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What achievements should I add to my Law CV?

By Monster Contributor

If you were an employer receiving hundreds of applications for an advertised position, what would you look for to determine who the best applicant was? The answer to sort the good from the great is simple -: achievements.

As we have already seen the legal sector is one of the most popular career choices for fresh-faced graduates.

But competition for jobs isn’t solely reserved for new entrants coming into the profession, positions at all levels are hotly fought over regardless of whether you have five minutes or five years’ experience.

So what will make you stand out against other candidates who are vying for the same promotion, what says to employers that you are the right candidate for the job?
In 2009 Cristiano Ronaldo became the most expensive footballer in the world following his move from Manchester United to Real Madrid in a deal worth £80m.

Despite being a winger, a position not known for scoring many goals, Ronaldo still managed to net a goal in every 2.3 games – the same goal:game ratio as Wayne Rooney, an out-and-out striker. Now you may be wondering what this story has to do with your legal career, but the two are inextricably linked.

To really stand out among your peers you have to demonstrate that you have that extra quality which can make all the difference to how your team functions. So when it comes to writing your CV you need to focus on your achievements, the moments in your career when the limelight has shone on you – the times when you have gone beyond the remit of your job description and outperformed those around you.

For example, perhaps you:

  • "have the highest win rate in your firm"
  • "have a successfully built up a reputation for maximising referrals"
  • "are prolific at getting results from contentious and non-contentious cases"
  • "oversaw the successful merger between two companies which earned your company a pretty package"
  • "have a good track record in identifying new business development opportunities"

When writing your CV you need to put yourself in the recruiter’s shoes and ask yourself, What would make me want to hire this person, what makes him/her a better applicant than the rest? Make the recruiter’s decision an easy one and position yourself as the obvious choice by showcasing your career enhancing moments -you may not get a pay rise like Ronaldo but you will get the job you deserve.

Wondering what to do now? Check out our expert career advice, find out more about the Legal industry or search for the latest Legal jobs.