CV Format for Lawyers and Legal Professionals — Free PDF Formatter

Legal CVs are scrutinised more carefully than most. Law firms review applications against specific criteria: academic pedigree, training seat experience, practice area alignment, and professional standing. Getting the format and content right is not optional. Here is what legal employers expect and how to produce a clean, professional PDF for free.

What a Legal CV Must Include

Admission / qualification status: Qualified solicitor (England and Wales, SRA number), barrister (Inn of Court), attorney (bar state and date), notary — this goes at the top, often in the contact section or immediately below your name.

Practice areas: Your specific specialisms — corporate M&A, commercial litigation, employment, family, real estate, IP, competition — listed prominently in your professional summary and experience sections. Vague descriptions like "general commercial" are not useful to a hiring partner.

Training contract and pupillage details (if recently qualified): Which firm, which seats, and what you worked on. Training seat experience is your proxy for commercial experience if you lack years of post-qualification practice.

Publications and speaking: Legal directories, journal articles, Law Society Gazette contributions, conference presentations — list them if you have them. Partners at larger firms often publish; including publications signals seniority and sector authority.

Languages: Particularly important for international firms. A second business language (French, German, Spanish, Mandarin, Arabic) can be decisive for cross-border practice roles.

Recommended Section Order for a Legal CV

1. Contact Information (name, phone, email, LinkedIn, SRA/bar number if admitted)
2. Professional Summary (3-5 lines — qualification status, years PQE, practice area specialism)
3. Legal Experience (reverse chronological — firm name, role, dates, and matter types handled)
4. Education and Academic Results (law degree class, LPC/BPTC/SQE, relevant awards)
5. Professional Qualifications and Admissions
6. Publications and Speaking Engagements (if applicable)
7. Languages
8. Pro Bono and Professional Affiliations
9. References (two — one partner reference standard)

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How to Write the Legal Experience Section

Do not simply list firms and dates. Hiring partners want to know what you worked on:

Format per role:

Senior Associate — Commercial Litigation | [Firm Name], London | Sept 2020 – Present

• Acted for FTSE 100 clients in multi-jurisdiction commercial disputes, including [type] matters valued at GBP 50M+
• Led discovery process for [type] litigation, managing a team of two junior associates and one paralegal
• Advised on settlement strategy in [type] matters, achieving favourable outcomes in 80% of concluded cases

Use matter type language (not client names unless publicly disclosed) and quantify where possible — deal values, case numbers managed, team size.

Format Your Legal CV and Download a PDF for Free

1. Write your legal CV with sections in the recommended order above
2. Open the free CV Formatter
3. Paste the text — auto-detect handles Summary, Experience, Education, Skills (Languages), Certifications, References
4. Single column is universally preferred in legal — two-column layouts are considered informal by most law firms
5. 10pt for a two-page legal CV; 11pt if your content is lighter
6. Download PDF — no watermark, no account

Review carefully: check that your SRA number or bar admission date is visible near the top, that practice areas are explicit in both your summary and experience bullets, and that education grades are included (a 2:2 from a Russell Group institution is still noted by hiring partners).

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I include my SRA number on my CV?

Yes — include it near your contact details or in your qualifications section. Hiring firms verify SRA registration as part of due diligence.

How long should a lawyer's CV be?

Two pages for most qualified solicitors and associates. Partners with extensive career histories may run to three pages if the content justifies it — publications, major matters, leadership roles. Never pad.

Should a newly qualified solicitor include their training seats?

Yes. Training seat details are your main evidence of commercial experience. List the firm, seat areas, and notable matters for each seat.