10 ways to boost a 'Law CV'

1) Join clubs and societies at university or college. They do not have to be related to practices in the legal profession, although your university's Law Society might be a good place to start. Showing an interest in sport or debating will also be useful at showing a potential employer your character outside of the working environment.

2) Visit your local Magistrates' Court (or, of course, any of the larger courts). This might sound tedious as many of the trials that occur in the lower courts concern petty theft, assaults and breach of a restraining order. However, as well as boosting your understanding of how the law works in practice, it should also give you a chance to show employers that you have an enthusiasm for developing your knowledge of the law outside of your studies.

3) Learn an instrument. Showing dedication to a particular interest will tell employers that you're a focused and well-rounded individual. Whether you teach yourself or decide to pay for professional music lessons, your new skill may make you stand out from other candidates - which can be particularly useful where the competition is fierce! Remember, you don't have to write your level musical ability on your CV, although many employers may ask in interview so you cannot lie!

4) Do some volunteer work. There will always be a huge range of opportunities in every town or city, you just need to know where to look. Working in a charity shop is an obvious way to get volunteering onto your CV, however you may wish to choose a project which best uses your skills, for example, artistic students may wish to help run an arts and crafts afternoon for the disabled. Volunteer work, as well as being a fantastic addition to your CV, is extremely rewarding and helps to build personal character. For those students who feel particularly passionate about volunteering, there are many -albeit more expensive- opportunities to help abroad in third-world countries.

5) Join your university's mooting or debating team. Mooting is the practice of 'playing barrister' in a mock trial. The activity is great for enhancing team work and public speaking skills, both of which are highly sought after by employers! For those students hoping to become barristers, mooting is a must. Most universities will offer both internal and external competitions, if not friendly moots. Alternatively, debating also looks great on CVs!

6) Get some legal work experience. Applying for placements with solicitors or mini-pupillages with barristers can be extremely tedious and disappointing. However, this reflects the state of the legal industry and unfortunately the process will be equally as difficult when you are applying for real jobs after graduation - making it even more essential that you secure your work experience placement! Applying to a range of firms is a great idea because although many of the larger firms will offer paid work, it's often easier to get some 'shadowing' work with smaller firms to start off with. For best chance at success, apply to firms throughout the year. Securing that placement will show employers that you have taken the initiative to learn more about the profession and also that you're sure about your career choice; it may also come in handy as a reference so be sure to make the most of each placement by being helpful and asking insightful questions.

7) Get some paid employment! It's always helpful to show an employer that you have a good understanding of general working life - from things as simple as being able to work with other employees, turn up for work on time and dress appropriately. Having a good reference from a former employer will impress any potential employers.

8) Go and see your university's careers and employability adviser who can help you make the most of your CV. A good CV should be clear, concise and should stand out from the crowd (see my earlier post on CV advice for help with what to include); it can often be hard to achieve this on your own so use the resources that are provided for you! Most employers will also want to see a covering letter - you should be able to get help with writing this too! A good covering letter should explain why you are applying, why you think you'd be suitable for the job or work experience, and finally why you chose to apply to that particular firm - this means tailoring each letter to specific firms which sounds tedious but is definitely worth it (employers can tell a unique letter from a blanket letter!)

9) Choose a lay out which best shows off your skills! For example, if you achieved a high over-all year mark by doing very well in some subjects but badly in others, you should not list what grade was achieved in each module, but simply state the over-all mark. If an employer wants to know specific grades then he/she will ask! If you have done lots of volunteering as well as paid employment and legal work experience, then put them all under separate headings rather than one broad category - you don't want an employer to miss something vital! You must state your A-levels but may choose to omit your GCSEs if they don't enhance your CV, although again, you may be asked in interview and cannot lie.

10) Double check everything before sending to a law firm! Your CV should be grammatically correct and should not exceed 2 sides of A4. It's a good idea to include an explanation of brief duties from each role, as well as any skills learnt, but do not waffle!

Good luck!