This entry-level litigation CV guide shows you how to present relevant experience clearly so UK hiring managers see your readiness for litigation work. You will find practical examples, phrasing suggestions, and formatting tips that match typical solicitor trainee roles, paralegal litigation positions, and clerkships in the United Kingdom.
Building a Litigation Attorney 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 Litigation CV: What to Include
Start with your contact details, a concise CV profile, education, relevant experience, professional registrations or placements, and key skills. Use a clear reverse-chronological layout so a reader can spot your court or research experience quickly.
Include dates, locations, and exact role or clerkship titles you held, and quantify results where possible. Highlight mooting, clinical legal work, internships, externships, and any pro bono litigation you handled to show applicable experience.
Entry-level Litigation CV: Profile and Objective
Write a 2-3 sentence profile or objective that states your current status and what you bring to litigation roles. If you are a recent graduate or a paralegal/trainee, say so and emphasise legal research, brief drafting, advocacy, and courtroom exposure to align with the job posting.
Avoid vague language and focus on specific skills and experiences that match the listing, such as drafting pleadings, managing disclosure, or representing clients in mock trials. Tailor this section for each application by mirroring keywords from the job posting while keeping the phrasing natural.
Entry-level Litigation CV: Work Experience and Relevant Experience
Prioritise litigation-related experience even if it was gained through clinical law projects, internships, law journals, or externships. For each position include one line that summarises your role and two to four bullets that demonstrate concrete outcomes, such as briefs drafted, witness statements prepared, or the number of matters supported.
Use action verbs like researched, drafted, argued, and prepared, and quantify results when possible, for example the number of pleadings filed or hearings attended. If you lack full practitioner experience, emphasise responsibility level, supervision received, and any client contact to show practical readiness.
Education, Professional Registration, and Qualifications
List your UK university, degree, graduation year, and honours such as a 2:1 or First, and include any relevant awards or scholarships. If you have completed coursework related to litigation, evidence, or advocacy, mention it.
For professional registration, note whether you have a practising certificate in the UK (eg, SRA registration for solicitors) or if you are on track to qualify with an expected date, and indicate your right to work in the UK.
If you are a recent graduate, include details of clinical placements, mooting, or pro bono clinics, and explain how your academic background supports practice in the UK. If applicable, reference UCAS points or the prestige of your degree and indicate your eligibility to work in the UK.
Include a line stating references available on request.
Additional Tips
- 1For interviews, prepare brief stories that follow the STAR format to explain your role in research, drafting, or advocacy; tailor your references and writing samples to UK litigation matters; and save writing sample pages to show redacted client work when permitted.