Legal CV Example
A comprehensive CV template for legal professionals across all practice areas and career stages. Presents your legal qualifications, practice experience, and key case achievements in a structured, authoritative format.
Recommended template: Sleek
Key Skills to Include
Quick Tips
- Structure your experience by practice area and include notable cases or transactions you have worked on.
- Include your professional qualifications, regulatory body membership, and practising certificate status.
- Highlight any specialist accreditations, panel memberships, or legal directory rankings.
- Demonstrate your business development contributions alongside your technical legal expertise.
Ready to build your CV?
Start with the Sleek template and customise it for your legal role.
How to Write Your Legal CV
A legal CV must balance technical credibility with evidence of commercial acumen and professional impact. Employers — whether law firms, in-house teams, or public sector organisations — want to see your qualifications, practice area expertise, and the quality and complexity of matters you have handled. Your CV should demonstrate not only your legal knowledge but also your ability to manage cases, develop client relationships, and contribute to the growth and reputation of your team or firm.
CV Structure
Use a reverse-chronological format with your qualification details and practising certificate status listed near the top. Include a profile summarising your PQE, practice areas, and key achievements, followed by your career history organised by firm and role. Each position should describe the types of matters handled, the level of your involvement, and notable outcomes. Keep your CV to two pages unless you have extensive experience warranting a third page.
CV Format
Choose an elegant, professional template that conveys authority and attention to detail. Legal CVs should be impeccably formatted with consistent fonts, headings, and bullet points. Avoid design elements that might appear unprofessional in a conservative legal environment. Save as a PDF to preserve formatting across different platforms.
CV Profile Examples
Experienced Legal Professional
Qualified solicitor with eight years of post-qualification experience in commercial litigation and dispute resolution at a Top 100 law firm. Managed a caseload of high-value disputes with claims ranging from £500,000 to £15M, achieving favourable outcomes for clients through negotiation, mediation, and trial advocacy. Recognised in Legal 500 as a recommended lawyer for commercial disputes in the South East region.
Senior Legal Adviser
Senior legal adviser with twelve years of experience spanning private practice and in-house roles, specialising in employment law and regulatory compliance. Advised FTSE 250 clients on complex employment tribunal claims, TUPE transfers, and senior executive exits. Skilled at balancing legal risk management with commercial pragmatism to deliver advice that supports business objectives.
Career-Change Legal Professional
Former compliance officer requalifying as a solicitor through the SQE pathway, bringing six years of financial services regulatory experience. Completed SQE1 and SQE2 with distinction-level marks and secured qualifying work experience across commercial property and corporate transactions. Adept at applying regulatory knowledge to legal practice and communicating complex issues clearly to non-legal stakeholders.
State your PQE level, practice area specialism, the type and size of firm you have worked at, and your key achievements. Include any legal directory rankings, panel memberships, or notable cases. Avoid generic statements and focus on what distinguishes you from other candidates at the same level of experience.
Key Skills for Your Legal CV
Legal Research & Analysis
Conducting thorough legal research using databases such as Westlaw and LexisNexis to identify relevant case law, legislation, and commentary.
Case Management
Managing complex legal matters from inception to resolution, coordinating with clients, counsel, experts, and the court.
Legal Drafting
Drafting statements of case, contracts, opinions, and other legal documents to a high standard of accuracy and persuasion.
Client Advisory
Providing clear, commercially focused legal advice to clients, explaining risks and options in language appropriate to the audience.
Regulatory Compliance
Advising clients on regulatory obligations and ensuring organisational practices comply with relevant legislation and industry standards.
Dispute Resolution
Resolving disputes through negotiation, mediation, arbitration, and litigation, selecting the most appropriate method for each case.
Commercial Awareness
Understanding the business context of legal issues and providing advice that supports clients' commercial objectives and risk appetite.
Professional Ethics
Adhering to the SRA Code of Conduct and maintaining the highest standards of professional integrity and client confidentiality.
Work Experience Examples
For each role, describe the firm, your practice area, and the types of matters you handled. Include the value range of cases, the courts or tribunals you practised before, and the level of client contact you had. Quantify your achievements with case values, fee income generated, and client origination figures. Mention any supervisory responsibilities and business development contributions.
Senior Associate — Commercial Litigation
Barrington & Cole LLP
Managed a portfolio of commercial litigation matters for corporate and individual clients, handling disputes from pre-action through to trial in the High Court and Court of Appeal.
Responsibilities
- Managed a caseload of 25 to 30 active matters at any time, including breach of contract, shareholder disputes, and professional negligence claims with values up to £15M.
- Drafted statements of case, witness statements, and skeleton arguments for interim applications and trial.
- Conducted advocacy at case management conferences and costs hearings in the County Court and High Court.
- Advised clients on litigation strategy, funding options, and alternative dispute resolution methods including mediation and arbitration.
- Supervised three junior associates and two paralegals, reviewing their work product and supporting their professional development.
Achievements
- Successfully defended a £6M professional negligence claim at trial, securing judgment in the client's favour with an order for indemnity costs.
- Negotiated a £3.2M settlement in a complex shareholder dispute, saving the client an estimated £800,000 in trial costs and achieving a result that exceeded their commercial expectations.
- Generated £180,000 in new client origination fees within two years through business development activities and referral network cultivation.
Solicitor — Employment Law
Henderson & Partners Solicitors
Advised employer and employee clients on contentious and non-contentious employment matters, handling tribunal claims and providing day-to-day employment advisory services.
Responsibilities
- Advised employers on unfair dismissal, discrimination, whistleblowing, and TUPE claims, preparing responses and representing clients at employment tribunal hearings.
- Drafted employment contracts, settlement agreements, restrictive covenant agreements, and company handbooks.
- Provided day-to-day advisory support to HR directors on disciplinary procedures, grievances, and redundancy programmes.
- Delivered employment law training sessions for clients covering topics including managing sickness absence and workplace investigations.
Achievements
- Achieved dismissal of a high-profile discrimination claim at preliminary hearing stage, saving the client an estimated £120,000 in legal costs and potential compensation.
- Built an employment law training programme that generated £45,000 in annual revenue from repeat client bookings.
Education & Qualifications
List your professional qualification first — whether LPC/SQE, BPTC, or CILEx — followed by your law degree or GDL. Include your degree classification, institution, and any prizes or distinctions. Note your SRA ID number and practising certificate status. If you hold any specialist accreditations, list these prominently.
Solicitor (SRA Regulated)
Qualification as a solicitor regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority, with a current practising certificate and SRA ID number.
Legal Practice Course (LPC)
The vocational training course required for qualification as a solicitor in England and Wales, covering practical legal skills and procedures.
Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE)
The newer pathway to qualifying as a solicitor, comprising two assessments covering legal knowledge and practical legal skills.
Law Degree (LLB)
An undergraduate qualifying law degree providing the academic foundations for a career in legal practice.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long should a legal CV be?
Should I include case names on my CV?
How do I show business development on a legal CV?
Should I tailor my legal CV for different firms?
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