Law Student CV: sample and tips
Worried your application will be judged poorly? Ensure your Law Student CV is ready by using our guide below.
Whether you’re just beginning your legal education or nearing the completion of your studies, a well-prepared CV can be your ticket to securing the ideal role.
If you’re worried about matching up with senior lawyers or if other Law Students will have CVs that outclass yours we’ve got the solution.
Our free online CV builder and expert advice in this guide will give you exactly what you need to create an impressive application.
In this guide, we will walk you through various essential sections of a Legal Graduate CV. We’ll cover the following topics:
- Choosing the right format for your CV
- Emphasizing your legal educational background
- Highlighting your legal network and any memberships you are a part of
- Adding your legal publications effectively
- Showcasing volunteer and pro bono work
- Drafting a compelling personal statement
Learn how to demonstrate your academic achievements, legal publications, and legal network with our advice and online tools to create a CV that stands out.
Law Student CV example
As a student, you won’t have much experience outside work placements or volunteering which can make structuring your CV a bit confusing.
Review the CV for law students with no experience below to understand which qualities you should focus on and how to add your volunteer or pro bono experience.
Alex Doe
Law Student
123 Legal Lane, Lawtown, LA1 2LW
Phone: 01234 567 890 | Email: a.doe@samplemail.com
Personal Statement
Dedicated law student with a strong academic background, including a specialization in corporate law. Proactive member of the university debate team, showcasing excellent argumentation and critical thinking skills. I aim to leverage my educational background and network in the legal community to contribute actively to a reputed law firm.
Education
LLB Law | University of Lawtown, UK | Expected Graduation: June 2024
- Key courses: Corporate Law, Criminal Law, Intellectual Property Law
- Achievements: Dean’s List for three consecutive years
Skills
- Legal research
- Critical thinking
- Negotiation skills
- Microsoft Office proficiency
Memberships
- Lawtown University Debate Society – Member
- Student Bar Association – Treasurer
Legal Publications
- Doe, A., & Smith, J. (2023). Corporate Liability in Product Malfunctions: A Comprehensive Review. Lawtown Law Review, 34(3), 456-479.
Volunteer and Pro Bono Work
Legal Aid Volunteer | Lawtown Legal Aid Society | June 2022 – June 2023
- Provided legal assistance to underprivileged clients, working on family law cases.
Apart from using this Law Graduate CV example, you can also find an ideal CV template for Law Students to have an easier time crafting your application.
The importance of a legal education section
As a student still studying in uni, your goal is to gain as much legal knowledge as possible and a law firm or legal organisation will likely take notice of high marks and outstanding achievements.
In the highly competitive field of law, possessing a robust educational background can differentiate you from the other candidates.
However, it’s worth noting that a legal degree can lead to jobs in other fields as well. In either case, it’s essential to have significant academic achievements on your CV for the following reasons:
- Showcases specialised knowledge: Listing key courses that you’ve excelled in can illustrate your specialised knowledge in relevant areas, helping employers ascertain your readiness for specific roles.
- Explains practical expertise: Detailing projects or research endeavours undertaken provides a window into your practical understanding of complex legal concepts, thereby portraying you as a candidate with hands-on experience.
By adding certain academic achievements you’ll be able to show that your legal knowledge fits right in with the law firm that you are applying to.
Some awards and accomplishments in the field of legal studies that you could mention in your education section include:
- First class honours
- Your dissertation
- Legal competition results
- Debate society achievements
- Certificates from workshops or additional training
- High standing in a legal society
Here you can see how your legal education should be displayed in your CV:
Education
LLB Law (Undergraduate), University of XYZ
September 2020 – Present (Expected Graduation: June 2024)
- Predicted Grade: First Class Honours
- Relevant Modules: Criminal Law, Constitutional Law, Legal Research Methods
- Dissertation (in progress): “Impacts of Artificial Intelligence on Privacy Laws”
- Achievements: Vice-president, University Debating Society
Show off your legal network on your Law Student CV
Drawing attention to your professional memberships can tell a hiring employer that you are 100% committed to the legal profession.
How so?
Adding details about whom you know and where you’ve been tells employers you’ve taken up opportunities to grow and learn through active participation in societies and groups that foster professional development and networking.
In your CV, you can create a memberships section and add details related to your legal network in this style:
- Chronological order
- Active language
- Including only relevant associations
- What your role and responsibilities are in the group
Some legal organisations on a CV that would impress employers include:
- The Law Society of England and Wales
- The Bar Council
- Chartered Institute of Legal Executives
- The Junior Lawyers Division
- Society of Legal Scholars
- Inns of Court
- Young Legal Aid Lawyers
They can also be mentioned in your education section if you carried out a work placement at one of these organisations.
Below is a sample of how you can add memberships like these to your application:
The Law Society | Student Member | September 2022 – Present
- Attended a range of workshops and seminars to enhance my understanding of current legal issues and to develop my professional network.
- Collaborated with fellow members in community outreach programmes, gaining practical experience in handling legal issues at a grassroots level.
Additional groups you can mention in a Law Graduate CV
If you weren’t able to take part in a professional organisation there are other memberships and groups that you can bring up on your CV to show your commitment and growth in the field.
- Group projects: If you worked on group projects or committees at your uni, discuss your contributions and what they brought to the table in terms of value.
- Networking events: Mention any networking events you actively participated in, stressing any connections or partnerships you created.
- Seminars and workshops: List seminars, workshops, or webinars you have attended and explain your biggest takeaways.
Volunteer and pro bono work to mention
Whether you have already graduated or you’re creating a CV for a law internship with no experience, volunteer and pro bono work can help take focus away from your lack of professional work history.
While volunteer work isn’t usually as valuable as paid experience, it should still help you list skills you used to accomplish tasks as a Law Student.
If you still haven’t done any legal volunteer or pro bono work, these organisations may have a spot open for you to join and add some valuable work experience to your CV:
- Citizens Advice Bureau
- Law Centres Network
- Amnesty International UK
- Legal Aid Firms
- Free Representation Unit (FRU)
- University Law Clinics
- Street Law Programmes
- Court Marshalling
- Personal Support Unit (PSU)
When listing these volunteer experiences, detail the kind of work you did, including the cases you worked on and the skills you applied or learned during this period.
Here is an example of how you can list your volunteer work in your CV.
Volunteer experience
Legal Aid Assistant | Free Representation Unit (FRU), London |September 2022 – Present
- Assisted solicitors in compiling evidence and creating case summaries to support clients who were unable to afford legal representation.
- Developed a keen understanding of housing and employment law through hands-on casework, aiding in the preparation of legal documents and attending court hearings alongside experienced solicitors.
- Honed skills in client communication, demonstrating empathy and understanding when dealing with sensitive and confidential information.
Adding legal publications
If you have worked on any legal research papers, or articles, or have been published in any legal journals, this is your chance to point it out.
You can list any of these types of publications that show you have gained the necessary amount of knowledge to be successful in the field of law:
- Legal journals and law reviews
- Legal blogs and websites
- Dissertations and thesis publications
- Student-run publications
- Case commentaries
- Legal research papers
- Legal essays and articles in newspapers and magazines
Detail your publications correctly, mentioning co-authors (if any), the title of the paper, and where it was published.
If you’re unsure of how to add a publication, review the following sample.
Publications:
Taylor, A. (2023). “Navigating Imaginary Legal Waters: A Comparative Analysis of Fictional Legal Systems in Dystopian Literature.” The Imaginary Law Journal, 7(3), 201-219.
Wrapping up
Creating a law student CV for an internship or your first full-time professional opportunity can seem intimidating.
However, if you keep the details in this article in mind, you’ll give yourself a much better chance, such as:
- Mentioning your memberships: Listing your memberships and groups can show you’ve already taken a professional approach.
- Highlighting your legal volunteer work: Demonstrate the skills you’ve added in a volunteer or pro bono position.
- Listing your publications: Adding your publications can further prove your commitment to learning about the legal field.
- Including a detailed education section: Without professional experience a detailed and impressive education section can show how valuable you can be a professional.
Using helpful online tools and CV examples can also ensure you avoid silly errors, and an employer’s ruling will likely be in your favour.
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