This guide shows you how to write an entry-level law CV for the United Kingdom that highlights relevant experience and puts your legal skills forward. You will find clear examples and practical advice so you can present coursework, internships, and research work in a way UK employers can quickly evaluate.
Building a Law Clerk 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.
Entry-Level Law Clerk CV: What UK Employers Look For
UK employers for junior law roles look for evidence you can research, draft, and file documents under supervision. Provide concrete examples of legal research, drafting, and client communication from internships, university clinics, or academic work so reviewers can gauge your ability to handle day-to-day tasks.
Emphasise accuracy, meeting deadlines, and familiarity with UK court procedures and practice rules. When describing responsibilities and achievements, highlight transferable skills such as note-taking, case management, and compliance with court timetables.
How to Format Your Entry-Level Law Clerk CV
UK CVs favour a clear, professional layout. Use a concise personal profile and keep to two pages for more extensive experience, or one page if you have limited experience.
Start with Personal Details and a Personal Profile that states your status, degree (LLB or Graduate Diploma in Law), and two skills tied to legal work. Follow with Education, Work Experience (or legal work experience), Skills, Certifications and Activities, and optional sections such as Mooting or Publications.
Use UK date format (DD/MM/YYYY) and consistent fonts and margins to improve readability.
CV Sections and Examples
A typical UK CV structure is Personal Details, Personal Profile, Education, Experience, Skills, Certifications and Activities, and References (or 'References available on request'). For each section include specific, verifiable items such as the name of a law clinic, supervising solicitor or lecturer, and case citations or exhibits where applicable.
Below are short UK-specific examples you can adapt to your background.
Examples
Professional Profile: Recent UK law graduate with hands-on clinic experience drafting submissions and handling client communications. Proficient in legal research using LexisNexis and JustCite; familiar with UK civil procedure and court rules; seeking a trainee solicitor or paralegal role.
Experience Example: Legal Intern/Paralegal, Consumer Protection Clinic, University Law School, City, Summer 2024. Researched consumer statutes, drafted submissions, and prepared evidence for pro bono filings under supervisor oversight.
Education Example: LLB (Hons), University Law School, Month Year. Relevant modules: Civil Procedure, Evidence, Civil Appeals. Degree classification: 2:1. GCSEs/A-levels: optional depending on relevance.
Additional Tips
- 1Proofread multiple times and ask a careers adviser to review for clarity and legal accuracy.
- 2Save your CV as PDF with a filename such as LastName_FirstName_CV.pdf so it is easy for UK employers to locate.
- 3When emailing applications include a short covering message that highlights one relevant qualification and notes the attached documents.