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Article written by Caitlin Graham, Lancaster University LLB graduate.
Do not overcomplicate the layout of your CV. Have five key sections:
1. Personal information
2. Education
3. Work experience
4. Achievements and awards
5. Extra-curricular activities and interests
Keep it easy to read by choosing a classic font and by not including any images or colours other than black and white.
All work experience is useful, whether legal or non-legal. If you have not yet managed to secure any legal work experience, you shouldn’t worry. Part-time jobs, whether at a shop, a restaurant, or somewhere else, will give you invaluable experience and skills transferrable to a legal career.
Also, whilst applying for vacation schemes or mini-pupillages, you could apply to volunteer at your local Citizens Advice Bureau. This will allow you to gain some great experience of advising people and will demonstrate your commitment to a career in law.
If you are just starting out and have limited experience and/or education, you could add a personal statement in between the personal details and education section on your CV by writing a couple of sentences about you and where you are currently at.
It is important to keep the details of experiences and positions of responsibility relatively brief. Therefore, a good idea is to use bullet points as opposed to paragraphs.
Further, when summarising what your current and previous roles have involved, use words such as ‘developed’, ‘improved’, ‘acquired’, ‘gained’, and ‘built’, so you clearly illustrate what skills you have acquired and how.
Your CV should not be longer than 2 pages unless specified by an employer.
To maximise space, prioritise your most recent roles and then work your way down.
