Solicitor CV example

How to write a CV for a solicitor

While the role itself is complex, writing a solicitor CV is all about simplicity. The best advice is to opt for plain English over legalese. Remember, recruiters aren’t necessarily trained in the work of a solicitor.

The subsequent guidance will reveal how to write a CV for a solicitor. The process shouldn’t be complicated – simply take your time and read through each section carefully. If you get stuck, take a break and come back to it later. Let’s take a closer look at the following:

• Adding contact details to your solicitor CV
• Start your solicitor CV with a personal statement
• How to present your work history on a solicitor CV
• Top skills for your solicitor CV
• How to add education to your solicitor CV

Adding contact details to your solicitor CV

Although it might sound obvious, you must add your most up-to-date contact details at the top of your solicitor CV. You could send the best application in the world, but it means nothing if the employer can’t reach you about the next stages. Remember to note:

• Full name
• Location
• Email address
• Phone number

Above all else, include a professional-sounding email address – hiring managers won’t be impressed with “minecraftplayer9359@gmail.com”.

Example of contact section for a solicitor CV

Start your solicitor CV with a personal statement

An engaging personal statement is the key to success, capturing the reader’s attention and inviting them to learn more. You need to summarise your most prized skills and proudest accomplishment in three to four sentences. As such, every word counts! 

We recommend using a formulaic structure for your personal statement – this will help you to cover the most crucial information. The first sentence should explain who you are, including years of experience and specialism. Next, talk about what you can achieve and substantiate this with a showstopping statistic – for instance, you might have won over 100 cases. The final sentence(s) should cover the unique skills that make you the best person for the job.

As you compose your summary, here are a few things to keep in mind:

• Write in the third person to sound more professional
• Use positive adjectives like “motivated” and “passionate”
• Include actions verbs such as “spearheaded” and “organised”
• Mention numbers – you could cover how many cases you’ve won or how much money you saved a company
• Keep the information concise and relevant to the job description

Example of personal statement for a solicitor CV

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How to present your work history on a solicitor CV

If an employer could only read one part of your CV, they’d choose the work history section – it’s a treasure trove of valuable information, such as how long you typically stay in a role and whether you show consistent career progression. Most importantly, companies require hopeful solicitors to have experience in a similar position and specialism.

When summarising your occupational background, include:

• Job title
• Employment start and end dates
• Company name and location
• Brief list of responsibilities 
• Notable accomplishments

We advise applicants to include up to six duties underneath each job, being mindful to avoid repetition. If you’ve spoken about “drafting legal documents” in one role, talk about “preparing papers for court” in another. You want to show off as many talents and triumphs as possible to convince the hiring manager to give you a shot.

Then, show the reader how you outperform targets with statistics – it’s much more convincing than telling them. For instance, instead of saying that you “managed claims resolutions”, explain how you “resolved 92% of claims for clients over two years”. The more specific you can be, the better!

Lastly, ditch “responsible for” – it’s not particularly rousing – and lead with exciting action verbs that inspire belief. Some of our favourites include “coordinated”, “executed”, “founded”, “implemented”, and “pioneered”.

Example of work experience for a solicitor CV

Top skills for your solicitor CV

CV skills are traits that set you apart from the competition. You should include up to 12 in total, split equally between job-specific hard skills and personality-based soft skills. Hard skills cover technical knowledge like “arguing in court” and “negotiating plea deals”. Soft skills are transferable qualities such as “charismatic” and “time management”.

The most common mistake people make here is relying too heavily on hard skills – this will only come across as impersonal and cold. Employers also want to know about your personality, so they can decide whether you’d integrate with the wider company.

Another top tip is to tailor your solicitor CV skills to the job advertisement. For example, there’s no point in mentioning “independent working” if the hiring manager wants a motivated team player. Still stuck for ideas? Take a look at some of the suggestions below:

How to add education to your solicitor CV

Unsurprisingly, solicitors need several qualifications to support their work experience. Higher education organisations foster research, critical thinking, and debate skills – all of which are essential to succeed in this highly competitive field.

How do you become a solicitor? There are a few routes into this career, including university, an apprenticeship, or on-the-job training. University is the most popular choice – you can study any subject, but you’ll need enough legal knowledge to pass the Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE).

Whatever avenue you take, you must complete part one and part two of the SQE before practising law. Plus, you’ll have to show that you have at least two years of qualifying work experience (QWE) – this includes volunteering, placements, and training contracts completed during your studies.

Employers will only accept your application if you have the right credentials. We suggest outlining your core qualifications at the top of your CV to prove your suitability. You should include: 

• Name of school, college, university, or other awarding body
• Study dates
• Course title – not applicable to GCSEs
• Qualification level – e.g. A level or undergraduate degree
• Qualification result

You can also mention other relevant courses in this section, such as first aid training – treat these like traditional academic achievements, using the format above.

Example of education for a solicitor CV