Legal CV—Examples and 25+ Writing Tips

Looking for a legal job is awful. You hunt and apply, and hear the silence of an empty courtroom.

Plus, you feel like your law CV is vanishing without being read.

That feeling is probably true.

Hiring managers skim CVs. They don’t read them carefully.

Your wonderful legal skills are probably being disregarded.

Break precedent with a great law firm CV.

With the right law firm accomplishments, you’ll shine like Cravath, Swaine & Moore.

In this guide:

• A legal CV sample better than most.
• How to write a legal CV that gets you hired.
• How to customise your legal job description for CVs.
• Why you can’t just list legal skills (and what to do instead).

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Need a certain kind of law CV? See our guides:

• Paralegal CV Sample & Guide
• Attorney CV Sample & Guide

Thinking about law school? You know you can do it. See our guide: Law School CV Sample & Guide

Haven't found what you're looking for? Check all our CV Examples for Any Job.

Now__

Legal CV Template You Can Copy and Use

Here’s how to write a legal CV that changes lives:

1. Use a Trusted Legal CV Format

How can you look your best?

You don’t want to write a legal CV that makes the wrong impression.

You can believe your CV format is a big part of your case.

Use the reverse-chronological layout to acquit yourself in style.

Then follow these tips:

Legal CV Format

• Choose 1-inch CV margins on all sides of your CV.
• Pick a common CV font like 10–12pt Arial or Garamond.
• What should a CV look like? Create CV sections for Heading, Summary, Experience, Education, and Skills.
• Use white space for readability.
• Keep your CV length short at one page unless you’ve got 7+ years of legal experience. Only then a two-page CV is fine.
• Create a PDF CV. They don’t turn delinquent once you send them.

Expert Hint: Legal assistants average £57,000 a year. Paralegals earn £74,000. You can get an associate’s degree in paralegal studies for as little as £3,000 in 15 months. The smart money? Work as a legal assistant or legal secretary while you get your paralegal degree online. Then move your law CV up to higher pay.

2. Write a Legal CV Summary or Objective

Nightmare time.

You write the best law CV in the pile. But—

The partner doesn’t read it because she’s got 200 more.

Don’t let her do that.

Get her attention like a subpoena and start your CV with a stunning CV profile in the form of a (CV summary or summary of qualifications).

See these legal CV examples:

Legal Secretary CV Summary Examples

Legal Assistant

Attorney/Lawyer 

Paralegal

The gist?

Those CV profiles all include:

1. An adjective (driven, certified)
2. The legal job title from the online ad
3. Years of experience (2+, 4+)
4. How and who you’ll help (save time at Beckstead & Passalaqua)
5. Best legal moments (97% client satisfaction rate...)

Now—

What if you’re still drying the ink on your legal degree?

Shake off the fear.

See these entry-level legal CV samples:

Entry-Level Legal Assistant CV Objective

Entry-Level Paralegal 

Entry-Level Attorney

See what they did?

Both those entry-level CV examples show their best law achievements to date.

3. Write a Specific Legal Job Description and Skills Section

You know what’s hard?

You sit down to write a legal CV...

It’s a piece of paper. It’s supposed to prove they should hire you.

That’s enough to make you jump bail.

But here’s the good news. Hand-pick moments from your past that fit this legal job, and you’ll look like Elle Woods.

That starts with finding CV keywords and CV skills buried in the job ad.

Then, target your CV with them.

See these legal CV samples:

Legal Job Descriptions for a CV [Sample]

Legal Assistant

The job wants someone skilled in answering calls, billing, filing, and legal writing.

That binds you to the job.

Attorney

This job wants a lawyer skilled in managing case files and mediations.

Nice.

Do it like those legal CV examples and you’ll seem like Atticus Finch.

But hold on—

What if you’re writing a law firm CV with no experience?

Work that same magic with skills that slot into the job.

See these law CV examples with no experience:

Entry-Level Legal CV Job Description [Sample]

Legal Assistant

Say the job needs scheduling, proofreading, and answering phones.

Flawless.

Law School Application

Say you were a marketing specialist. Well, you know law school students need skills in research, presentation, and collaboration.

See, this example uses power words instead of simply listing job duties. That’s Jones-Day-worthy.

Now you know—your legal CV skills must come from the job ad.

Need a few skills to get you started? Take a look:

Legal Skills for CVs

Paralegal

• Legal document writing
• Legal research
• Writing briefs
• Investigation
• Client counselling
• Office administration
• Proofreading
• Writing reports
• Settlement knowledge
• Litigation assistance

Legal Assistant

• Legal writing
• Docketing
• Research
• Filing
• Billing
• Scheduling
• Proofreading
• Correspondence writing
• Transcription
• Legal terminology

Attorney

• Legal procedure
• Trial
• Writing briefs
• Negotiation
• Product law
• Bankruptcy
• Healthcare law
• Client advocacy
• Corporate law
• Client management

Law School Applicant and Transferable Skills (Soft Skills)

• Interpersonal skills
• Collaboration
• Communication
• Leadership
• Computer skills
• Time management
• Organisation
• Attention to detail
• Problem solving
• Active listening
• Negotiation

The ResumeLab builder is more than looks. Get specific content to boost your chances of getting the job. Add job descriptions, bullet points, and skills. Easy. Improve your CV in our CV builder now.

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Nail it all with a splash of colour, choose a clean font, highlight your skills in just a few clicks. You’re the perfect candidate and we’ll prove it. Use the ResumeLab builder now.

4. Enhance Your Education Section

Your education section is no joke in a legal CV.

But did you know—

It needs to sell a few more of your skills.

These legal CV samples show how:

Legal CV Example—Education

5. Increase the Value of Your Legal CV

You’ve come so far.

Don’t blow it by giving up before you’re done.

Your legal CV can wow them like Marshall Eriksen. If—

You pack it with incontestable proof.

Include certifications, publications, and other bonus items.

Here’s a full list:

• Associations
• Certifications (Bar association membership, CP, etc.)
• Volunteering and pro bono work
• Publications
• Freelance projects
• Languages
• Conferences
• Additional activities
• Hobbies
• Sports & fitness
• References

See these legal CV examples:

Law Secretary CV—Extra Sections

Legal Assistant

Attorney

Why do those legal CV samples work? They show added competencies you can’t get from work experience.

Expert Hint: Writing a cover letter for your CV for legal jobs will boost your odds. The chance they’ll read it is 50/50, but if you don’t write one and they want it, you’re sunk.

Double your impact with a matching CV and cover letter combo. Use our cover letter builder and make your application documents pop out.

CREATE YOUR COVER LETTER NOW

Want to try a different look? There’s 18 more. A single click will give your document a total makeover. Pick a cover letter template here.

Key Points

Here’s how to write a legal CV:

• Start with our legal CV template. Add high moments from your legal career.
• List legal skills like research or trial prep. Use numbers to prove you’re Watchell-Lipton-level.
• Write a legal CV profile. Craft it into a snapshot of your legal skills, experience, and certifications.
• Add “extra” sections to show you know a tort from a cream pie.

Got questions on how to write good CVs for legal jobs? Not sure how to put legal experience on a CV? Leave a comment. We’ll be happy to reply! 

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