Corporate lawyers have deal sheets; litigators have matter lists, and they serve the same purpose: to show, concretely, the real experience you carry that a CV cannot fully capture. If you are a litigator preparing to apply or move, a well-built matter list can make your disputes experience come alive for a prospective employer, well beyond a few CV bullets. And like a deal sheet, it has to be done within confidentiality. Let me show you how to build one that impresses, cleanly and safely.
Quick answer
A matter list is a concise document listing the representative matters or cases you have worked on, describing each by type, key features and your role, without disclosing confidential specifics like client names or sensitive details. It shows a prospective employer the depth and nature of your disputes experience at a glance. To build one, list your significant matters, describe each in a confidentiality-safe way (matter type, nature, forum if appropriate, and your specific role), and keep it clean and scannable. It is a strong companion to a litigation CV.
What a matter list is for
Litigation experience is hard to compress into a few CV lines: the types of matters, the courts, and the drafting and research you did all get flattened. A matter list gives that experience room to show. It lets a disputes reader see the actual matters you have been part of, their types and forums, and what you specifically did on each. For litigation and disputes roles, this concrete picture of your hands-on experience is exactly what a prospective employer wants to assess. A strong matter list can carry real weight in a move.
What to include for each matter
- Type of matter: for example, a commercial dispute, a criminal matter, a writ petition, an arbitration, a constitutional matter.
- Nature and key features: enough to convey the substance, described generally.
- Forum, if appropriate: the level or type of forum (a High Court matter, an arbitration, a tribunal), which is safe to state.
- Your specific role: what you actually did (drafting particular pleadings, researching specific issues, briefing, assisting in hearings). This is crucial; it shows your real contribution.
How to handle confidentiality
The rule is the same as for deal sheets: convey the nature and type of each matter and your role, without disclosing confidential specifics. Generally that means no client or party names (describe them generically or omit), no sensitive details, and nothing that could identify a confidential matter. You can still convey the matter type, what it involved, the forum where safe, and what you did, which is what a prospective employer actually needs to assess your experience. When in doubt, describe more generally. A confidentiality-safe matter list is professional and expected.
How to format it
Keep it clean and easy to skim. A common approach is a concise list, grouped by matter type or in reverse-chronological order, each entry giving the matter type, a short confidentiality-safe description, the forum if appropriate, and your role in a line or two. Make it simple for a busy disputes reader to grasp your experience quickly, as a natural companion to your CV.
YLCC ACTION STEP: Begin your matter list now by listing the significant matters you have worked on and, for each, noting the type, a confidentiality-safe description, the forum if safe, and your specific role. Keeping a running matter list as you gain experience means yours is always ready and accurate when a prospective employer asks, rather than hastily reconstructed.
PLEASE DON’T DO THIS: Please don’t disclose party names or confidential matter details to look impressive; it is unprofessional and a real risk. And please don’t just list matters you were nominally on without stating what you did; a matter list that shows your specific role convinces far more than a list of cases you merely observed. Show your actual contribution, safely.
FAQs
- What is a matter list? A concise document listing the matters or cases you have worked on, describing each by type, key features and your role, without confidential specifics. It shows your disputes experience at a glance.
- What goes on a matter list? For each matter: the type, a confidentiality-safe description, the forum if appropriate, and your specific role. It is the litigation equivalent of a deal sheet.
- How do I handle confidentiality? Convey the type and nature of each matter and your role, without party names or sensitive details. Describe more generally when unsure.
- Who needs a matter list? Litigators and disputes lawyers, especially when applying or moving. It is a strong companion to a litigation CV.
- When should I build my matter list? Ideally as you go, keep a running list, so it is always ready and accurate rather than reconstructed under pressure.
Thank you for reading!
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