An entry-level solicitor CV should demonstrate your legal education, practical experience, and your potential to contribute from day one. This guide covers formatting, what to include, and concrete examples so you can present relevant experience clearly and confidently.
Building a 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.
Entry-level solicitor CV: What hiring managers look for
UK hiring managers look for evidence you can perform core legal tasks, follow procedures, and communicate clearly. Highlight modules or courses, clinical legal work (law clinics), placements, pro bono matters, and research that map to the role you want.
Be concise and specific about responsibilities and outcomes. Use measurable results where possible and keep formatting consistent to help recruiters scan quickly.
How to format an entry-level solicitor CV
- •Use a clean, professional layout on A4 pages with 10-12pt sans-serif fonts and margins of 1.0-2.0 cm. For early-career candidates, aim for a maximum of two pages; many employers prefer one page for very early entrants. Use clear headings and consistent bullet formatting.
- •Place contact details at the top in a compact block: your name, mobile number, professional email, city, and LinkedIn profile. Do not include date of birth, marital status, a photo, or sensitive details that aren’t required by law firms.
- •List dates using the UK format DD/MM/YYYY and present experience in reverse chronological order by date.
- •Include a concise professional profile near the top and tailor the CV to the job advert.
- •If applying to NHS trusts or healthcare-related organisations, mention any NHS-specific requirements or pay bands only where relevant in the covering letter or CV.
Key sections to include on an entry-level solicitor CV
Your CV should include: Contact, Personal Profile (or Objective), Education, Legal Experience, Other Experience, Skills, and Certifications or SRA status when applicable. Order sections so the most relevant experience appears first for the role you are applying to.
If you have law clinic or internship experience, list it under Legal Experience with a brief description of tasks and outcomes.
For non-legal work that shows transferable skills, include an Additional Experience section and emphasise research, writing, client contact, and project management. Education should reflect UK qualifications: list degree name (e.g.
LLB or GDL), university (including whether it is a Russell Group institution), year of completion, and grade or UCAS points where relevant. Include GCSEs and A-levels for early-stage applicants and mention UCAS points if asked.
Writing a concise summary for an entry-level solicitor CV
Write a two- to three-sentence professional profile that names your degree (e.g. LLB or GDL), primary practice interests, and one or two strengths tied to the job.
Tailor this profile for each application by referencing the practice area or skills highlighted in the vacancy.
Example: Recent LLB graduate with housing law clinic experience and tenancy-rights internship, demonstrating strong legal research and client liaison skills.
Additional Tips
- 1Keep a master CV with detailed entries for each role so tailoring is faster; when applying, prioritise the top three achievements that map to the job description.
- 2Prepare concise STAR-style examples from clinical placements, internships, or law clinics to discuss during interviews, focusing on your role, the action you took, and the outcome.
- 3When you lack direct legal experience, emphasise transferable skills such as writing, client liaison, document management, and research with concrete examples.