How to write a legal CV: templates and tips for in-house legal roles

Legal

Knowing how to write a great legal CV is a skill you can utilise throughout your career. Our recruitment experts share a best-in-class CV template for law graduates and juniors seeking in-house roles.

Learn what to include, ways to personalise, and winning formats that could increase your chances of an interview invite.

The DNA of a winning legal CV

Personal details

Your CV headline should be your full name, with your contact details underneath or in one of the top corners. You should include your contact information, date of birth, general location, and LinkedIn URL.

Personal statement

Start with a personal statement or professional manifesto, ideally tailored to each role you apply for. Keep it to a tight 4-line overview, covering your legal areas of interest and any skills/experience from the job description that apply to you.

Education

List your educational achievements, qualifications, and awards in reverse chronological order (most recent at the top!). Include your degree classification, relevant modules, and dissertation topics.

Legal experience

Your legal experience will follow the qualifications on your CV. Prioritise commercial experience (including anything gained via placements) and business-specific experience.

We recommend adding a sentence about what each company on your CV does to give valuable context. For example, Landlord Plc is a £30 million T/O real estate investment firm focusing on European commercial property development.

Skills

Use the required skills in the job description for the role you're applying for to inform which skills you showcase in this section of your CV. Employers are particularly interested in legal graduates and juniors proficient in tech and contract management systems.

Personal interests

The final section of your legal CV details your personal interests, and any clubs or volunteer work you participate in.

Formatting tips

Length: The standard length for a UK legal CV is two A4 pages maximum. Try to keep your paragraphs short (four lines max) with white space between each section.

Font: Calibri, Arial or Times New Roman at a 10- 12pt size are generally considered the most professional-looking for a CV.

Structure: Create clear sections with consistent headings and spacing (using the key components in the section above).

File format: It’s best practice to submit CVs in PDF format unless the employer has specifically requested otherwise.

How to tailor your law graduate CV for in-house legal roles

Tailoring your CV and cover letter for each of the in-house legal jobs you apply for can increase your chances of being invited for an interview. Here’s what employers are currently looking for — double the impact by using specific examples and metrics when highlighting any of these on your CV.

Tech proficiency

Digital skills have been highly sought-after in several industries for the past few years, and the legal sector is no different. Employers are looking for talent experienced with legal research tools (LexisNexis, Bloomberg Law, etc.) and contract automation.

Commercial focus

Commercial duties are an in-demand functional area for legal hiring. We recommend highlighting skills and experience showing a thorough understanding of how legal advice can impact business objectives and risk management.

Soft skills

Critical thinking, stakeholder management, and negotiation skills are some of the most in-demand in the industry and highlighting them on your CV could work in your favour.

Read more: 2025 Salary Guide

Legal CV template example

[Title: your full name]

[General area in which you live]

[Email address]

[Mobile number]

[LinkedIn URL]

Professional statement

[A short, four-line statement tailored to the role you're applying for. Cover details like your legal interests and the skills/experience that align with the job description.]

Education

[Legal Qualification] | [Institution] | [Years]

[Classification/Grade]

[Relevant modules or specialisations]

[Dissertation or significant project title if relevant]

[Undergraduate Degree] | [University] | [Years]

[Classification]

[Relevant modules]

[Significant projects or achievements]

[A-Levels/Scottish Highers | [School/College] | [Years] - Optional]

[List subjects and grades, if recent graduate]

Experience

[Position Title] | [Organisation] | [Dates]

[Brief description of the company]

[A bullet point list of achievements and responsibilities, using specific metrics and examples.]

[Position Title] | [Organisation] | [Dates]

[Brief description of the company]

[A bullet point list of achievements and responsibilities, using specific metrics and examples.]

Additional experience

[Position Title] | [Organisation] | [Dates]

[Bullet-pointed list of achievements/responsibilities with emphasis on transferable skills]

Skills and certifications

Legal technology: [List relevant legal software, research tools, and document management systems]

Commercial awareness: [Activities demonstrating business understanding]

Languages: [Languages and proficiency levels]

Certifications: [Relevant certifications]

Personal interests

[Two or three sentences detail any professional memberships, volunteer work, or interests demonstrating skills relevant to the role.]

Are you ready to kickstart your legal career by applying for in-house legal roles? Upload your CV to the Robert Half site, or browse open roles today. Download the Salary Guide to learn more about skills, salaries, and high-vacancy sectors for 2025.

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