December 2025
How to Write a Legal CV That Gets Interviews
In today’s legal job market, your CV needs to work for both human reviewers and applicant tracking systems (ATS). Whether you’re targeting in-house counsel roles, compliance positions, or opportunities at law firms or regulatory agencies, a strong CV is key to moving forward.
Here’s how to write a CV that highlights your legal expertise and maximises your chances of securing interviews.
Why your legal CV matters
Legal hiring teams receive hundreds of applications per role and rely on ATS tools to identify qualified candidates before CVs are reviewed by a person. If your CV isn’t optimised for those systems, it may never make it to a decision-maker.
CVs that clearly show legal specialisation, industry knowledge, and measurable impact are far more likely to be shortlisted.
Choose the right format
Legal CVs should be structured, straightforward, and easy to scan. Common formats include:
- Reverse-chronological which is best for professionals with steady career progression in law or regulatory roles.
- Skills-based is useful for career changers, compliance professionals, or those transitioning from government.
- Hybrid combines skills and work history, and is ideal for most attorneys, compliance officers, and legal operations professionals.
Avoid heavy formatting, tables, or non-standard fonts, which can confuse ATS systems.
Essential sections to include
Contact information
List your name, phone number, email, city, country, LinkedIn profile, and bar admission(s).
Example (UK): Admitted as a Solicitor of England and Wales
Example (Germany): Zugelassener Rechtsanwalt (Frankfurt am Main)
Example (France): Inscrit au barreau de Paris
If you’re dual-qualified or hold EU-wide credentials, you can also list those (e.g., Qualified Solicitor in Ireland and England & Wales).
Professional summary
Summarise your legal experience and areas of focus in 2–4 concise lines.
Example:
In-house counsel with 10 years’ experience advising on data privacy, commercial contracts, and regulatory compliance in the life sciences sector. Skilled in managing cross-functional risk and reducing outside counsel costs.
Use keywords like “anti-corruption,” “healthcare compliance,” or “employment law” based on the roles you’re targeting.
Core competencies & skills
Group your skills by category for easier scanning by hiring managers and AI systems.
Examples:
- Regulatory Areas: FCA, PRA, GDPR, ESMA, MiFID II, SMCR, AMLD (EU), UK Bribery Act
- Legal Expertise: Corporate Governance, M&A, Data Protection, Employment Law, Regulatory Compliance, Commercial Contracts
- Tools: LexisLibrary, Practical Law, Relativity, iManage, HighQ, DocuSign
- Languages: French (fluent), German (business proficient)
Tip: Match the terminology used in job descriptions (e.g., use “GDPR compliance” instead of “data law experience”) to improve visibility in automated screening systems.
Experience
List roles in reverse-chronological order, including job title, employer, location, and dates. Focus on legal accomplishments and outcomes.
Use this structure: Action + Legal Task + Result
Example:
Developed and implemented anti-bribery policy across 15 markets, reducing regulatory audit findings by 60% within two years.
Quantify where possible: number of cases managed, settlements negotiated, compliance improvements, cost reductions, etc.
Education & credentials
Examples:
- LLB (Hons), University of Leeds
- LPC, BPP Law School
- Admitted as a Solicitor of England and Wales
- Certified Information Privacy Professional – Europe (CIPP/E)
Certifications and memberships from recognised bodies like the Law Society (England & Wales), IAPP, ACAMS, PMI, STEP, or BARBRI International enhance credibility across UK and European legal markets.
Optional but strategic sections
These can set you apart, especially for more senior or specialised roles:
- Publications or Legal Articles
- Speaking Engagements or CLEs
- Pro Bono or Community Involvement
- Professional Associations (e.g., ABA, ACC, NAMWOLF)
- Awards or Industry Recognition
Stick to standard section names and avoid overly creative headings that may not be parsed by AI tools.
✅ Clean, professional formatting with no tables or graphics
✅ Standard section headers (e.g., "Experience", "Education", "Skills")
✅ Terminology aligned with the target role and jurisdiction (e.g., GDPR, SMCR, MiFID II)
✅ Legal qualifications and admissions clearly listed (e.g., Solicitor, Rechtsanwalt, Avocat)
✅ Legal outcomes and achievements supported by quantifiable results where possible
✅ Familiar legal research and workflow tools referenced (e.g., LexisLibrary, Practical Law, iManage)
✅ Certifications from recognised UK/EU professional bodies (e.g., Law Society, IAPP, ACAMS, STEP)
✅ Clear and logical career progression aligned with practice area or regulatory expertise
Take the next step in your legal career
Whether you're a junior attorney, compliance officer, regulatory advisor, or general counsel, a strong CV helps you stand out.
At Larson Maddox, we partner with legal and regulatory professionals across the UK and Europe, placing talent in private practice, in-house, and across government-aligned roles. We understand the hiring nuances in financial services, life sciences, energy, tech, and more.
Upload your CV today to speak with a specialist who can help you navigate your next career move with confidence.