The precise format can vary, but we would advise that the following rules be followed:
- Make it easy to read.
- Make sure you proofread it carefully. A single error is enough for many law firms to conclude that the application is careless.
- Favour brevity over complexity.
- Clearly set out your academic scores.
- Make sure relevant modules are set out to demonstrate existing interest in the area of law you are applying to.
- Set out a precise chronology of academic and working experience.
- Do not try to fudge problems with your academic scores or gaps in your CV. Deal with them head-on, concisely and maturely.
- Don’t send out applications in bulk.
- Don’t name your CV file in a way that suggests you have different CVs for different applications. Of course, you may well have multiple versions, but don’t flag them.
The critical thing to remember is that people may not have the time or the inclination to read every word. The more they skip, the more they will miss. If there is too much padding, they may miss something really important.
You should help the reader get what they need quickly by making a CV clear, concise and hitting the topics the reviewer is interested in.
If you don’t do this, at least two unwanted things can happen:
- The reviewer looks at it and thinks TL;DR; or
- The reviewer ploughs through it and is annoyed by repetition or irrelevant padding.
A well-written CV is unlikely to get you an interview if the core information does not meet the reader’s criteria, but a bad one can lose you an interview even if you have otherwise met the criteria.
Finally, pay attention to the covering email. If you have not followed the website instructions for applications or you have misspelt the recipient’s name or made some other simple error, you may get an instant rejection.