How to Explain a Career Break on Your CV (and Turn It into an Advantage)

Turn career gaps into strengths by showcasing your skills, framing your experience strategically & positioning yourself for success in your next role

If you’ve taken a career break, you might be wondering how to position it on your CV, LinkedIn profile, or in an interview. Many lawyers worry that a gap in employment will raise red flags for employers, especially if they’ve been made redundant or taken time away from legal practice for personal reasons.

But a career break isn’t a weakness - it’s an opportunity to demonstrate resilience, adaptability, and self-awareness - qualities that many employers value highly.

Redundancy - a rising concern for lawyers

Redundancy is becoming increasingly common. I have coached several private practice and in-house lawyers in the past few months who have been let go.

It can be a difficult and emotional time, but it’s crucial to frame your experience positively. Redundancy isn't a reflection of your skills or value (even if it feels very personal – read my recent LinkedIn post on exactly this).

However, many redundancy settlement agreements prevent lawyers from revealing the circumstances of their leaving. If this applies to you, you will need to construct your story carefully, while keeping your focus forward.

So, how do you explain a career break in a way that enhances your professional story?

How to explain a career break on your CV

Career breaks are on the rise - whether due to redundancy, caregiving, further education, travel, or a pause to reassess your direction. The key is to take control of your narrative so hiring managers focus on the value you bring, not the gap in your work history.

This is where shifting your mindset helps. Rather than seeing a break as a liability, think about the positive differences it has made to your profile.

1. Be honest, but strategic

Don’t try to hide your career breaks. Recruiters have a nose for discrepancies in CVs. Instead, briefly explain the reason while focusing on what you gained during that time.

Example 1 (General Career Break):

Career Break (2022–2023)

Took a one-year career break to complete a professional certification in [industry-specific skill], volunteer with [organization], and travel internationally to develop cross-cultural communication skills.

Example 2 (Career Break Due to Redundancy – With NDA Constraints):

Career Break | January 2025 – Present

Focusing on professional development, completing CPD training in [specific legal area].
Engaging in industry events, legal roundtables, and relevant thought leadership discussions.
Providing ad hoc legal advisory support to SMEs/non-profits on a pro bono basis.
Researching developments in [relevant legal sector] to stay up to date with emerging trends

This approach reassures potential employers that you’ve remained professionally active and are ready to return to work with fresh insights.

2. Highlight your transferable skills

Ask yourself:

What did I learn during this time?
How does this apply to my target roles?

For example, did you develop:

Leadership skills through volunteering or mentoring?
Project management experience by managing a household, charity project, or study schedule?
Problem-solving abilities from personal challenges that strengthened your resilience?

Example (Skills-Focused CV Section)

Regulatory & Compliance Expertise – Completed CPD in financial regulations to stay current.
Advisory & Risk Management – Provided strategic legal guidance to businesses pro bono.
Professional Development – Attended industry events and legal workshops to stay engaged.

This shifts the focus from the gap to your value.

If you are starting on a career break, ask yourself what skills, knowledge and experience you want to build on going forwards.

3. Include professional development

If you’re taking courses, doing consulting work, freelancing or volunteering, be sure to include those experiences. Employers value continuous learning and initiative.

How to explain a career break on LinkedIn

Your LinkedIn profile is a powerful tool for showcasing your skills and experience. Here’s how to position your career break positively:

1. Update your experience section

Just like your CV, frame your career break as an intentional choice with a focus on learning, development, or personal growth.

Example:

Career Break | Professional Development & Volunteer Work (2022–2023)

Completed CPD courses in [relevant legal area] to deepen my expertise.
Attended industry events and maintained engagement with legal networks.
Provided advisory support on a pro bono basis to [e.g., startups, SMEs, non-profits]
Volunteered with [organization] to develop leadership and project management skills
Traveled to [location] to enhance cultural awareness and adaptability

Pro tip: Add new skills into the Skills section of your profile and include keywords recruiters are searching for when they are looking to fill your dream job.

2. Write an engaging LinkedIn summary

Your About section should reinforce that you’re career-ready.

Example:

After taking time to [reason for break], I’ve returned to the workforce with fresh perspectives and enhanced skills in [specific areas]. I’m now keen to apply these experiences in my next role in [industry].

This reassures recruiters that you’re proactive and career-focused.

3. Engage with your network

Stay active on LinkedIn by sharing industry insights, commenting on posts, and reconnecting with former colleagues. This keeps you visible and positions you as engaged in your field

I know that some lawyers are worried about what former colleagues think of their activity on LinkedIn, but remember:

LinkedIn is the biggest global job market - being active is how you get found
The Spotlight Effect - people think about you far less than you imagine
Even if they do judge you, why should you care? You're taking proactive steps for your career

How to explain a career break in an interview

When discussing your career break in an interview, confidence is key. Employers care more about what you've done during your break than the break itself.

Key Tips:

✔ Be brief – Explain why you took the break without over-explaining

✔ Showcase what you gained/learned – Highlight new skills, knowledge, or experiences

✔ Connect these to the role – Emphasize why you’re ready and how your experience adds value

Example:

"I took a planned career break to focus on family, during which I stayed engaged with legal trends, completed CPD courses in regulatory law, and did some pro bono advisory work. Now, I’m now fully prepared to bring that experience back into practice, particularly in a role that aligns with my expertise in commercial litigation. That’s why the role with [organisation] caught my eye…."

If you’ve been made redundant (and can't mention it)

Example (NDA-friendly interview response):

"The firm was going through a period of transition and I realised I wasn’t going to be able to take my career in the direction that really interests me: [specialism]. I decided to leave to focus on my professional development while looking for a role where I can [develop this specialism]. I’ve stayed engaged with industry trends and am now ready to bring my expertise to [employer]."

This keeps the answer neutral and professional without breaching confidentiality.

Turning your career break into an advantage

A career break isn’t a career-ending event, no matter how it might feel - it’s a new chapter. By framing it strategically on your CV, LinkedIn, and in interviews, you can highlight the skills, experiences, and personal growth gained during that time.

After all, who really has the time for self-improvement and researching their next career move while working full-time?

If you need help refining your CV or LinkedIn profile or interview strategy, book a consultation and find out how my career coaching for lawyers can work for you.