Lawyer CV Example and Writing Guide
Legal employers look for admission status, practice area depth and matters handled. Summarise key transactions or cases, clients served and drafting or advocacy strengths — accurately and without confidential details.
What employers look for in a Lawyer
- Bar admission / practising certificate
- Practice area expertise
- Drafting and negotiation
- Research and analysis
- Client management
Lawyer CV example
Use this sample as inspiration. Replace every number and detail with your own real achievements.
Your Name
Lawyer
City, Country · phone · email@example.com · linkedin.com/in/yourname
Professional profile
Corporate lawyer with 7+ years advising companies on commercial contracts, M&A and regulatory compliance. Negotiated and drafted agreements worth $500M+ in total value. Known for clear advice and strong client relationships.
Experience — key achievements
- Drafted and negotiated 200+ commercial agreements with a combined value exceeding $500M
- Led legal due diligence for 6 acquisitions, identifying risks that adjusted deal terms
- Advised 30+ corporate clients on regulatory compliance and data protection
- Reduced contract turnaround time by 40% by creating standard templates and playbooks
- Successfully represented clients in 12 commercial disputes resolved through mediation and arbitration
- Supervised 3 trainee lawyers and delivered internal training on contract risk
Skills
Legal Research · Contract Drafting · Negotiation · Corporate Law · Mergers & Acquisitions · Regulatory Compliance · Litigation Support · Due Diligence · Client Advisory · Legal Writing · Case Management Software · Dispute Resolution
Entry-level Lawyer CV profile
No experience yet? Lead with education, projects and transferable skills. Here is a profile you can adapt:
Law graduate with a strong academic record, moot court experience and a legal internship in corporate law. Excellent research, drafting and analytical skills. Seeking a trainee or junior associate position.
Career objective version: Diligent lawyer seeking a role to provide practical, commercially aware legal advice and high-quality drafting for clients.
Typical Lawyer responsibilities
Do not copy duties straight onto your CV. Instead, turn each one into an achievement with a number — for example, how many, how much, or how much faster.
- Advise clients on legal matters
- Draft and review contracts
- Conduct legal research
- Negotiate terms and settlements
- Manage case files and deadlines
Key skills for a Lawyer CV
Read our guide to the CV skills section and how to use CV keywords.
Certifications worth listing
- Bar admission
- LLM / specialist qualification
- Mediation accreditation
Requirements vary by country and employer — always check the job advert and the relevant licensing body.
How to write a stronger Lawyer CV
- 1
Put your target job title — "Lawyer" — directly under your name so recruiters and ATS see the match immediately.
- 2
Open with a three-line profile: experience level, two or three core skills and one measurable result.
- 3
Write experience bullets as action verb + task + result. Aim for a number in at least half of your bullets.
- 4
Mirror the exact skills and tools named in the job advert, but only those you genuinely have.
- 5
Use a clean, single-column layout and save as a text-based PDF unless the employer asks for Word.
Applying abroad?
CV conventions — photo, length, personal details — change from country to country. Read the guide for your target market:
Lawyer CV — frequently asked questions
What should I include in a Lawyer CV?
Include a short professional profile, reverse-chronological experience with measurable achievements, a skills section and your education. Employers hiring for lawyer roles especially look for: bar admission / practising certificate, practice area expertise, drafting and negotiation.
What are the best skills for a Lawyer CV?
Strong lawyer CVs usually feature skills such as Legal Research, Contract Drafting, Negotiation, Corporate Law, Mergers & Acquisitions, Regulatory Compliance. Match the exact wording of the job advert and prove key skills inside your experience bullets.
Which certifications help a Lawyer CV stand out?
Depending on your country and level, useful credentials include Bar admission, LLM / specialist qualification, Mediation accreditation. List them with the year achieved or your expected completion date.
How long should a Lawyer CV be?
One page for students and early-career candidates; two pages for most experienced professionals. Senior or highly specialised candidates may need more, but every line should be relevant to the role.
Can I create a Lawyer CV for free?
Yes. The BuildCVFast builder is free to use. Choose "Lawyer" as your job title to load a starting profile, skills and bullet points, then edit them with your own details and download a PDF.