MCA Legal - Recruitment for Law

CV Preparation
A moment’s thought goes a long way when writing a CV…think about why you are writing it. Achievements and experiences you might think are irrelevant may actually be very important when searching for a new job. Presentation is important but be aware that many Recruitment Consultancies will have their own in-house format. Content is key however and the CV needs to be concise and factual, focusing on key achievements.

There are 4 key sections to think about when putting together a CV: personal information, academic qualifications, employment history and interests/additional information. These should be in this order and include:

  1. Personal Information
    1. Full name and contact details including address, home telephone number, mobile number and email address
    2. Marital Status
  2. Academic Qualifications
    1. The chronology of your education including names and locations of institutions, grades and qualifications obtained are all necessary. This section should also include professional qualifications and any language skills.
  3. Employment History
    1. Employment history should always be presented with the most recent first and should include name of employer, dates, location and position held. From this you can then provide further information on your current position such as:
      1. Description of the team and it’s structure
      2. The size and nature of your caseload, what it is made up of
      3. Client base upon which you act
      4. Duties undertaken eg drafting, client contact, advocacy, supervisory responsibilities, marketing and business development
      5. Billing targets and achievement
    2. Essentially, remember to provide the most information on your current role and work your way back. It is important to not leave out any period of employment and be prepared to explain any gaps. Whilst a missing few months here and there may not be important to you, a prospective employer will want the details and reasons behind it.
  4. Interests
    1. Potential employers do like to see the human side to your personality as well as the professional but remember to keep it short and sweet. IT Skills etc can be included here also.

  5. References
    1. Typically, there is no real need to provide names and contact details of referees in an initial application as references should always be taken after an offer has been made.

In Summary
Always remember to proofread and spell check your CV and don’t be too concerned about its length as long as it provides all the relevant and required information and isn’t waffle!

If you require further help and advice on compiling your CV, please do not hesitate to contact one of our regional consultants.