The in-house legal CV

Research has indicated that recruiters and employers typically sift through a CV in under ten seconds to discern whether it is worth further scrutiny. A CV warranting further attention comes down to a fairly simple format. With a clear and concise layout and structure, as detailed below, you may earn yourself more precious seconds.

First or third person?

This is a matter of preference. I tend to prefer the first person.

The two-page rule

You may have heard that it is best practice to keep your CV to two pages. In reality there is no steadfast rule. As you experience grows, it stands to reason that so must your CV. A Paralegal may have two pages or less, however a Senior Counsel or General Counsel will need to demonstrate a plethora of technical, commercial and soft skills, and will have most likely made a few moves. Any employer considering an experienced candidate will expect the individual to have taken the time to show this.
As your most recent experience takes precedence, your previous experience may be cut down, however not to the extent that the reader cannot see the transitions and route which led to the role you now occupy.

Headings

Headings are highly advisable, especially for those with lots of experience. This will allow anyone looking at the CV to quickly and easily assess your skills, comparing them to the role they are recruiting for.

More than one version

For those with broad experience it can be useful to have two or more versions of your CV. Each version would be tailored to the role you are applying for and may have emphasis on different skill sets suited to whichever role you are applying for.

Format

The following is numbered in the traditional order the reader may expect and works well:

1. Personal Details

  • Name
  • Address – required for location (state here if flexible)
  • Phone number (mobile and home if possible)
  • Email

2. Personal Statement

A personal statement is optional, however if you choose to include one it should be a short paragraph detailing a very brief summary of experience, training background and type of clients or organisations worked with.

3. Key Skills

Key skills are also optional and in my opinion entirely dependent on experience. This should be in bullet point format. If the experience will later be demonstrated in your work history, listing key skills can be especially useful as it provides a short summary of skills you believe will be important to the role that you are applying for. This may be an identifier to the employer that you are the person they are looking for.

If you occupy a senior position with lots of responsibility it may help to separate your various skills by headings.

4. Education

Include all education and certifications.

  • If a solicitor include date of admission
  • Degree and LPC certification including institutions and dates of attendance
  • A-Levels

5. Work Experience

A concise and correctly formatted experience section is undoubtedly the most important aspect of any CV. This section allows potential employers to gain quick insight into the roles you have worked in and experience you have acquired.

This should start with your most recent experience. Include a header of your current place of work, adding dates from start to present. If you have been promoted during this time, this should be displayed in the same format beneath with dates. This demonstrates progression which will be attractive for employers.

Beneath these headers, and in bullet point format, list the experience you have gained in the role. This same format should follow with all previous positions held.

In this section it helps to consider what employers may be looking for and what you can emphasise in your experience. If coming from private practice, the clients you have worked with will be confidential, however describing the type of advice given and mentioning the sector they are in is fine.

If you have been with a company for a while and the work has been broad and varied, you can separate the type of work by sub-headings for example:

  • General commercial
  • Regulatory / Data protection
  • Corporate
  • IP
  • Advice / opinions
  • Contentious work
This format should go back to your training contract which should be listed by seat. As you have progressed in your career, the training contract section will shorten. Newly qualified solicitors should emphasise the work undertaken in each seat.

6. Computing and language skills

7. Publications, awards and memberships

8. Interests 

Where some do not recognise the importance of interests, all in-house clients I have worked with will look for character and team fit. A broad set of interests shows you to be well-rounded and an individual who can express opinions outside the parameters of the job, and have the potential to fit with many different characters in the business.

Think about what this section says about you. An in-house lawyer requires high levels of emotional intelligence and this can be demonstrated in many ways.

Ask for help

Finally, never be afraid to ask an experienced recruitment consultant for a second opinion or some guidance. It is in their interest to help.
I hope that this guide will prove useful and if you would like to speak more about your CV or the in-house job market please get in touch.