The Magic Circle — Allen & Overy (now A&O Shearman), Clifford Chance, Freshfields, Linklaters, and Slaughter and May — are the five most prestigious law firms in the UK. Together they receive tens of thousands of applications for a few hundred training contract places each year. The CV you submit is the first filter, and it needs to demonstrate exactly the right combination of academic strength, commercial awareness, and genuine legal motivation.
This guide breaks down what each firm is actually looking for, and what gets CVs rejected before anyone reads the cover letter.
The Critical Difference: CVs vs Application Forms
Important: Clifford Chance does not use a standalone CV for its training contract applications. They use an online application form only — the CV is not read independently. All five firms use application forms at the assessment centre stage, at which point CVs are largely set aside. The CV matters most at the initial screening stage for vacation scheme applications.
This matters because it means your CV's primary function at Magic Circle firms is to get you to interview or assessment centre — not to be scrutinised in detail. Clarity, structure, and immediate impact are more important than exhaustive detail.
Academic Requirements: The Non-Negotiable Floor
| Firm | Minimum Degree | A-Level Expectation | Notable |
|---|---|---|---|
| A&O Shearman | 2:1 | ABB+ | Now US firm hybrid post-merger |
| Clifford Chance | 2:1 | ABB+ | Application form only, CV less critical |
| Freshfields | 2:1 | ABB+ | Strong emphasis on academic excellence |
| Linklaters | 2:1 | ABB+ | Values international experience |
| Slaughter and May | 2:1 (typically First) | AAA preferred | Most selective; training contract only route |
A 2:2 is a screen-out at all five firms in normal circumstances. If you have a 2:2 with genuine extenuating circumstances (serious illness, bereavement), you should address this briefly but directly in your application — do not leave it unexplained.
Slaughter and May deserves special mention. They have no vacation scheme — you apply directly for a training contract, and the academic bar is the highest of the five. A First or high 2:1 from a target university is effectively the baseline.
The Education Section: What to Include
For law applicants, the education section should sit at the top of the CV. List each institution in reverse chronological order with the following information:
- University name, degree title, and expected or achieved classification
- Any prizes, scholarships, or distinctions — these are significant signals at Magic Circle level
- Relevant module results if your overall grade is weak but specific modules were strong
- A-Level results with grades (not just UCAS points)
- GCSEs — typically stated as "X A*/A grades including Maths and English"
If you studied abroad as part of your degree, include it. International exposure is valued across all five firms, particularly at Linklaters.
Work Experience: The Vacation Scheme Hierarchy
For Magic Circle applications, work experience follows a clear hierarchy of prestige:
- Magic Circle vacation scheme — the gold standard; shows you've been assessed by a peer firm
- Silver Circle or US firm vacation scheme — strong signal of commercial legal experience
- Open days and insight schemes — less significant but shows firm-specific interest
- Other legal work experience — high street firms, CAB, pro bono clinics
- Commercial non-legal experience — banking, consulting, start-ups — demonstrates commercial awareness
For each role, include 2–4 bullet points focused on what you did and what you learned. Magic Circle recruiters are looking for evidence of commercial awareness — do you understand that law firms are businesses, that clients are commercially motivated, and that legal advice exists in an economic context?
The commercial awareness test: Each bullet point about legal work experience should, where possible, reference a commercial dimension. Not just "drafted client correspondence" but "drafted client correspondence advising on implications of the proposed acquisition for the target's existing debt covenants."
Extra-Curriculars: Quality Over Volume
Magic Circle firms are looking for one specific thing in your extra-curriculars section: evidence that you can perform under pressure, work in a team, and lead. They are not impressed by long lists of memberships.
Activities that carry weight:
- Mooting — particularly competitive moots or intervarsity competitions. Demonstrates advocacy, research, and performance under pressure
- Law Society committee roles — shows organisational ability and genuine engagement with the profession
- Pro bono work — particularly client-facing roles at law clinics or student legal advice centres
- Debating — prizes or competitive circuit involvement, not just "member of debating society"
- Sport at competitive level — especially team captaincy; signals resilience, commitment, and leadership
- Student journalism or media — particularly if you covered legal, business, or political topics
Activities that add little: generic society memberships without a role, interests listed as "reading" or "travel" without specificity, anything that looks like padding.
The Length and Format Question
Magic Circle CV conventions differ slightly from consulting:
- Two pages is standard — one page is not required and can look sparse for a law CV
- Clean, professional formatting — no graphics, no photos, no colour other than black and possibly a subtle header line
- Font: Times New Roman 10–11pt or similar serif. Arial or Calibri are acceptable but less traditional
- Dates right-aligned, or consistently formatted on the left
- No personal statement — your covering letter serves this function
The Firm-Specific Dimension
Each Magic Circle firm has a distinct identity, and your CV should subtly reflect awareness of this. When tailoring for specific applications:
- Freshfields: Emphasise academic excellence and intellectual rigour. Freshfields has the reputation of being the most academically selective
- Linklaters: Highlight any international experience, languages, or cross-border work. They are the most globally-minded of the five
- Slaughter and May: Emphasise depth over breadth. They want exceptional people, not well-rounded ones — one outstanding thing beats five ordinary things
- A&O Shearman: Post-merger, there is growing emphasis on US legal and capital markets exposure; finance work experience carries more weight
- Clifford Chance: Given the form-based process, focus energy on the application answers rather than CV polish
Most Common Magic Circle CV Mistakes
- A-level results missing or buried — recruiters want to see them clearly
- Work experience bullets that describe tasks rather than commercial insight
- Extra-curriculars listed without any indication of role, level, or achievement
- No evidence of genuine commercial awareness — not just "I'm interested in business"
- Applying to Slaughter and May with a 2:1 from a non-target without addressing it
- Generic interest in "working with clients" without firm-specific context
- No mention of the SQE or LPC pathway for non-law graduates