The Ultimate CV Writing Guide for Tanzanian Law Students

Contact Information

Include your full name, phone number, email address, and postal and physical address.

for example;

Personal details

Here you should include all relevant personal details like your age, place of birth, marital status, religion, nationality, etc.;

for example;

Profile/career objective

Here you should write a brief statement expressing your career goals and what you hope to achieve.

For example, the following was my career objective

Education

List your educational background in reverse chronological order.

Include the name of the School/institution, the start and the year of completion, and the award granted.

You may also include key milestones or activities that happened in your education journey for example if you have been a leader, participated in a certain key activity, etc. you may indicate that on your CV.

wakati nasoma Law school niliwahi kuwa a Lead Counsel in civil mock trial (moot court) angalia kwenye mfano hao chini, jinsi nilivyoiweka kwenye CV yangu.

for example,

Experience/Legal Skills

This might be the hardest part of your CV.

The problem is, when you hear about experience you think about big things that you have done.

Nop!

Even a little stuff that you have done relevant to your career can be a great working experience worthy to be included in your CV-legal internships, clerkships, relevant work experience, etc.

If you don’t have any experience at all (thing which I don’t agree) you can just highlight relevant legal skills, such as legal research, writing, case analysis, and any skill that you have acquired during your course.

Now the problem is not experience, the problem is how to present your experience effectively on your CV.

Well!

Here is how you can do it effectively

• Start with the position
• Include place
• Duration

These are the basic things to include when presenting your working experience.

But I have found them to be very boring!

That’s why, in addition to them, I also add the things that I have done when I was working (primary duties) and the relevant skills that I have acquired along the way.

thus, to present your working experience effectively you must

• Start with the position
• Include place
• Duration
• Activities/Duties
• Skills acquired

kama bado hujaelewa, angalia mfano hapa chini

Here is how it actually looks like;

Areas of interest (optional)

This is an optional segment.

It should be added only if it adds value to your career goals.

for example, if you need to submit your CV for a legal internship at a law firm specializing in commercial law, then you might include all areas of commercial law subjects as your areas of interest.

Wakati naomba internship kwenye ile law firm niliyogusia, niliweka hii section ya Areas of interest . ilikuwa ni commercial law firm so nikaweka key ares ambazo walikuwa wanadeal nazo kama my areas of interests. Check mfano hapo chini;

Competence

This is a section where you can highlight the things that you are competent to do.

for instance, the following is what I included as my competence in My CV for the internship application;

Referees

Make sure you have at least three referees in your CV.

It is not a must for your referee to be in the legal field.

He can be anyone who is ready to vouch for your skills and competence.

Provide their full name, occupation, address, and contact information.

Avoid relatives as your referee as they seem to be more biased when it comes to providing a comment or opinion concerning your career.

Declaration

Don’t forget to include the statement that you declare the details that you have provided in your CV are correct.

Be careful!

Once you have declared and provided false details, then you will be committing an offense of perjury.

Common mistakes to avoid in a CV as a law student

Writing a CV as a law student can be challenging, but avoiding common mistakes can significantly improve its effectiveness.

Here are some common mistakes to steer clear of:

1. Overloading with irrelevant information: Avoid including every detail of your academic and professional history. Focus on relevant experiences, skills, and achievements that demonstrate your suitability for a specific role.
2. Using a generic template: While templates can be convenient, avoid using generic CV templates. Tailor your CV to highlight your unique skills and experiences as a law student. (Hakikisha unakuwa bunifu kwenye kuandaa CV yako)
3. Failing to proofread: Typos, grammatical errors, and formatting inconsistencies can detract from the professionalism of your CV. Always proofread your CV carefully or ask someone else to review it for you.
4. Neglecting to customize for each application: Sending out the same CV for every job application can be a missed opportunity. Tailor your CV for each position by highlighting relevant skills and experiences that align with the job requirements. (Sio kila kitu CV io io, io itakuwa ni CV au cheti?)
5. Including outdated or irrelevant information: Ensure that your CV is up-to-date and relevant to the specific role. Remove outdated details, age, marital status, phone number, etc.
6. Omitting soft skills: While technical legal skills are essential, soft skills like communication, teamwork, and problem-solving are also highly valued in the legal profession. Make sure to highlight these skills on your CV.
7. Exaggerating or lying: Integrity is crucial in the legal profession, so avoid exaggerating your experiences or skills on your CV. Be honest and transparent about your qualifications and accomplishments.(utakuta mtu kwenye CV yake ameandika ‘ability to multitask’ ukiambiwa umalttask utaweza? au umeandika tu)
8. Neglecting to include extracurricular activities: Participation in moot court, mock trial, legal clinics, or student organizations can demonstrate your passion for the law and your commitment to your legal education. Don’t overlook these experiences on your CV.