ILSPA's CV Guide

Your CV is the first chance to make a good impression on a potential employer. A well-written CV will greatly improve your chances of being invited to interview, so it needs to be tailored to the role you are applying for and presented clearly and professionally.

We provide Members with CV help to give you the best possible chance of securing employment. By following this guidance and using our CV template, your CV will meet a high standard and be tailored to a Legal Secretary or PA role.

Our CV template has been designed to present your details clearly and professionally. Enter your details as advised, then use the checklist at the end of this page to make sure everything is correct.

How long should your CV be?

Your CV should be no longer than two sides of A4. If you are new to the legal profession, one page is often enough. Put the most relevant information on the first page, and summarise older or unrelated roles in a line or two. Use a clear, professional font such as Times New Roman, and avoid shrinking the text or margins to fit more in.

CV Content

Personal Details

Include your name, town or city, postcode, mobile number and email address at the top of your CV. You do not need to include your full address. You can also add a link to your LinkedIn profile if you have one. Do not include your nationality, gender, date of birth or a photograph.

Personal Profile

Your profile is a short introduction and should be tailored to a Legal Secretary or PA role. Write three or four sentences about your experience and what you can offer a firm. Mention your Legal Secretary training, your strongest skills and the type of role you are looking for.

Key Skills

List the skills that match the jobs you are applying for, in bullet points. This lets an employer see straight away what you can do and how you could contribute to their firm. If you are new to the profession, include transferable skills from other roles, such as computer literacy, administration or customer service.

Employment History

Start with your current or most recent role and work backwards. For each role, include your job title, the employer's name and location, and your start and end dates. List your main responsibilities and achievements in short bullet points. Start each point with an action word such as managed, prepared or organised, and highlight any tasks that relate to Legal Secretary or PA work. 

Education and Qualifications

Start with your most recent qualification and work backwards. Include qualifications from ILSPA, training providers, university, college and school, with the dates and grades achieved. If you have studied our Legal Secretaries Diploma, give a brief outline of the units you studied to show employers what you are capable of.

Voluntary Work and Achievements

This section is optional. Include any volunteering, awards or other achievements that show qualities such as reliability, organisation or good communication. If it does not apply to you, simply delete it.

Professional Membership

Stating that you are a Member of the Institute of Legal Secretaries and PAs shows employers that you are committed to your career and have access to professional support and guidance. Please make sure your ILSPA Membership is up to date whenever you use your CV.

References

You do not need to include a References section or the details of your referees on your CV, as employers will ask for them when they need them. Make sure you have your referees' details ready so you can provide them quickly.

Checklist

Before sending your CV, check it carefully and correct any mistakes. The standard of your CV reflects your ability to produce accurate, professional documents, which is essential in a Legal Secretary or PA role.

• Does your CV look professional?
• Is it tailored to a Legal Secretary or PA position?
• Have you highlighted your most relevant skills and experience?
• Have you proofread it to make sure the spelling and grammar are correct?
• Is the formatting and alignment neat and consistent?
• Is it no longer than two sides of A4?

If you would like personal help with your CV, email a copy to [email protected].