An entry-level family solicitor CV should show that you have relevant hands-on experience, legal knowledge, and client communication skills even if you are early in your career. This guide explains how to format your CV for the UK market, which experiences to highlight, and provides concrete bullet points you can adapt for your own CV.
Building a Family Lawyer resume?
Skip the blank page. Start with a template built for this role, then tailor it for each job you apply to.
Tip: use the template as a starting point, then swap in your own numbers and project names.
How to format an entry-level family solicitor CV
Use a clear, professional layout with distinct sections for contact details, a short profile, education and qualifications, relevant legal experience, clinical and pro bono work, internships and externships, publications or law notes, and skills. Keep the CV to one page if you have less than two years of legal experience; you may extend to two pages if you have more placements.
Use a 10-12 point font in a readable sans‑serif or serif type.
Start with a targeted profile of two sentences that states you are an entry-level family solicitor and highlights one or two strengths, such as client communication or negotiations. Place your solicitor status (e.g.
SRA-registered in England and Wales) and contact details at the top so a recruiter can quickly verify status and contact you.
Entry-level family solicitor CV sections
A typical CV should include: Contact details and right-to-work status, Personal profile, Education and qualifications, Legal experience and clinical work, Internships and externships, Publications or law notes, Volunteering and pro bono work, and Technical or language skills. Arrange sections by relevance, placing legal experience and clinical work above unrelated part-time jobs when space is limited.
Include a clear statement of your eligibility to work in the UK.
In the Education section, list your degree(s) with dates in the format DD/MM/YYYY, plus honours, relevant modules, and any clinical concentrations such as a family law clinic or domestic relations seminar. If you have published a note or contributed to a family law journal, include a short citation under a Publications subheading.
Mention your route to qualification (e.g.
SQE path or previous training) and whether you studied at a Russell Group university or another institution. If you studied GCSEs and A‑levels, include them where relevant per the job requirements.
What to put in your profile and objective
Write a two‑sentence profile that is specific to family law and the role you want, for example noting experience with child arrangements, divorce proceedings, or protective orders. If you have limited practice experience, an objective can focus on transferable skills you will bring, such as client intake, drafting pleadings, and court appearances, and emphasise your commitment to family‑centred outcomes.
Avoid vague phrases; cite measurable or observable skills like client interviewing, drafting statements of case, and negotiation support. Use wording from the job advert (e.g.
'child arrangements', 'guardianship', or 'domestic violence') to improve ATS matching. Include your right-to-work status and any visa considerations if applicable.
Work experience examples for entry-level family solicitor CV
List all legal experiences that show family law exposure. For each role, describe what you did and the impact, for example: assisted with case preparation for child arrangement orders, conducted client interviews and prepared intake notes, supported drafting of statements of case and court bundles, conducted legal research on domestic violence remedies, and maintained case files in line with GDPR and data protection rules.
Emphasise any supervised appearances, advocacy practice, or client-facing work, and note relevant software (case management systems) used. Include any voluntary or pro bono work and outline the skills gained (e.g. client communication, drafting, research).
Additional Tips
- 1When you lack paid legal experience, translate university clinic work and law school projects into professional achievements, quantify impact where possible, and tailor a short cover letter that explains your commitment to family law practice.