Lawyer CV Example & Writing Guide
Lawyer CVs must demonstrate practice area specialism, deal or case credentials, and qualification status with absolute precision. SRA admission, year of qualification, and PQE are the immediate filters — every legal CV is read through the lens of "are they the right PQE for this role?" Deal sheets and matter lists are as important as the CV narrative: the type, value, and complexity of transactions or cases you've handled signals your level far more clearly than job titles. ATS systems filter for practice area keywords (M&A, employment law, litigation, corporate finance, real estate), law firm name recognition, and legal technology (Opus 2, Relativity, LEAP, Clio).
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Lawyer CV Example — Sample
Alex Johnson
Associate (Corporate M&A)
alex.johnson@email.com · London, UK · linkedin.com/in/alexjohnson
Professional Summary
SRA-admitted solicitor (3 years PQE) specialising in corporate M&A and private equity. Qualified at magic circle firm; now at a leading mid-market firm advising on deals of £20M–£500M. Led due diligence workstreams and drafted key transaction documents on 7 completed deals in the past 18 months. Called to the Bar: no (solicitor).
Experience
Associate (Corporate M&A)
Halston & Gray LLP
- —Advise private equity clients on mid-market acquisitions and disposals (£20M–£500M) — 7 completed deals in 18 months
- —Led due diligence workstreams across legal, commercial, and regulatory matters; produced DD reports for board review
- —Drafted and negotiated SPAs, shareholder agreements, and ancillary transaction documents
Trainee Solicitor
Alderton & Webb LLP (Magic Circle)
- —Completed seats in Corporate M&A, Banking & Finance, Employment, and Dispute Resolution
- —Supported senior associates on FTSE 100 transactions with combined deal value exceeding £2.4B
- —Qualified into Corporate M&A — highest-performing trainee in cohort (peer review and supervisor ratings)
Skills
SRA admitted, corporate M&A, private equity, due diligence, SPA drafting, shareholder agreements, FTSE/AIM transactions, Companies House filings, Practical Law, Lexis+, Opus 2, deal management, Citrix, document review, legal research
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How to write a Lawyer CV Example: 6 key tips
- 1
State SRA admission, qualification year, and PQE in your header — every legal recruiter looks here first
- 2
Include a deal sheet or matter summary as a separate section if you have significant transaction experience
- 3
Name your practice area clearly and early — corporate, employment, litigation, real estate, IP
- 4
List law firms worked at — brand recognition matters enormously in legal recruitment
- 5
Include legal tech tools: Practical Law, Lexis+, Opus 2, Relativity — ATS filters for these
- 6
For in-house roles: show commercial awareness — how did your legal work affect business outcomes?
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