One question that many law students have is how to prepare a CV that catches a recruiter’s attention. With so many things that can be included, such as internships, moot court competitions, research papers, publications, positions of responsibility, certifications, and extracurricular activities, it is often difficult to know what is actually important.
Many students are also unsure about how to present their experiences, what to include, what to leave out, and how to make their CV stand out among hundreds of applications.
From a recruiter’s point of view, what makes a good CV? What should law students include, what common mistakes should they avoid, and what advice would you give to someone preparing their CV for internship applications?
Dear Learner,
Bridging the gap between academic training and contemporary market expectations remains one of the primary hurdles for law graduates entering the profession. However, legal recruiters consistently look for specific, foundational pillars when reviewing any Curriculum Vitae (CV).
To ensure your profile stands out in a competitive market, focus on highlighting the following key areas:
- Moot Court Experience- Active engagement in moot court competitions serves as a strong indicator of robust legal research, structured drafting, and persuasive oral advocacy. These competencies are indispensable, whether you choose to pursue a career in active litigation or corporate practice.
- Publications and Academic Writing- Authoring research papers and securing publications demonstrates academic rigor, analytical depth, and a commitment to legal scholarship. This quality is particularly valuable if you aim to transition into policy research, governmental advisory roles, or institutional clerkships.
- Co-Curricular & Extra-Curricular Engagement- These activities can be broadly categorized into academic pursuits (such as debating, judgment writing, or mediation) and performing arts. Excellence in debating, for instance, underscores command over language, quick analytical thinking, and the poise vital for an advocate.
Here are few more things to keep in mind,
- Tailor to the Job Description: It is crucial to align your credentials with the specific mandate of the role. The core competencies required of a transactional Associate at a law firm differ substantially from those expected of an in-house Corporate Counsel.
- Brevity is Key: Keep your CV precise, structured, and scannable. Avoid dense, lengthy paragraphs. Instead, utilize a targeted Cover Letter to contextualize your key achievements and articulate your specific value proposition for the role.
- ATS Optimization: Modern legal recruitment increasingly relies on automated screening. Before submitting, leverage online tools to check your CV’s Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) score, ensuring your formatting and keywords align with digital screening standards.
By treating your CV as a brief that advocates for your capabilities, you will significantly improve your chances of securing that crucial first interview.
Wishing you the very best.
(*The professional designation and organisation mentioned are provided solely for identification purposes. The views and opinions expressed are strictly personal and do not represent those of the organisation or employer.*)
Hi,
While I can share some general observations, I believe this question would be better answered by someone with an HR or legal recruitment background, as they review hundreds of law student CVs and understand what hiring teams prioritize.
In general, a strong law student CV should be clear, concise, and tailored to the specific internship or role. Recruiters typically value relevant internships, research experience, moot court participation, publications, leadership roles, and measurable achievements over lengthy lists of activities. It’s equally important to avoid common mistakes such as generic CVs, poor formatting, grammatical errors, and including irrelevant information.
For practical, recruiter-focused guidance on what makes a CV stand out, I’d recommend seeking insights from an HR professional or a legal recruiter who can share current hiring expectations and best practices.
(*The professional designation and organisation mentioned are provided solely for identification purposes. The views and opinions expressed are strictly personal and do not represent those of the organisation or employer.*)
A strong law student CV reflects quality, not quantity. Recruiters look for relevant internships, practical legal research, drafting experience, academic performance, publications, moot court achievements, and leadership roles that demonstrate genuine learning and impact. Most importantly, the CV should tell a coherent story of your growth, showcasing your skills, professionalism, and commitment to learning, rather than simply listing accomplishments. And above all, the work performed and the skills inherited during the course of law is the priority which distinguishes the students.
(*The professional designation and organisation mentioned are provided solely for identification purposes. The views and opinions expressed are strictly personal and do not represent those of the organisation or employer.*)
The answer to your question is to have a tailored CV. While it may not be possible to build that in the initial years of law school, however, after 4th year you should have one. In case a person is interested in Competition Law and applying for a job in the same, the recruiter will look out for previous internships in the practice area, and if you have moots or research papers/blogs to support your interest in the practice area, the chances of getting shortlisted increases. Once you have 2-3 internships in the area of your interest, you should properly describe work experience and assignments you worked on, and alter/minimize the description to 1-2 paras of internships in other practice areas since they do not hold much relevance now. For example: in a competition law oriented CV, experience in an IPR firm has little relevance. Also, most importantly, never make a CV exceeding 2 pages.
Here is some guidance for law students looking to make their CVs stand out to recruiters:
In the recent times there have been many changes in the recruiting processes. ATS (Application Tracking System) is a software tool being used by most of the corporates and tier 1 law firms too. What does this ATS do: the ATS filters the dump of resumes received against the opening and filters all of them through the match of key words with the Job Description they release on their Career portals or job search platforms. So, though a student is very well aware of domain knowledge relevant to the Job he/she is applying for but lacks relevant key words in the Resume which matches to the key words of the Job Description (JD) the ATS is not going to select the candidates resume for the reason that ATS are trained to filter the key word matching profiles alone. Thereby, though the candidate is credible enough for the job only for the reason that the resume is not aliging well with the ATS they would face rejections.
Currently, this practice is most common at Corporates and some Tier I law firms but this trend is evolving, and similar patterns will likely become more widespread in the future. Therefore, I advise keeping ancillary points in mind exculding capturing academic achievements, experiences, or skills, ensure that content aligns with the JD from one application to another which is very important in the current era.
In addition to the above, here are some basic guidelines to follow:
- Prioritize Relevance: Focus heavily on key internships, moot court experiences, and publications that align with the specific practice areas of the recruiters you are targeting.
- Clear Structure: Present experiences chronologically, starting with the most recent. Use clear headings for academic qualifications, internships, research papers, and positions of responsibility.
- Highlight Achievements: Instead of just listing duties, describe your specific contributions and the outcomes of your work during internships or competitions.
- Avoid Common Mistakes: Ensure the CV is free of grammatical errors and typos. Keep formatting consistent and avoid cluttering the document with irrelevant extracurricular activities.
- Most of all try to keep your CV’s short and sweet. Try to keep everything to a maximum of one or two pages.
