Whether you have moved to a new city or just need a change of pace, you may find yourself sending out your CV all over town to get a new job. Even if a law firm could benefit from your expertise as a corporate lawyer, you need to adequately convey that information through your CV.

A CV missing vital information or lacking the proper format is likely going to be sent into the garbage bin. Every aspect of the document needs to be geared toward getting you this new position. Use this corporate lawyer CV example as your personal guide.

Shirley McCollum

123 Fake Street, City, State, Zip Code

E: email@email.com P: 000-000-0000

Professional Summary

Skilled corporate lawyer with a years’ long track record of working for a variety of businesses. Extensive knowledge of laws surrounding start-up businesses and mergers. Additional knowledge in Florida tax law and have proven to be an invaluable asset to past employers who required assistance filing taxes at the end of the fiscal year. Ability to build relations with clients and have obtained numerous repeat clients over the years.

Skills
  • Intricate understanding of business law at both the state and national level
  • Strong interpersonal skills to build bonds with clients so they continue hiring law firm’s services for years to come
  • Ability to network and develop connections while at conferences
  • Experience using accounting and data mining software
  • Complex problem solving skills to help both sides reach a settlement both can be happy with
Work Experience
Corporate Attorney
March 2011 – Present

 

 
 




 
  • Draft documents for acquisition and merger cases, and ensure every aspect is in compliance with the law.
  • Advise clients on the potential outcomes of certain actions, including an instance where I directed a client toward acquiring a different small business, which resulted in a much more favorable outcome in the long run.
  • Report to senior partners about how certain cases are progressing, and recommend new courses of actions for when a case has become stagnant.
  • Negotiate disputes that inevitably arise when two parties do not see eye to eye.




Corporate Lawyer
July 2009 – March 2011

 

 
 




 
  • Predominantly worked with start-up businesses to take full advantage of tax incentives available to them.
  • Informed new businesses about whether becoming a limited liability partnership, S-corporation, or something else entirely would be the best course of action.
  • Ensured all important documents were filed with the Secretary of State before deadlines.
  • Acted as an executor for over a dozen companies’ estates.




Assistant Counsel
May 2005 – July 2009

 

 
 

 

 
  • Worked with senior lawyers to determine probable outcomes of cases.
  • Selected jurors and complied with all state regulations concerning trial proceedings.
  • Gathered evidence, and frequently worked with an investigative team in order to strengthen cases.
  • Interviewed clients to determine whether testimony would be of use at trial.

 

Education
Juris Doctor
2005

 

 
Florida Coastal School of Law
City, State
Bachelor of Science in Business
2002

 

 
University of South Florida
City, State
Hobbies and Interests

While my career takes up most of my time, I do enjoy jet skiing when I have the opportunity. I actually own my own gear, so when friends or family members are in town, we always head over to the beach for a few hours of relaxation.

 

Questions for Your Corporate Lawyer CV

 What format should your corporate lawyer CV be in?

A curriculum vitae varies from one jobseeker to another. Although it’s not a one-size-fits-all document, many applicants do use standard sections. The general format includes the contact information, skills, employment history, education, and hobbies and interests segments. Try our CV builder. It’s the perfect choice for customizing a CV that meets your specific needs.

 How do you write an objective statement for a corporate lawyer CV?

Generally, CVs don’t have objective statements. Instead, these documents include personal statements, which are also referred to as professional profiles. A personal statement is a short paragraph consisting of 50 to 200 words. The goal of this blurb is to pique the interest of recruiters so they’ll call you for an interview.

Whenever you write this segment, it should always answer three questions. Who are you? How can you benefit the company? What is your career goal? The most effective statements match a candidate’s skills and qualifications to those in the job description. You can write this summary from the first person perspective, but limit the use of “I” to avoid repetition. To write this section, take a look at our corporate lawyer CV sample.

 How do you write the experience section of your corporate lawyer CV?

Your experience section provides hiring managers with detailed information about your responsibilities, accomplishments, and skill set. Always list your employers in reverse chronological order. Include position titles, company names, employment dates, and locations. Make sure you only include positions related to the job you’re pursuing. Like the corporate lawyer CV sample, use bullet points at the beginning of each sentence. This makes reading your entries much easier.

 How do you optimize your corporate lawyer CV for an ATS?

Applicant Tracking Systems scan CVs for job-specific keywords. Many companies use this technology to weed out unqualified applicants. To advance through the screening process, include relevant phrases in your document. Additionally, read the job listing thoroughly. Doing so gives you an idea of what to include on your pages, and it helps you tailor your CV to each potential employer. Incorporate as many of your matching skills and qualifications as possible. Our corporate lawyer CV sample provides ideas on the kind of industry lingo the ATS may scan for.

 How should you present software knowledge on a corporate lawyer CV?

As a corporate lawyer, you spend a lot of time drafting contracts and conducting research. Your knowledge of specific software applications is an integral part of your profession. With the CV, you can add a section for this skill set using a subheading such as “Computer Skills” or “Software Skills” You can use a larger font size for the subheading. Then center and bold it so it stands out. Another way to showcase your expertise is by writing sentences such as, “Proficient use of Westlaw,” or, “Advanced user of Microsoft PowerPoint.” Make sure your software know-how matches the employer’s requirements.

Corporate Lawyer CV Must-Haves

What Does a Corporate Lawyer Do?

Lawyers can specialize in any field, and corporate lawyers primarily deal with business dealings, such as mergers and acquisitions. A typical day may include drafting up documents and ensuring everything is communicated clearly so every party is protected. Corporate attorneys also have to ensure that all documents are in compliance with any state or national regulations.

When deadlines need to be met, the attorney needs to ensure everything is signed promptly and submitted in a timely fashion. In the event an acquisition needs to be brought to a judge, the attorney will represent the client during all proceedings. This kind of work involves extensive knowledge of the law and the ability to work with a wide range of personalities, so you need to convey you can handle all that just like the corporate lawyer CV example does.

Tips for Creating a Great Corporate Lawyer CV

Get your CV noticed by employers by following these advantageous tips:

  • The Professional Summary should be no more than six lines in length, and it needs to offer a succinct snapshot of what you bring to the table.
  • As you are discussing work experience, you should discuss duties at your current job in the present tense while duties at past jobs should be discussed in the past tense.
  •  Include any accomplishments within the Work Experience section, such as a time you really assisted a client.
  • Begin Work Experience bullet points with strong verbs as opposed to something like “Responsible for . . .”
  • You do not have to list specific companies you worked with in the past if you are bound by attorney-client privilege.
  • Spellcheck will not always catch everything on a document, so read over your CV yourself before sending it in.

We can help you build your professional CV

  • Professionally designed and formatted templates
  • Expert suggestions for filling out every section of your CV, customized by job title
  • Easily create different versions of your CV, customized for different jobs
Help You Build Resume