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 Many law firms ask applicants to send a CV and covering letter when applying for training contracts, open days or vacation placements. A CV enables Human Resources to gain a concise overview of an applicant’s education and work experience in order to judge their suitability for interview and potentially a training contract.
Your resumé or Curriculum Vitae is your primary personal marketing tool and is often the first contact you will have with decision makers at the firm. First impressions are of supreme importance. Legal recruiters indicate that they spend thirty seconds or less reading each CV during the initial screening process.
This means that your CV must stand out, not because of the brightly coloured paper or exotic font but because it is solid, well written and focused. Your aim is to provide a comprehensive summary of your career and education that is concise, easy to read, attractive and appropriate to the firm.
Spend time getting your CV just right as it may be your first and only chance to impress the firm.
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 CV Presentation
What to Include
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Download free CV Template 
Download free Sample CV |
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Presentation
Length
Your CV should be no more than 2 - 3 (single) sides A4. It is possible to send a one page CV but carefully consider whether you can really do justice to your experience and sell it to the firm on only one page.
If you fill more than 3 pages many firms will not read your CV as you have failed to demonstrate advanced communication skills (i.e. your ability to be concise) – a skill essential to any solicitor.
Attachments
Do not send any attachments including photos and references with your CV unless they have been asked for.
You must however enclose a covering letter as a way to introduce your CV and your reason for writing to the firm.
Remember not to staple your pages together, keep everything secure with a paper clip.
Font
Use an easy-to-read font such as Helvetica, Arial or Times in 10 or 11 point. Keep the font you use consistent throughout your CV and make sure all headings are the same size and font.
Language
The language you use is vitally important on a CV, you should not use any emotive statements such as ‘I enjoyed..', give your CV a confident tone by taking out ‘I'.
Tense
Keep all of your CV in the same tense. We suggest using the past tense (organised etc.) unless of course the activity is ongoing.
Paper
Print your CV on good quality A4 white paper.
Layout
Use short paragraphs and experiment with bullet points to emphasise specific points and break up large sections of text.
How a CV might look |
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Academic History / Education
