Whether the vacancy is with a small legal firm or you are pursuing a corporate position with a large company, your CV will likely be competing against a number of other applicants. In order to impress a recruiter, you will need to demonstrate that you are fully conversant with the role you are applying for, that you can apply your knowledge to great effect and get the best outcome for the client, and you need to show how you believe you have the edge on other candidates and convince the prospective employer that you are an asset they cannot afford to pass up. Fortunately, our solicitor CV sample sets out an effective way to do just that.
Banking Solicitor CV Sample
Use our CV sample to put a strong resume together. Your ability to communicate well in all mediums is essential, so make sure that you use your CV as demonstrable evidence that your written and spoken skills are superb. In short, your CV will be an example of your work, so take time over it.
- If you are applying for a banking solicitor job, tailor your evidence to that. Referring exclusively to criminal law or property conveyance is unlikely to impress.
- Write using active verbs as it gives your resume greater impetus.
- Don’t make your CV too detailed. It needs to invite an urge to interview you, not answer all the questions in advance.
- Don’t use fancy fonts and lots of italics and colours as these can easily alienate the reader.
Civil Solicitor CV Sample
This area of law involves working closely with clients who feel very strongly about a particular matter and want you to act for them. You need to be able to build rapport and to obtain, and document accurately, all relevant information.
- Plan your CV, make notes, flesh them out and then do a first draft. Don’t rush.
- Always check your final draft for spelling mistakes and grammatical errors.
- Don’t use your CV as an excuse to present your life story. The recruiter wants to be able to see easily what your qualifications, experience and achievements are in the field you are applying to.
- Don’t make the mistake of sending your CV to the wrong postal address or mailbox, check your facts.
Corporate Solicitor CV Sample
You will need to make a really strong case to secure an interview for a job as a corporate solicitor. You need to show that you would be an asset to the company employing you as their future success will be closely tied to your competence. Take a close look at the CV sample we have provided, as it gives a good account of the sort of things a suitable resume might contain.
- Do write in concise sentences. Florid prose has no place in a professional CV.
- Do create a bespoke application. Tailor your CV directly to the vacancy by providing good examples of how you comply with the specific requisites described.
- Don’t try and negotiate any sort of terms. A CV is a place to showcase your desirability as an employee.
- Don’t submit a generic CV that does little more than list the tasks that make up the role of a corporate solicitor. It will be rejected.
Criminal Solicitor CV Sample
You will need to demonstrate that you can handle this taxing role and build relationships with defendants, putting together a course of action that they are prepared to support. You need to be confident and able to challenge in a diplomatic but firm manner.
- Do use your CV to sell yourself, keep it positive and use proactive language.
- Do set aside time to work on your CV. Your first draft should not be your final draft, so make sure that you accommodate repetitive proofing as part of your timescale.
- Don’t miss the deadline for submitting your CV. Give yourself as much time as possible between crafting your CV and sending it.
- Don’t lie or misrepresent yourself. If you state that you have achievements or responsibilities, be sure that it’s the truth.
Immigration Solicitor CV Sample
To prove you can work effectively as an immigration solicitor, you will need to show you have an up to date, detailed knowledge of immigration law. People will depend on you to fight deportation or get them asylum. Our immigration solicitor CV sample shows you how to set out yours.
- Do make your CV concise, but make sure it’s full of material relevant to the job you are applying for.
- Do use short sentences and paragraphs, and use bullet points to split up blocks of text. This will make information stand out.
- Don’t be contentious in your CV by stating a personal viewpoint. Stick to your qualifications, skills and experience.
- Don’t forget to check that your referees’ contact details are correct. You should also make them aware that they may be called on.
