You may have noticed that many lawyers and law firms are quite active on LinkedIn. And who can blame them – it is a great way to attract new clients and raise your profile. With its huge popularity, some legal professionals have been left wondering whether there is any value left in the traditional legal CV.
In all fairness, both tools have their strengths and weaknesses and can be used effectively depending on your circumstances and preferences. Let’s explore.
Firstly, let’s revisit what a legal CV and LinkedIn are.
A legal CV, or curriculum vitae, is a document that provides a detailed overview of an aspiring or experienced lawyer’s education, work experience, technical / soft skills, and achievements. It is typically used when applying for a legal job or academic opportunity in law, and is tailored to the specific legal job or position being applied for.
LinkedIn, on the other hand, is a social networking platform that allows users to create a professional profile, connect with other professionals, and showcase their skills and experience.
One of the main advantages of LinkedIn is that it provides a more holistic view of a person’s professional background. In addition to listing your work experience and education, you can also include recommendations from colleagues, endorsements of your skills, and links to your work. This provides a more dynamic and interactive way to showcase your skills and experience than a static document like a legal CV.
LinkedIn also offers the advantage of being accessible to a wider audience than a traditional legal CV. Legal recruiters and hiring managers in law firms can search for candidates based on specific criteria, such as location, legal expertise, and skills, and reach out directly. This can be particularly useful if you do not have access to the same networks or opportunities as others in the legal field.
However, there are also some disadvantages to relying solely on LinkedIn. For one, not all employers or industries use LinkedIn as a primary recruitment tool. Some may still require a traditional legal CV as part of their application process.
One of the main advantages of a traditional legal CV is that it allows job seekers to tailor their legal applications to a specific job or firm. While LinkedIn profiles can be customised to a certain extent, they are more general in nature and fixed . A legal CV, on the other hand, can be modified to highlight specific skills and experiences that are relevant to a particular legal job posting or desired by a law firm.
So, while LinkedIn has certainly become a popular tool for job seekers and legal recruiters alike, the traditional legal CV still has value in today’s competitive legal job market. Both tools have their strengths and weaknesses, and you should consider using both in order to maximise your chances of finding the right legal opportunity.
Ultimately, the best approach will depend on individual circumstances and preferences, as well as the specific requirements of the job you are targeting.
If you’re interested in my legal CV writing service, then please do get in touch with me to discuss.