in experience and skills sections enhances clarity, highlighting key achievements and competencies effectively.
- Career trajectory - Jackson’s career progression is evident, moving from a Junior Commercial Property Lawyer at Pinsent Masons to a Senior Commercial Property Solicitor at DLA Piper. This upward trajectory within reputable firms demonstrates not only growth and expertise but also a solid commitment to the commercial property sector.
- Achievements and their business relevance - The CV showcases significant achievements such as spearheading projects that reduced costs by 15% and increasing firm revenue by 25%. These accomplishments underline Jackson’s ability to deliver tangible business impacts beyond mere legal advice, demonstrating his commercial acumen.
In-house Corporate Solicitor
- Structured Career Progression - Daisy Shaw's CV reflects a clear and upward career trajectory, transitioning smoothly from a Trainee Solicitor role to an Associate Solicitor position in prestigious law firms. This steady growth within the legal field underscores a robust foundation in construction and commercial law, specializing in nuclear energy, depicting a consistent trajectory aligned with her professional interests and market demands.
- Impressive Legal Achievements with Tangible Outcomes - The CV showcases significant achievements within the legal sector, such as spearheading negotiations for a £10M renewable energy project that boosted profitability by 15% and leading a risk management initiative that reduced liabilities by 20%. These accomplishments not only highlight Daisy’s proficiency in legal negotiations but also demonstrate her role in enhancing financial performance and operational efficiency within her sphere.
- Incorporation of Industry-Specific Skills - The document effectively integrates core industry skills like Nuclear Regulation and Export Control, crucial for professionals in the nuclear energy sector. Daisy's expertise in contract negotiation and risk management, paired with her specialized legal training and relevant courses, underscores her adeptness in handling complex legal matters pertinent to construction and energy law, making her a strong candidate in these niche areas.
Intellectual Property Solicitor
- Structured and Concise Presentation - The CV is neatly organized with clear sections, allowing for easy navigation through Alice Barnes' career history. Information is concise and directly relevant to potential employers, highlighting her strengths in commercial law efficiently.
- Impressive Career Trajectory - Alice Barnes' career growth is apparent, progressing from a Solicitor to a Senior Associate Solicitor. This ascension demonstrates her ability to take on greater responsibilities and illustrates her long-term commitment to the field of law.
- Business-Relevant Achievements - The CV emphasizes the impact of her work by showcasing achievements like a 30% increase in client satisfaction and a 15% revenue growth from new service lines. These accomplishments underline her capability to drive business success and client satisfaction effectively.
Conveyancing Solicitor
- Structured career growth in law - Harry Williams' CV clearly outlines a linear and upward career path in the property law sector. Starting as a Junior Conveyancer and progressing to a Senior Property Lawyer, it narrates a journey marked by increasing responsibilities and skill enhancement, showcasing a commitment to the field and continuous personal development.
- Diverse and proactive skill set - The CV emphasizes both technical and soft skills pertinent to a Property Lawyer. From managing caseloads and conducting risk assessments to improving team efficiency and client satisfaction, it highlights his abilities in communication, problem-solving, and leadership, underlining his comprehensive capabilities beyond mere legal expertise.
- Achievements with measurable business impact - With clearly defined achievements backed by quantitative data, such as increasing client satisfaction by 25% and boosting firm revenue by 30%, the CV effectively communicates Harry's direct contributions to business success, providing clear evidence of his ability to add value to a firm beyond traditional legal work.
Legal Aid Solicitor
- Clear and Structured Content Presentation - The CV is organized in a clear and structured manner, allowing for easy navigation through different sections such as experience, education, skills, and achievements. This conciseness ensures that the key points are easily accessible while maintaining a comprehensive overview of qualifications.
- Impressive Career Trajectory in Family Law - The progression from a Junior Family Solicitor to a Senior Family Solicitor at prominent law firms reflects a significant career growth. Each role highlights increased responsibilities and successful outcomes, demonstrating a clear upward trajectory within the family law sector.
- Emphasis on Community Impact and Advocacy - The CV stands out with its focus on community engagement and advocacy, particularly through organizing community outreach initiatives and legal education seminars. These efforts underline a dedication to improving access and understanding of family law, extending the candidate's influence beyond individual client success.
Childcare Solicitor
- Comprehensive Career Progression - Daniel Baker's CV outlines a strong and clear career trajectory, demonstrating consistent growth within the legal industry. His transition from a Paralegal to a Childcare Solicitor highlights both upward mobility and increasing responsibility, underscoring his ability to handle more complex legal challenges over time.
- Robust Soft Skills and Leadership Abilities - The CV emphasizes Daniel's leadership capabilities and soft skills, as evidenced by his successful management and mentoring of junior solicitors and paralegals. These experiences not only reflect his expertise in legal matters but also his capability to build and lead effective legal teams, crucial in collaborative environments.
- Effective Use of Modern Legal Tools - Daniel's implementation of a new case management system showcases his proficiency in leveraging modern digital tools to enhance legal processes. This adaptation not only improved processing speed by 30% but also solidifies his reputation as a forward-thinking legal professional who actively contributes to organizational efficiency and innovation.
In-house Tax Solicitor
- Structured presentation with clear sections - The CV is organized with distinct sections such as experience, education, skills, and achievements, allowing for quick navigation and easy comprehension of the candidate's professional background. This well-structured format supports an at-a-glance understanding of qualifications and career milestones.
- Progressive career development in international taxation - Sienna West’s career trajectory showcases a clear progression from a Junior Tax Associate to a Tax Solicitor, indicating steady professional growth and increased responsibilities. This upward movement in reputable firms highlights her capability to scale across roles within the competitive landscape of international taxation.
- Exemplifies strategic problem-solving and leadership - The CV emphasizes Sienna's proficiency in problem-solving through tax strategy development that resulted in significant cost savings for clients. Additionally, her leadership in training junior solicitors illustrates her ability to enhance team productivity and mentorship capabilities.
Wills and Probate Solicitor
- Structured Presentation with Detailed Insights - The CV is meticulously organized, offering a clear overview of Eva Fisher's qualifications and experience in estate planning and probate. Each section is concise, allowing easy navigation through her professional history, skills, and achievements. Bullet points succinctly articulate key responsibilities without overwhelming the reader.
- Progressive Career Trajectory - Eva's career illustrates a consistent upward progression within the legal field, moving from a Private Client Advisor to a Private Client Solicitor. This trajectory demonstrates her growing expertise and leadership in wills and probate, underpinned by solid educational foundations and ongoing professional development.
- Impactful Achievements Beyond Numeric Success - The CV effectively communicates the business relevance of Eva's accomplishments, such as implementing a client tracking system that enhanced efficiency or leading client workshops that boosted engagement by 40%. These achievements underscore her capability to drive strategic improvements and foster client relationships, benefiting firms substantially.
Housing Rights Solicitor
- Impressive Career Progression in Housing Law - Florence Knight's CV showcases a progressive career trajectory from a Housing Law Specialist to a Senior Housing Solicitor. This upward movement highlights her commitment to her field and the skills she has developed over time, making her a valuable asset to any legal team focusing on housing matters.
- Comprehensive Skill Set in Legal and Project Management - The CV effectively showcases Florence's robust skill set, blending technical legal skills like litigation and dispute resolution with project management and leadership abilities. Her capacity for supervising trainees, developing pro bono programmes, and delivering complex legal advice exemplifies her comprehensive expertise.
- Diverse and Impactful Achievements - The achievements listed in the CV are not just impressive in number but also in their social and financial impact. Florence's work in reducing homelessness, preventing evictions, and representing clients successfully in housing litigation cases demonstrates her ability to effect real-world change in communities while providing substantial financial savings.
In-house Environmental Law Solicitor
- Strategic Career Growth - Finley Robinson's career trajectory showcases a clear and strategic advancement from in-house counsel to senior commercial solicitor within reputable firms. This demonstrates his capability to continually take on greater responsibilities and contribute to the legal field's evolving demands.
- Robust Leadership and Mentoring - With a proven track record of managing a team of junior solicitors and enhancing team productivity through targeted training programs, the CV emphasizes Finley’s strong leadership skills. This is further backed by his ability to offer strategic advisory, exemplifying his role as a mentor and leader in the commercial law sector.
- Comprehensive Regulatory Expertise - His detailed experience with regulatory compliance, particularly in data protection and intellectual property, highlights Finley's depth of knowledge in navigating complex regulations. This expertise is complemented by strategic advisory roles that have directly influenced business growth and operational improvements within diverse sectors.
How to ensure your profile stands out with your solicitor CV format
It's sort of a Catch 22. You want your solicitor CV to stand out amongst a pile of candidate profiles, yet you don't want it to be too over the top that it's unreadable. Where is the perfect balance between your CV format simple, while using it to shift the focus to what matters most. That is - your expertise. When creating your solicitor CV:
- list your experience in the reverse chronological order - starting with your latest roles;
- include a header with your professional contact information and - optionally - your photograph;
- organise vital and relevant CV sections - e.g. your experience, skills, summary/ objective, education - closer to the top;
- use no more than two pages to illustrate your professional expertise;
- format your information using plenty of white space and standard (2.54 cm) margins, with colours to accent key information.
Once you've completed your information, export your solicitor CV in PDF, as this format is more likely to stay intact when read by the Applicant Tracker System or the ATS. A few words of advice about the ATS - or the software used to assess your profile:
- Generic fonts, e.g. Arial and Times New Roman, are ATS-compliant, yet many candidates stick with these safe choices. Ensure your CV stands out by using a more modern, and simple, fonts like Lato, Exo 2, Volkhov;
- All serif and sans-serif fonts are ATS-friendly. Avoid the likes of fancy decorative or script typography, as this may render your information to be illegible;
- Both single- and double-column formatted CVs could be assessed by the ATS;
- Integrating simple infographics, icons, and charts across your CV won't hurt your chances during the ATS assessment.
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 solicitor CV
- Personal statement outlining career goals specific to legal services, which is crucial as it immediately provides insight into the candidate's professional ambitions and potential fit for the firm.
- Legal work experience detailing roles and responsibilities, as a comprehensive history of legal work demonstrates practical skills and knowledge in the law sector.
- Education and qualifications including legal credentials, where thorough details of legal education and qualifications verify the solicitor's competence and specialisation.
- Key legal skills highlighting expertise in law, which are essential as they pinpoint the candidate's specific abilities that are valuable to legal practice.
- Professional memberships and associations in law, as these affiliations reflect the solicitor's commitment to staying connected and updated within the legal community.
What recruiters value on your CV:
- Highlight your legal qualifications and accreditations, showcasing your academic achievements, including your LPC, and any relevant modules or specialisations. Specify if you have attained positions of responsibility, such as pro bono work or if you have been published in legal journals.
- Demonstrate your experience in legal practice by detailing your involvement in cases, emphasising any that align with the area of law the firm specialises in. Make sure to include any successful outcomes or settlements you have achieved.
- Showcase your skills in client management and case preparation by elaborating on your ability to communicate complex legal information clearly and your meticulous attention to detail. Include your experience in client liaising, negotiation, and drafting legal documents.
- Include any relevant membership with professional bodies such as the Law Society and highlight any additional roles or responsibilities you have taken within these organisations. This could range from committee positions to involvement in specific initiatives or working groups.
- Emphasise your commitment to continuous professional development by listing recent training or courses attended, particularly those that are pertinent to the solicitor role you are applying for. Include information on any legal updates or new areas of legislation you are knowledgeable about.
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Tips and tricks on writing a job-winning solicitor CV header
The CV header is the space which most recruiters would be referring most often to, in the beginning and end of your application. That is as the CV header includes your contact details, but also a headline and a professional photo. When writing your CV header:
- Double-check your contact details for spelling errors or if you've missed any digits. Also, ensure you've provided your personal details, and not your current work email or telephone number;
- Include your location in the form of the city and country you live in. If you want to be more detailed, you can list your full address to show proximity to your potential work place;
- Don't include your CV photo, if you're applying for roles in the UK or US, as this may bias initial recruiters' assessments;
- Write a professional headline that either integrates the job title, some relevant industry keywords, or your most noteworthy achievement.
In the next part of our guide, we'll provide you with professional CVs that showcase some of the best practices when it comes to writing your headline.
Examples of good CV headlines for solicitor:
- "Associate Solicitor | Commercial Law Specialist | LLB, LPC | 5 Years of Progressive Legal Experience"
- "Senior Solicitor | Expert in Family Law | Member of Resolution | 10+ Years of Advocacy"
- "Junior Solicitor | Conveyancing and Property Law Focus | Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice | 2 Years Active Practice"
- "Principal Solicitor | Corporate Law and M&A Advisor | Solicitors Regulation Authority Certified | 15+ Years Experience"
- "Solicitor | Intellectual Property and Patent Law | LLB (Hons), LLM | Chartered Legal Executive | 7 Years"
- "Partner Solicitor | Employment Law & Dispute Resolution Specialist | Accredited Mediator | Over 20 Years of Expertise"
Catching recruiters' attention with your solicitor CV summary or objective
Located closer to the top of your CV, both the summary and objective are no more than five sentences long and serve as an introduction to your experience. What is more, you could use either to entice recruiters to read on. Select the:
- Summary, if you happen to have plenty of relevant experience. Feature your most impressive accomplishments and up to three skills that are relevant to the job you're applying for;
- Objective, if you're just starting your career off. Provide your career goals and answer how you see the role you are applying for will match your professional growth.
Judging which one you need to add to your solicitor CV may at times seem difficult. That’s why you need to check out how professionals, with similar to your experience, have written their summary or objective, in the examples below:
CV summaries for a solicitor job:
- Accomplished solicitor with over 12 years' experience in commercial litigation, adept at navigating complex legal frameworks and a proven track record of securing favourable outcomes in high-stakes negotiations, thereby enhancing firm reputation and client satisfaction.
- Detail-oriented legal professional with 15 years' experience, specialising in family law. Renowned for high client retention rates, exceptional negotiation skills, and leading a legal team to victory in a groundbreaking custody case that set a new legal precedent.
- Former Senior Police Officer transitioning into legal services, brings a robust understanding of criminal law from 20 years of experience in law enforcement, demonstrating exceptional analytical skills and a strong ethical compass with a passion for justice and community service.
- Experienced business consultant eager to pivot into corporate law, offering a wealth of knowledge in commercial dealings, contract negotiations, and risk management garnered from a decade of shaping strategies for multinational corporations.
- Aspiring solicitor committed to leveraging a First-Class Honours degree in Law from the University of London to contribute fresh perspectives and enthusiasm for developing expertise in legal research, case preparation, and client advocacy in a dynamic legal practice.
- Recent law school graduate poised to apply a robust academic foundation in legal studies, superior critical thinking abilities, and an ardent desire to learn from seasoned professionals while making meaningful contributions to legal cases and client relations.
Narrating the details of your solicitor CV experience section
Perhaps you've heard it time and time again, but, how you present your experience is what matters the most. Your CV experience section - that details your work history alongside your accomplishments - is the space to spotlight your unqiue expertise and talents. So, avoid solely listing your responsibilities, but instead:
- adverts' keywords and integrate those in your experience section;
- Use your CV to detail how you've been promoted in the past by including experience in the reverse chronological order.
Before you start writing your solicitor CV experience section, dive into some industry-leading examples on how to structure your bullets.
Best practices for your CV's work experience section
- Managed a diverse caseload of family law matters, demonstrating strong prioritisation skills and maintaining a high success rate in dispute resolution and settlements.
- Drafted and reviewed a wide range of legal documents including contracts, wills, and conveyancing paperwork, ensuring compliance with UK law and minimising client risk.
- Negotiated favourable settlements in complex commercial litigation cases, demonstrating adept understanding of corporate law and strong analytical skills.
- Advised clients on regulatory compliance matters within the pharmaceutical industry, staying abreast of evolving legislation and effectively reducing exposure to legal risks.
- Conducted due diligence for mergers and acquisitions, showcasing meticulous attention to detail and contributing to successful transactions for the firm's corporate clients.
- Represented clients in criminal court proceedings, building persuasive cases and achieving favourable outcomes through meticulous preparation and robust advocacy.
- Led a team of junior solicitors and paralegals, providing mentorship and supervision, thereby improving team performance and client satisfaction ratings.
- Effectively managed client communications and expectations, maintaining a high level of professionalism and confidentiality in sensitive cases.
- Implemented new legal research techniques and technologies, resulting in a 20% reduction in research time and a more efficient case management process.
Work Experience
Commercial Property Solicitor
Linklaters LLP
04/2017-06/2020
- Advised on over 35 high-stakes corporate mergers and acquisitions, leading to successful deals that increased client portfolios by an average of 20%.
- Developed and negotiated complex commercial contracts, ensuring compliance with UK and EU regulations and safeguarded client interests.
- Acted as a lead counsel in 50+ property disputes, with a success rate of 85%, effectively reducing client’s financial risks and securing valuable assets.
Work Experience
Corporate Tax Solicitor
Slaughter and May
01/2013-12/2017
- Managed the legal research and due diligence for over 100 potential investment opportunities, streamlining the decision-making process for clients.
- Implemented a new legal case management system that improved departmental efficiency by 40% through automated workflows.
- Represented multinational corporations in complex tax litigation cases, often leading to reductions in assessments and substantial savings for clients.
Work Experience
Intellectual Property Solicitor
Allen & Overy LLP
09/2009-03/2014
- Led a cross-functional team that facilitated international trademark registrations for over 200 clients, enhancing brand protection globally.
- Pioneered the use of alternative dispute resolution techniques within the firm, cutting down resolution time by 30% and reducing litigation costs for clients.
- Successfully lobbied for amendments in intellectual property law, aligning them with technological advancements and client business strategies.
Work Experience
Employment Law Solicitor
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer
05/2015-10/2019
- Spearheaded the legal strategy for a landmark employment law case, setting a precedent and enhancing workers’ rights across the industry.
- Provided comprehensive risk management advice to SMEs, helping avoid potential legal pitfalls and fostering secure, sustainable business growth.
- Authored an influential legal advice column in a national newspaper, raising the firm's public profile and demonstrating thought leadership in employment law.
Work Experience
Financial Regulation Solicitor
Clifford Chance LLP
11/2011-Ongoing
- Acted as the principal advisor in regulatory compliance matters for fintech startups, ensuring adherence and facilitating seamless market entry.
- Directed the successful negotiation and settlement of a £50 million commercial dispute, preserving client's financial standing and reputation.
- Launched an internal training program on evolving financial regulations, enhancing firm-wide understanding and improving service delivery to clients.
Work Experience
Human Rights and Charity Law Solicitor
Herbert Smith Freehills
06/2018-01/2024
- Guided international NGOs through complex humanitarian law issues, protecting interests and enabling the delivery of aid in conflict zones.
- Instrumental in setting up a pro bono clinic that has since provided legal aid to over 500 individuals, improving community outreach and firm reputation.
- Conducted a comprehensive review and redesign of compliance protocols for charitable organizations, enhancing governance and donor confidence.
Work Experience
Environment and Planning Solicitor
Simmons & Simmons LLP
02/2012-08/2016
- Oversaw legal proceedings and contract negotiations for several urban development projects, contributing to the regeneration of underserved areas.
- Played a key role in the successful defense and settlement of environmental law actions, reducing potential penalties by 60% for corporate clients.
- Devised innovative legal frameworks for renewable energy projects, supporting client efforts to meet sustainability goals and receive green incentives.
Work Experience
Technology and Data Protection Solicitor
CMS Cameron McKenna Nabarro Olswang LLP
03/2014-11/2021
- Conducted intricate legal analysis that underpinned a series of strategic patent applications for tech startups, leading to robust IP portfolios.
- Collaborated with software development firms in shaping EULA agreements, vital in protecting intellectual property while ensuring user compliance.
- Expertly negotiated multi-jurisdictional data sharing agreements for clients within the tech industry, adhering to GDPR and enhancing operational capabilities.
How to ensure your solicitor 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 applicable, briefly mention a situation where things didn’t go as planned and what you learned from it, demonstrating your ability to learn and adapt.
Describing your unique skill set using both hard skills and soft skills
Your solicitor CV provides you with the perfect opportunity to spotlight your talents, and at the same time - to pass any form of assessment. Focusing on your skill set across different CV sections is the way to go, as this would provide you with an opportunity to quantify your achievements and successes. There's one common, very simple mistake, which candidates tend to make at this stage. Short on time, they tend to hurry and mess up the spelling of some of the key technologies, skills, and keywords. Copy and paste the particular skill directly from the job requirement to your CV to pass the Applicant Tracker System (ATS) assessment. Now, your CV skills are divided into:
- Technical or hard skills, describing your comfort level with technologies (software and hardware). List your aptitude by curating your certifications, on the work success in the experience section, and technical projects. Use the dedicated skills section to provide recruiters with up to twelve technologies, that match the job requirements, and you're capable of using.
- People or soft skills provide you with an excellent background to communicate, work within a team, solve problems. Don't just copy-paste that you're a "leader" or excel at "analysis". Instead, provide tangible metrics that define your success inusing the particular skill within the strengths, achievements, summary/ objective sections.
Top skills for your solicitor CV:
HARD SKILLS
Legal Research
Legal Writing
Client Interviewing
Case Management
Litigation
Contract Drafting
Commercial Awareness
Compliance & Regulatory Knowledge
Intellectual Property Law
Property Law
SOFT SKILLS
Analytical Thinking
Problem Solving
Communication
Attention to Detail
Time Management
Negotiation
Empathy
Adaptability
Teamwork
Resilience
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.
Education and more professional qualifications to include in your solicitor CV
If you want to showcase to recruiters that you're further qualified for the role, ensure you've included your relevant university diplomas. Within your education section:
- Describe your degree with your university name(-s) and start-graduation dates;
- List any awards you've received, if you deem they would be impressive or are relevant to the industry;
- Include your projects and publications, if you need to further showcase how you've used your technical know-how;
- Avoid listing your A-level marks, as your potential employers care to learn more about your university background.
Apart from your higher education, ensure that you've curated your relevant certificates or courses by listing the:
- name of the certificate or course;
- name of the institution within which you received your training;
- the date(-s) when you obtained your accreditation.
In the next section, discover some of the most relevant certificates for your solicitor CV:
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.
Recommended reads:
Key takeaways
Here are five things you need to remember about writing your solicitor CV for success:
- Sort your experience based on the reverse chronological order, starting with your most recent career items, to showcase how you've grown your career;
- Include within your CV header your relevant contact details, a headline that could spotlight your unique value, and a photo - if you're applying for roles outside the UK or US;
- Decide to use the CV summary, if you happen to have more professional experience, and an objective, if you want to showcase your career goals;
- Within the experience section, write your bullets using action verbs, skills, and success, instead of just merely listing your on-the-job responsibilities;
- Prove your technical skills, using your education and certificates, and your soft skills, with your achievements and strengths sections.
