Are you looking to write your perfect Legal Advisor CV?
Securing a role as a legal advisor demands not only a solid understanding of legal principles but also an impressive CV that reflects your qualifications, experience and achievements.
In this comprehensive guide, we will walk you through each step of creating a standout CV, offering valuable tips and providing examples to ensure you present yourself in the best possible light. Whether you’re a seasoned professional or just starting in the field, this article has everything you need. Let’s get started!
I am an articulate, organised and driven Legal Advisor with a passion for helping people overcome their problems. I take great pride in my work and ensure that all the advice and guidance I offer to my clients is of the highest standard. Giving exceptional customer service is one of my greatest strengths. My previous work experience in the field has ensured that I am comfortable and proficient in communicating with people and professionals at all levels; from a first-year undergraduate student seeking advice to a legal professional seeking assistance.
Achievements
Received the “Oustanding Customer Service” Award at J.S & Partners (2016)
2009 – 2011 Results: History: A Law: A English Language: B
A Levels
Hilton College
Work experience
Sept 2015 – Present
Legal Adviser J.S & Partners
Main duties performed:
Providing legal expertise, advice and guidance to a broad range of customers
Interviewing clients by telephone or face-to-face, to address their issues
Drafting up legal documents including contracts and statements of fact
Auditing and reviewing legal documents
Negotiating contractual legal clauses on behalf of the client
Representing the client during business meetings or court hearings
Liaising with a wide range variety of clients and involved parties (such as solicitors and insurers) on a daily basis
Briefing counsel and preparing court documentation
Assisting claimants with their claims from start to finish of a claims process
Explaining complex legal matters clearly to people who have little or no knowledge of legal matters
Maintaining the highest standard of customer care at all times
Prioritising and handling a heavy caseload
Arranging medical examinations and treatment (when appropriate)
Dealing professionally with customer feedback, complaints and suggestions
Ensuring case files are up-to-date and kept to strict deadlines
Liaising with senior lawyers across the organisation
Supervising junior and intern staff
Maintaining the Case Management System
Feb 2015 – Sept 2015
Legal Assistant Atherton Solicitors
Main duties performed:
Preparing official documentation including wills, contracts, statements and other legal documents
Meeting with clients and discussing their circumstances and needs
Referring all cases to the senior members of the team
Responding to all correspondents through phone, email and fax
Organising online diary management software
Ensuring all records are kept up to date and confidential
Carrying out general admin work within an office environment
Qualifications
Legal Practice Course (LPC)
NVQ Level 4 in Legal Advice
Learning to Advise Training (10 days) – AdviceUK
Skills
Knowledgeable: I have studied the law for many years, and I have developed a pragmatic approach to complex legal issues, ultimately benefitting my clients with accurate and up-to-date advice.
Communication Skills: I am an eloquent individual with excellent listening and presenting skills. Over the years, I have effectively interacted with numerous people, and I have learnt to practice humility and think before I speak.
People Skills: I have experience of working with people from different backgrounds, ages, and professional levels, enabling me to build strong relationships and trust with my clients.
Hobbies and interests
I enjoy going to the gym and participating in various fitness classes, which not only gives me the opportunity to stay fit and healthy, but it allows me to meet new people and develop my social skills outside of a working environment.
The personal details: Clear and professional presentation of personal information, including full name and contact details. No unnecessary details or clutter, ensuring a concise and focused appearance.
The personal profile: Crafted with precision, the personal statement is compelling and tailored. It succinctly highlights the candidate’s legal expertise, key skills and career aspirations. It also demonstrates a strong understanding of the specific legal role being applied for.
Professional experience: The CV follows a reverse chronological order for work experience, providing a clear timeline of the candidate’s legal career. Each role is accompanied by concise yet impactful bullet points outlining key responsibilities and achievements.
Education: The academic qualifications section clearly outlines the candidate’s education, including degree, institution and graduation date. It focuses on relevant legal qualifications and any additional certifications that enhance the candidate’s legal expertise.
Tailoring to the job: The CV effectively demonstrates a clear alignment between the candidate’s skills and experiences with the requirements of the specific legal position. It strategically incorporates keywords and phrases from the job description to navigate applicant tracking systems (ATS).
Format and layout: Consistency and professionalism in formatting are maintained throughout the CV, with careful attention to font style and size. Ample use of white space enhances readability, contributing to a visually appealing document.
Length: Appropriately concise, the CV provides enough detail to showcase the candidate’s qualifications without overwhelming the reader. It focuses on relevance, omitting unnecessary details that do not contribute to the application.
Language and tone: The CV employs professional and confident language to convey the candidate’s legal expertise. It avoids jargon or overly complex language, ensuring clarity for a diverse audience.
Utilise a professional template: Choose a clean, professional CV template that reflects the seriousness of the legal profession. Templates with a balanced layout and easy-to-read fonts are ideal.
Use a reverse chronological order: Present your professional experience in reverse chronological order, starting with the most recent position. This provides a clear and logical timeline for the reader.
Quantify achievements: Use action verbs to quantify your achievements in each role. For example, “Negotiated settlements resulting in a 20% increase in successful case resolutions.”
Incorporate legal key words: Tailor your CV to the legal advisor role by incorporating keywords from the job description. This enhances your CV’s visibility in applicant tracking systems.
Implement consistent formatting: Maintain consistency in formatting throughout your CV. Ensure uniformity in font style, size, margins and spacing for a polished and professional appearance.
Add a skills section: Include a dedicated section for key skills relevant to the legal advisor role. This could encompass legal research, negotiation, case analysis, and proficiency in legal software.
The personal profile section on your CV is a concise statement that provides a snapshot of your skills, experience and career goals, offering employers a quick overview of what you bring to the table.
Guidelines:
Conciseness: Keep your personal profile concise, ideally within 3-4 lines, providing a quick snapshot of your legal expertise.
Relevance: Tailor your profile to the specific legal advisor role you’re applying for, focusing on the most relevant skills and experiences.
Keyword inclusion: Include keywords relevant to the legal field and the specific job description to pass through applicant tracking systems (ATS).
Highlight expertise: Clearly state your legal specializations, skills, and key areas of expertise to grab the employer’s attention.
Dedicated Legal Advisor with 8+ years’ experience in corporate law and contract negotiation. Proven success in resolving complex employment disputes and delivering strategic legal advice. Notably, spearheaded a high-profile international business acquisition, resulting in a 20% increase in company revenue. Adept at staying abreast of evolving legal landscapes and collaboratively integrating legal considerations into business strategies.
Achievements and awards
In the achievements and awards section of your CV, you get to showcase your standout moments that make you shine.
These are like bullet points of your career victories – think awards you’ve earned, promotions you’ve secured, top-notch grades you’ve achieved or any other significant accomplishments.
It’s your chance to grab the employer’s attention by highlighting the tangible successes that set you apart from the crowd and prove you’re a top performer in your field.
Example:
Received the “Legal Excellence Award” for exceptional contributions to a high-profile case.
Volunteered at a legal aid clinic, providing free legal assistance to underprivileged individuals.
Played a key role in negotiating a major international business deal, ensuring a smooth transaction.
Published an article in a legal journal on emerging trends in corporate law.
Successfully defended a client in a high-stakes legal dispute, resulting in a favourable settlement.
Employment history
In this section, you walk the reader through your work experience, highlighting your key roles, responsibilities and achievements.
Be sure to focus on how your skills and contributions have added value to your employers.
Use a clear and concise format, listing your roles chronologically, and for each job, outline your main duties and accomplishments to give the reader a clear picture of your professional expertise.
March 2021 – Present
Legal Advisor Law Firm 1 UK, London
Main duties and responsibilities performed:
Provide expert legal advice on corporate law matters, including contract negotiation and compliance.
Conduct thorough legal research to support cases and ensure informed decision-making.
Draft and review contracts, ensuring accuracy and alignment with legal standards.
Collaborate with cross-functional teams to integrate legal considerations into business strategies.
Achievements: Successfully led the legal aspects of a major business acquisition, resulting in a 15% increase in client portfolio and revenue.
Conduct thorough legal research to provide accurate and up-to-date information for legal cases and business decisions.
Draft and review legal documents, including contracts, agreements, and legal opinions, ensuring precision and compliance with relevant laws.
Provide expert legal advice to clients or internal stakeholders on a range of legal issues, including corporate law, employment law, and contractual matters.
Analyse and interpret complex legal documents, statutes, regulations, and precedents to form well-founded legal opinions.
Represent clients in negotiations, mediations, and settlements, demonstrating strong advocacy skills.
Stay abreast of changes in legislation and legal precedents to ensure the delivery of informed and current legal counsel.
Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including business development, finance, and compliance, to integrate legal considerations into overall business strategies.
Conduct due diligence reviews in the context of mergers, acquisitions, and other business transactions.
Manage and maintain legal documentation, ensuring accurate and organized records.
Provide legal training and guidance to junior legal staff and other team members.
Education
The education section of your CV is a chance for you to showcase your academic journey.
Start with your most recent qualifications and work backwards in reverse chronological order. Include your university degrees, A-Levels, diplomas or any other relevant qualifications.
Sep 2013 – Jun 2015 Results: Law (A), Economics (B) and English Literature (A).
A-Levels
City College, London
Professional training and qualifications
For a legal advisor, this section is a chance to highlight specialised qualifications that enhance your legal proficiency.
Include certifications like the Legal Practice Course (LPC) or Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC), relevant workshops on negotiation and mediation and any industry-specific accreditations.
This demonstrates your commitment to staying current in your field and showcases practical skills gained beyond traditional academic settings.
Example:
Level 7 Diploma in Legal Practice – Law Society of England and Wales
LLB (Hons) in Law – University of Birmingham
Legal Practice Course (LPC) – City Law School
Professional Skills Course (PSC) – City Law School
Advanced Certificate in Employment Law – Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEx)
Certified Paralegal – National Association of Licensed Paralegals (NALP)
Skills and abilities
The skills section of your CV is a crucial component where you highlight your unique abilities, expertise and attributes relevant to the legal profession.
Include a mix of technical skills such as legal research, contract drafting and case analysis, alongside soft skills like communication, attention to detail, and time management.
Providing a well-rounded representation of your skills in this section ensures that your CV effectively communicates your suitability for the role.
Legal research: Proven ability to conduct thorough legal research, demonstrated during a complex corporate litigation case where my research findings significantly contributed to a successful outcome.
Contract drafting: Adept at drafting precise and comprehensive legal documents, including contracts, agreements, and legal opinions. Successfully drafted and negotiated a series of commercial contracts, ensuring legal compliance and protecting the client’s interests.
Case analysis: Extensive experience in analysing legal cases, identifying key issues and providing strategic advice. Developed and implemented case strategies that resulted in a 20% reduction in potential legal liabilities for a corporate client.
Client communication: Strong communication skills with the ability to explain complex legal concepts in a clear and concise manner. Received positive feedback from clients for providing understandable legal advice during consultations.
Legal research: Conducting thorough legal research to support cases and provide informed advice.
Contract drafting: Proficient in creating clear and comprehensive legal documents and contracts.
Negotiation: Skilled in negotiating favourable terms and settlements on behalf of clients.
Legal analysis: Ability to critically analyse legal issues and provide insightful solutions.
Litigation support: Assisting in all aspects of the litigation process, from case preparation to court appearances.
Legal compliance: Ensuring adherence to all relevant laws, regulations and compliance standards.
Dispute resolution: Expertise in resolving legal disputes through negotiation, mediation or litigation.
Legal writing: Proficient in drafting persuasive legal documents, including briefs and motions.
Time management: Efficiently managing time and prioritising tasks to meet deadlines in a fast-paced legal environment.
Commercial awareness: Understanding the business context and implications of legal decisions.
Hobbies and interests (optional)
The hobbies and interests section of your CV provides a glimpse into your personal life, showcasing activities outside of work that demonstrate your passions, skills and cultural fit for potential employers.
Examples of hobbies that may be relevant to your role include participating in debate clubs, engaging in legal literature reading groups, volunteering for legal aid organizations or even pursuing activities that demonstrate a commitment to ethical and community-oriented values, enhancing the overall profile of a well-rounded legal professional.
Example:
In my leisure time, I engage in moot court competitions, honing my advocacy skills and staying abreast of legal precedents. A passionate supporter of legal literature, I contribute articles to legal publications, fostering a deep understanding of evolving jurisprudence. Additionally, my involvement in local community outreach programs reflects my commitment to applying legal expertise for the betterment of society.
Professional references
The references section of your CV typically includes details of individuals who can vouch for your professional capabilities and character, providing prospective employers with insights into your suitability for the role.
Showcase specialised legal skills: Utilise a skills section to highlight your proficiency in areas such as contract law, litigation and legal research, demonstrating to employers that you possess the necessary expertise.
Quantify achievements: Quantify your accomplishments, such as “Managed a caseload of 50+ clients,” providing concrete evidence of your impact and adding credibility to your CV.
Highlight legal software proficiency: Showcase your proficiency with legal software, like LexisNexis or Westlaw, to demonstrate your technological competence in legal research and case management.
Use action verbs: Deploy dynamic action verbs like “negotiated,” “drafted,” or “analysed” to vividly describe your legal responsibilities and accomplishments, creating a sense of energy and impact.
Written by Sobhan Mohmand Sobhan is a qualified Careers Advisor and Professional CV Writer with over 10 years of experience in helping job seekers get a job. He is a Member of the Careers Development Institute (CDI) and is listed on the official UK Register of Career Development Professionals. He holds a Level 6 Diploma in Career Guidance and Development (QCF).