Most students focus on what they’ve done. Recruiters focus on what actually matters. Here’s what separates a CV that gets shortlisted from one that gets ignored.
01. Make it easy to scan
Recruiters spend roughly 10 seconds on a CV before deciding whether to read further. If they can’t find what they need instantly, they won’t look for it.
Your CV must have: your name at the top, a professional email, an updated LinkedIn profile, and a clear flow — Education → Experience → Skills. Use consistent formatting throughout.
Avoid: photos, coloured boxes, and decorative borders. These distract without adding value.
02. Structure is non-negotiable
A clean structure isn’t a design choice, it’s a filtering mechanism. Recruiters at top law firms scan dozens of CVs in one sitting. Yours needs to communicate your profile in the first glance.
One page. Clear sections. No clutter.
03. Specific work wins
Vague descriptions kill strong CVs. Recruiters want to know exactly what you did, not a job description of what interns are supposed to do.
❌ “Drafted agreements.”
❌ “Did legal research.”
❌ “Assisted in due diligence.”
✓ “Drafted a Share Purchase Agreement for a seed-stage fintech investment.”
✓ “Conducted research on whether a Section 8 company can be converted into a for-profit company under the Companies Act, 2013.”
✓ “Prepared a compliance checklist for an NBFC entering the retail lending space.”
The firm name matters less than the work you actually did.
04. Duties don’t impress. Outcomes do.
Don’t list what you were supposed to do. Show what you actually did and how well.
❌ “Assisted Senior Advocate with court matters.”
✓ “Assisted in drafting written submissions for a writ petition before the Delhi High Court challenging an environmental clearance order.”
Recruiters remember outcomes, not job descriptions.
05. ATS is reading your CV before a recruiter does
Many law firms use software to filter CVs before a human ever sees them. If your CV doesn’t contain the right keywords, it gets filtered out automatically.
Use these keywords naturally in your experience bullets, never keyword-stuff:
Litigation: Case Management, Drafting Pleadings, Legal Research, Trial Preparation, Written Submissions, Court Appearances
Corporate: Due Diligence, Contract Drafting, Regulatory Compliance, Transaction Support, Deal Structuring
IP: Trademark Filing, Patent Research, Infringement Analysis, IP Portfolio Management, IP Due Diligence
Weave them into your experience descriptions. That’s where they carry the most weight.
06. Education ≠ biography
Include: your degree, university name, year of graduation, CGPA or percentage (if it’s your strength), relevant subjects (optional), and honours or distinctions.
That’s it. Write in reverse chronological order, most recent first.
Nobody is hiring you because of your Class 10 marks. Your education section should confirm your qualification, not take up half your page.
07. Show legal potential, not just participation
This section is where you stand out. Include activities that prove you can research, write, argue, or think, not everything you’ve ever done.
What counts: Moot courts, publications and blogs, research assistantships, debates and MUNs.
What doesn’t: Random school awards from 5 years ago, participation certificates with no performance, anything that doesn’t connect to legal aptitude.
Quality over quantity, always.
08. Write a professional summary that actually says something
Three lines. Maximum impact. A strong summary does three things: states who you are (year + institution + interests), states what you bring (skills + experience), and states what you’re looking for (role or practice area).
Example: “4th year B.A. LL.B. (Hons.) student at NLUO with hands-on experience in corporate drafting and regulatory research. Interned with a Tier-1 firm and an independent advocate, focusing on M&A due diligence and consumer law matters. Seeking a corporate law internship where I can contribute to transaction support and legal research.”
Generic is invisible. Specific is memorable.
Before you apply anywhere, ask yourself one question
Would a recruiter shortlist me based on this CV alone?
Your CV needs to answer that before you ever get the chance to.
One page. One clear story. One shot to make them pick up the phone.
Need help building your law student CV? Connect with 50+ mentors from top law firms — completely free. Visit The LawCademy: https://thelawcademy.in