How to write a Solicitor CV that gets interviews
Stand out to recruiters with a strategically crafted CV. Learn exactly what hiring managers look for, which keywords get past Applicant Tracking Systems, and how to showcase your experience like a top candidate.
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Understanding the Solicitor role
A Solicitor in the UK works across Law firms (magic circle, international, regional, high street), In-house legal teams, Corporate organisations and similar organisations, using tools like Westlaw, LexisNexis, Microsoft Word, Case management software (Leap, Citrix), Adobe Acrobat on a daily basis. The role sits within the legal services sector and involves a mix of technical work, stakeholder communication, and problem-solving. It's a career that rewards both deep specialist knowledge and the ability to collaborate across teams.
Solicitors complete a law degree (LLB) or conversion course (GDL for non-law graduates). Then they must complete the Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE1 and SQE2) and a 2-year recognised training contract (apprenticeship) with a law firm or legal organisation. Upon completion, they're admitted to the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) as a practising solicitor. Training contracts are competitive and highly sought. Many law graduates work as paralegals while seeking a training contract. Progression depends on specialisation, client management, and business development skills.
Day to day, solicitors are expected to manage competing priorities, stay current with industry developments, and deliver measurable results. The role has grown significantly in recent years as demand for legal services professionals continues to rise across the UK job market.
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What they actually do
A day in the life of a Solicitor
Advise clients on legal matters—corporate transactions, property, employment, dispute resolution—providing written and oral advice on strategy and implications.
Draft legal documents—contracts, agreements, pleadings, employment policies—ensuring they're legally sound and aligned with client objectives.
Conduct negotiations and manage disputes, representing client interests in settlement discussions and litigation.
Manage client relationships, maintaining regular contact, understanding client needs, and building long-term partnerships.
Manage cases from initiation through resolution, coordinating work, managing timelines, budgets, and team members.
What employers look for
Solicitors complete a law degree (LLB) or conversion course (GDL for non-law graduates). Then they must complete the Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE1 and SQE2) and a 2-year recognised training contract (apprenticeship) with a law firm or legal organisation. Upon completion, they're admitted to the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) as a practising solicitor. Training contracts are competitive and highly sought. Many law graduates work as paralegals while seeking a training contract. Progression depends on specialisation, client management, and business development skills. Relevant certifications include SQE1, SQE2, Training Contract completion, Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) admission, CPD requirements. Employers increasingly value practical experience alongside formal qualifications, so internships, placements, and portfolio work can be just as important as academic credentials.
CV writing guide
How to structure your Solicitor CV
A strong Solicitor CV leads with measurable achievements in legal services. Hiring managers scan for evidence of impact — concrete outcomes, project scale, and stakeholder impact. Mirror the language from the job description, particularly around Legal advice and counsel, Contract drafting, Negotiations, Due diligence. Two pages maximum, clean layout, ATS-parseable.
Professional summary
Open with 2–3 lines that position you specifically as a solicitor. Mention your years of experience, key specialisms (e.g. Westlaw, LexisNexis, Microsoft Word), and what you're targeting next. Mention the scale of your responsibilities — team sizes, budgets, or project values.
Key skills
List 8–10 skills matching the job description. For solicitor roles, prioritise Westlaw, LexisNexis, Microsoft Word, Case management software (Leap, Citrix) alongside stakeholder management, project delivery, and domain expertise. Use the exact phrasing from the job ad for ATS matching.
Work experience
Lead every bullet with a strong action verb: advised, negotiated, structured, audited, recovered. "Delivered £150k in cost savings through supplier renegotiation" beats "Responsible for procurement". Show progression between roles — promotions and increasing responsibility tell a story.
Education & qualifications
Include your highest qualification, institution, and dates. Add relevant certifications like SQE1 or SQE2. Professional registration details (NMC, SRA, QTS) are essential — don't bury them.
Formatting
Use a clean, single-column layout. Avoid graphics, tables, and text boxes — ATS systems reject them. Save as PDF unless the application specifically requests Word.
ATS keywords
Keywords that get your CV shortlisted
75% of CVs never reach human eyes. Applicant Tracking Systems filter candidates automatically. These keywords help you get past the bots and in front of hiring managers.
The formula for success
What makes a Solicitor CV stand out
Quantify achievements
Replace "responsible for" with numbers. "Increased sales by 34%" beats "drove revenue growth" every time.
Mirror the job description
Use the exact language from the job posting. Hiring managers search for specific terms—match them naturally throughout.
Keep formatting clean
ATS systems struggle with graphics and complex layouts. Stick to clear structure, consistent fonts, and sensible spacing.
Lead with impact
Put achievements first. Your role summary should be a punchy summary of impact, not a job description.
Mistakes to avoid
Solicitor CV mistakes that cost interviews
Even excellent candidates get filtered out for small oversights. Here's what to watch out for.
Using a generic CV that doesn't mention solicitor-specific skills like Westlaw, LexisNexis, Microsoft Word
Listing duties instead of achievements — "Delivered £150k in cost savings through supplier renegotiation"" vs the vague alternative
Omitting regulatory qualifications or compliance experience that are baseline expectations
Exceeding two pages — recruiters spend 6–8 seconds on initial screening, so density kills your chances
Omitting certifications like SQE1 that signal credibility to legal services hiring managers
Technical toolkit
Essential skills for Solicitor roles
Recruiters scan for these skills first. Make sure each is represented in your work history and highlighted clearly.
Questions about Solicitor CVs
What's the difference between solicitors and barristers?
Solicitors handle client relationships, transactions, and case management; barristers are specialist advisors and advocates. Solicitors typically work in law firms employed by clients; barristers are usually self-employed in chambers. Most complex matters involve both: solicitor manages the case, barrister provides specialist advice and courtroom advocacy. The distinction is blurring—many solicitors now appear in court directly; some barristers do direct access work without solicitor intermediary.
How competitive is solicitor training?
Moderately competitive. Law degrees are common, so securing a training contract is the hurdle—roughly 1 in 3-4 law graduates secure one. Larger firms are competitive (100+ applications per place). Smaller or regional firms less so. SQE (replacing articles) is new—success depends on passing SQE1 and SQE2 and securing a 2-year training contract. Relevant experience (paralegal work, internships) strengthens applications significantly.
What's a training contract and how long is it?
A training contract is a 2-year apprenticeship with a law firm where you're taught to practice law under supervision. You typically rotate through practice areas to gain broad experience. Training contracts are paid (£22,000–£30,000+). After completing your training contract and passing SQE1/2, you're admitted as a solicitor. Competition for training contracts is fierce; many law graduates spend months seeking one.
Which practice areas offer the best career prospects?
Corporate and finance law offer highest earning potential (£100,000+, potentially partner £200,000+). Property and commercial law solid (£60,000–£150,000+). Employment law growing (£50,000–£120,000+). Legal aid and consumer law lower earning but meaningful public service. If earnings matter, corporate/finance is best. If varied work appeals, commercial or employment better. In-house roles often have better hours than private practice.
Can I transition from paralegal to solicitor?
Yes. Paralegal experience counts toward qualifying as a solicitor. Many paralegals complete the SQE whilst working, then secure a training contract (2-year) with credit for previous experience. With sufficient paralegal experience and SQE completion, some firms reduce training contract length. Paralegal-to-solicitor is a well-trodden path and increasingly common given SQE's flexibility.
What's the path to partnership?
Typical progression: Training contract (2 years) → NQS/Associate (5-10 years) → Senior Associate (3-5 years) → Partner. Partnership timing varies by firm and individual—some fast-track, others plateau as senior associate. Partnership requires demonstrated business development (client relationships, revenue), team management, and firm contribution. Not all firms offer partnership to all associates; some are "eat what you kill" models where partners are few. Discuss partnership pathways when joining a firm.
Prepare for the next step
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