Legal CVs are conservative by design. The classic template is the right call here because anything creative would raise eyebrows at a white-shoe law firm.

Education comes first because law school pedigree still matters in BigLaw. Harvard Law, cum laude, Law Review. That's the shorthand that gets you in the door. Bar admissions follow immediately because they're prerequisites.

The experience section focuses on transactions, not responsibilities. "$2.1B cross-border acquisition" tells the story. "Advised clients on M&A matters" does not. Deal size is the currency of BigLaw.

The publication entry is strategic. Most associates don't publish, so having one article in a respected journal signals you're thinking about the field, not just billing hours. It doesn't need to be groundbreaking. It needs to exist.