About this template
The Law Firm Classic template is a professional CV with a Bodoni serif identity, Roman numerals, parchment-cream background, double frame and burgundy accent. The typography signals adherence to centuries of professional tradition. The format is calibrated for traditional law firms (Cravath, Davis Polk, Wachtell Lipton, Sullivan & Cromwell, Slaughter and May, Linklaters) and senior judiciary roles (US Federal judiciary, English High Court, German Bundesgerichtshof).
Who is it for?
It suits partners and senior associates in law firms (corporate, M&A, tax, litigation, real estate, white-collar defence), general counsels of regulated businesses (banking, insurance, energy, healthcare), federal and state judges, magistrates and senior public-sector lawyers. It also fits senior partners in notarial offices and members of specialised courts (US Tax Court, English Commercial Court, French Avocats aux Conseils).
How to use it
Four blocks structure the document — Notable mandates and rulings (with Westlaw, LexisNexis or Bloomberg Law citation), Publications (peer-reviewed law journals: Yale Law Journal, Harvard Law Review, Columbia Law Review), Academic mandates (adjunct professorships, LLM directorships), Professional commitments (bar associations, ABA committees, IBA working groups). For law firm partners, cite the Chambers, Legal 500 and IFLR 1000 bands against your practices. SEO long-tail: 'law firm partner CV', 'big law associate resume', 'general counsel CV regulated', 'federal judge resume', 'corporate lawyer top-tier CV'.
Frequently asked questions
Should I cite Chambers and Legal 500 bands?
Yes for law-firm partners and counsels — it's even a screening criterion at partnership committees of major international firms. List the band per practice (e.g. 'Banking & Finance, Band 2, Chambers USA 2025'), the edition year and 'ranked individual' if you appear by name. For Legal 500, specify the tier and any individual mention (Leading Individual, Next Generation Partner, Hall of Fame).
How do I present a hybrid law-firm and judiciary career?
Use two distinct blocks: Judiciary (with court, function, tenure and grade) and Law firm (with practices and rank). State the transition mode (direct appointment, secondment, departure). For judges who returned to practice, highlight notable opinions authored (with citation) and doctrinal contributions. Big Law actively recruits these profiles for their strategic litigation expertise.
Does the template work for a Cravath or Wachtell partnership candidacy?
Yes, and it is particularly well suited to the Cravath system and Wachtell Lipton's traditional style. Reinforce the Mandates section with recent transactions led (with public filings reference), specifying your exact role (deal lead, M&A counsel, defence litigation lead). The Bodoni serif identity sits in direct cohesion with the formal expectations of New York's elite firms.
