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The legal sector in the UK has continued to enjoy exponential growth through 2021, with its turnover rising by 11.5% to £41.6 billion during this 12-month period.
This highlights the strength and growth of the legal market on these shores, which continues to be a significant employer and hire a particularly large number of law graduates each year.
However, this is a competitive niche in which a large number of similarly qualified candidates apply for jobs and training contracts. So, how can you make your resume stand out from the crowd?
#1. Keep Your Resume Concise
Ultimately, the presentation of your CV is revealing, particularly in terms of your attention to detail and ability to communicate ideas concisely.
When reviewing your resume, they’ll want to see that you can convey your core skills and attributes concisely, with experts suggesting that an employer will only initially scan a CV for between 15 and 20 seconds at a time.
With this in mind, the ideal resume should be no more than a single page, but a document with two pages will also suffice if you have additional qualifications or important workplace experience.
#2. Try to be Unique and Creative Where Possible
As we’ve already touched on, most candidates applying for legal positions will have a similar set of academic qualifications.
So, being creative and showcasing initiative through your resume may help you stand out from the crowd, especially if this relates to gaining practical workplace experience or taking an interest in legal matters outside academia.
This may include highlighting that you read documents such as The Law Society’s magazine while participating in university debates and joining the Student Union.
Gaining voluntary experience may also showcase your initiative, potentially affording you an edge over your rival candidates.
#3. Focus on Your Preferred Area of Law
There are many different niches within the legal space, many of which require different qualifications and soft skills.
From the complexities of conveyancing to the high volume of cases in personal injury law, these legal niches will require a different approach and resume as you look to showcase a variety of skills and experience.
So, it’s important to drill down into your preferred areas of practice while pursuing additional qualifications that may help impress employers within the niche.
#4. Identify Strengths – And Weaknesses
Finally, you should never be afraid to share both your strengths and weaknesses when applying for a legal job.
After all, highlighting weaknesses highlights a self-aware and honest individual who has a willingness to develop themselves and their skill sets.
This transparency, when aligned with your strengths and unique attributes as a candidate for work, creates a full package in employers’ eyes while helping them plot a future development path going forward.
You may also like: 5 Things That Should Stand Out in Your Applicants’ Cover Letters and Resumes
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