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19 Legal CVs
Guidelines
Clear headings with different text size help the reader find the information they want. Fancy
styles and fonts are better suited to CVs for creative jobs
A two page CV is normally expected. Early in your degree when you have limited experience,
you might want to use a single-sided CV for speculative applications
Putting your name in a footnote can help avoiding the pages getting separated when the
employer prints it out. If printing yourself, use good quality white or cream paper
Law firms will expect your applications to be error free. Spell-check helps but don’t rely on it
and pay attention to punctuation and appropriate use of capital letters. It’s hard to pick up your
own errors, so try asking a friend to proof read for you
Recruiters like to find dates easily. One way is to put dates at the left margin, followed by the
name of the employer or place of study and job title or qualification obtained. Try to do this
across a single line
Style guides can ensure consistency of headings and accurate alignment of text but avoid
standardised CV templates which reduce the individuality of your document
Think what recruiters most want to know about you. Give most space and prominence to the
qualifications and experience that are most relevant. You can find out what some of the
leading legal recruiters are looking for at http://targetjobs.co.uk/career-sectors/law-
solicitors/applications-and-interviews/skills-graduate-recruiters-at-law-firms-lo.
LawCareers.net has similar information at
www.lawcareers.net/Information/Features/Detail.aspx?r=1269
Try to show that you can make a positive difference by concentrating on significant outcomes
from work experience and interests rather than listing everything you’ve done
Try to describe your skills in a way that is appropriate for a particular application. For example,
all lawyers need strong communication skills but the people you meet as a City lawyer are
different from the clients in high street practice, so select relevant examples from your own
communication experience
It is vital you check everything you have written as even the tiniest of errors will probably mean
your application is rejected. You’d kick yourself if all the hours spent on your CV content are
wasted.
A structure that suits most applications
Title. Putting ‘Curriculum Vitae’ is old-fashioned, so use your first and last names as the title. If
your first name could also be a last name, try putting your last name in bold or a larger font.
Personal details. You don’t need to use the heading ‘Personal details’ but you normally include
address (and contact address if different); phone number(s) and email address(es) – but make
sure they are up to date. Nationality is optional but it is good to show that you have permission to
work in the UK if you are not an EEA or British national. If your gender is not obvious from your
name, you might wish to include it so that recruiters know how to address correspondence to you
or put in your title (Mr/Ms etc) to make it clear. Make sure this section looks professional by
avoiding email addresses that say too much about your personal life! The Kent careers website
gives examples of some addresses which might give recruiters the wrong impression!
www.kent.ac.uk/careers/cv.htm
Personal profile/career objective. A personal profile can work well if you have something very
specific that you want to highlight but recruiters don’t like profiles such as ‘highly motivated,
ambitious law student with excellent communication and team working skills’ that look like