Paralegals are some of the most highly valued individuals in any legal team. They provide support to legal professionals by preparing legal documentation, research work, catering to clients, handling caseloads, and more. It is an excellent place to start if you are just beginning your legal career and want to have a better understanding of the legal industry. However, to begin applying anywhere, you must prepare a quality paralegal resume.
Not sure where to begin? Follow our handy guide below. It will also include some paralegal resume examples for your ease.
What Qualifications Do You Need?
The very first thing to understand is the legal requirements. The general basic requirement is to have a good understanding of law and the legal system. You should have an associate degree or a bachelorette from a program approved by the American Bar Association (ABA). However, these requirements can vary from state to state. Some states, such as Louisiana, do not have any regulations for paralegals. However, having a degree is always going to boost your chances of getting noticed. Having certifications post-graduation can further help strengthen your paralegal resume.
What Goes into A Paralegal Resume?
Let’s dive in! The basic outline of a paralegal resume closely follows any other professional resume. However, it focuses more on the applicant’s skill sets and technical abilities. For one, paralegals are expected to perform more practical work that dig deep into the legal industry. A resume that highlights your work history, legal expertise, skills, education, and personal statement will surely help you stand out. Here is how to nail each section:
Personal Statement/Summary
Good Paralegal resume templates will usually place your personal summary at the very top. It is a 3-4-liner introduction of yourself, stating what you do or what you are hoping to pursue. If you are an experienced individual, you should highlight your work experience. Below are some paralegal resume samples for the section.
For example:
Dedicated paralegal with over 9 years of experience in private law practice, highly skilled in legal research, document preparation, witness interviews, and deep understanding of court proceedings to support firm lawyers and clients alike.
However, if you do not have sufficient experience to create such a summary statement, you can alternatively enlist your resume objective instead. This again highlights your skills but applies that practically to the skill you are willing to pursue.
For example:
Hard Working and knowledgeable entry-level paralegal, freshly graduated from XYZ University, seeking an opportunity to assist a reputable company with their documentation, drafting, writing, and reviewing.
Remember, this section is the very first thing your hiring manager will see, so put plenty of effort into drafting it. It should be able to convince the hiring manager that your resume is worth taking a look at.
Read More :- Resume Summary For Multiple Jobs
Skills for Paralegal Resume
The next step is to work on your skills for paralegal resume. This is a section you cannot miss on your paralegal resume, even if you don’t have any relevant experience. Skill sets are something you can actively portray in any setting, and plenty can be gained from your legal education. When listing skill sets, include a healthy mix of hard and soft skills.
Hard skills are learned over time through education, training, or hands-on experience. These are job-specific abilities, meaning they are only applicable to their respective fields. Some of the hard skills hiring managers look out for on paralegal resumes include the following:
- Legal Writing
- Legal Research and Drafting
- Legal Document Preparation
- Microsoft Office Suite
- Proficiency in Legal Research Software (Westlaw, LexisNexis)
- Litigation
- Proofreading and Editing
- Office Administration
- Reporting
Soft Skills is another type of skill you should not forget. Unlike hard skills, these skills broadly apply to nearly any industry you head into. Think of them as a combination of your interpersonal skills, character, and professional attitude. And yes, legal hiring managers will like a healthy mix of soft skills with your hard skills. Examples include:
- Communication
- Multi-tasking
- Attention to detail
- Timeliness
- Flexibility
- Resourcefulness
- Problem-solving
- Team worker
Read More :- Unique Skills For Resume
Professional Experience
The next step is the bulk of your resume, where you list your professional experiences and their particulars. Of course, the professional experience sections for inexperienced individuals can be a bit different, but we will go over that shortly.
For experienced individuals, you want to follow the same reverse chronological order as any other professional resume. This means the company you last worked for must be listed at the very top of the section. Employees are far more interested in your latest work experience than where you started.
Next, the work experience must have details of the title, the company name where you worked, how long you worked there, and a brief overview of your tasks and responsibilities. When listing your duties and responsibilities, it is a good practice to sparsely incorporate your key skills.
Here are some examples of work experience and how it should be listed in a paralegal resume:
Mary & Jenkins, Paralegal
(July 2019 – 2021)
- Helped prepare attorneys for trial by drafting legal documents, including pleadings, motions, wills, trusts, etc.
- Managed the electronic file systems, the input and sorting of data using Clio, MyCase.
- Served as liaison between the attorney and clients through email management and scheduling calls.
- Assisted attorneys with their case research, in particular for medical malpractice cases.
This work experience will work because it uses a healthy mix of professional keywords such as “case research,” “email management,” “calls scheduling, “and “drafting legal documents.” It further enlists particular legal software pogroms that are mainstream in the legal industry, such as “Clio.”
Here is another example:
Cloud Clearance Law, Paralegal Intern
(December 2015 – June 2016)
- Handled writing legal documents, including complaints, motions, and subpoenas
- Scheduled and transcribed interviews with clients
- Managed the filing of all intake paperwork
- Performed legal research through resources, including LexisNexis and Westlaw.
This is an excellent resume sample for fresh interns because it explains the particular responsibilities an intern is tasked with and a fresh paralegal must know. In particular, it lists software resources such as Westlaw and LexisNexis; proficiency in such software programs will always boost your paralegal resume.
Now, thinking of an individual who is highly skilled, here is an example of how he might cite his work experience:
Jackson & Associates, Senior Paralegal
(February 2010 – November 2019)
- Skillfully drafted and filed legal pleadings, motions, and discovery requests/responses to support successful legal outcomes.
- Managed the caseload for high-stakes personal injury cases, including documentation, coordination, court filings, and paperwork.
- Conducted comprehensive document drafting, editing, and proofreading, including a final legal analysis.
- Proficiently managed ligation and subpoena demands accurately and promptly.
- Managed bilingual clients (Spanish) and witness interviews to boost client satisfaction and case outcomes in diverse communities.
- Prepared subpoenas to obtain records and documentation
A more experienced individual should have a more comprehensive work experience listed. This resume works because it not only places importance on the candidate’s technical skills but also focuses on his communication skills, particularly with bilingual clients.
Education and Certifications
Following your experience, the next section in your resume must be your education and any professional certifications you have. Remember, paralegals function great in an entry-level role. If you do not have sufficient experience in the field, you can showcase the relevant skills you have garnered through your education.
When listing down your educational history, you should include your degree, major, the University you attended, the number of years you studied, and the relevant GPA. You can further enlist the relevant certifications you gained from the same institution or any 3rd party institution.
See the following example:
Loyola University Maryland, Baltimore
Bachelor of Science, Paralegal Studies
(2019-2023)
GPA: 3.6
Certifications should be listed within a dedicated section right below the education section. For example:
- Certified Paralegal – University of South Carolina, 2019
- International Association for Contract and Commercial Management (IACCM), 2020
Achievements and Awards
Finally, you can have a final section dedicated to your notable achievements and awards. Awards and achievements serve as recognition of your stellar skills, letting the hiring manager know that you can practically perform them just as well. Although not adding them is just as fine, boosting your chances by listing them down is always better. You will appear as a much more promising candidate!
When listing awards, list not only the title but also why you were awarded them. Here are paralegal resume examples of how you can list them:
- Outstanding Paralegal Award
Recognized for high-quality work and dedication
- Best Team Player Award
Acknowledged for collaboration and teamwork.
Tips for A Stellar Paralegal Resume
Now that you know the essential elements of any resume, you can begin drafting one of your own. Here are some of our additional tips to ensure your resume stands out!
Contact Information
You should enlist all your necessary contact information at the very top of your resume, right before or beside the summary statement. This includes your full name, address, email, and contact number. The hiring manager should know clearly where to contact you when you apply to their firm. Make sure your contact information is precise, and be mindful of using a professional email.
Always Tailor Your Resume
Every job is different, and even paralegal firms can vary in their job requirements. This is why you must always tailor your resume to fit the position you are applying for. To start, thoroughly read the job description and encircle or note down any key skills highlights. For example, some roles might focus more on administrative tasks than legal reporting, whereas others might focus more on client management.
Tailor your resume accordingly, enlisting the most relevant skills at the top and even placing one to two in your resume summary statement. Tailoring your resume will further assure the hiring manager that you are genuinely enthusiastic about the role.
Attention to Detail
Paralegals are expected to be exceptionally smart and show high attention to detail, and the same must be reflected in your resume. If you have poorly articulated sentences, grammatical errors, and a generally abysmal resume, the hiring manager will view you as an incompetent individual. Attention to detail applies to everything you do, and submitting a good resume is just the first task you are expected to perform well.
Knowing Your Jargon
Like any other field, the legal field has its own jargon and technical terms. You should have a vivid understanding of each and include where possible in your resume. This will reassure the hiring manager that you are a worthy candidate who has enough know-how of the legal system. For example, you should know what litigation is, what plea bargains and subpoenas are, and what a ‘pro se’ representation is in a court of law.
Skills Proficiency
Don’t just add skills to your resume that seem trendy and in demand. You should only incorporate the skills you are actively engaged in and understand well. All the skills for paralegal resume you list can be tested during the interview process. Adding any skills you aren’t keenly aware of or know about will place you in a disadvantageous position. It is always better to be transparent about your abilities and what you can/cannot do. This is even more important for fresh graduates who haven’t begun practicing law yet.
Formatting
Finally, you should ensure your paralegal resume is properly formatted. Misaligned objects, poor sentencing, and poor sectioning can all make your resume appear substandard. Keep your resume margins at least 1 inch on all sides. Keep a professional feel by choosing no more than 3 colors, preferably blue or grey. Ensure that you use readable fonts for resume like Times New Roman or Arial in point size 12. You should also give your resume a final read before submitting it to confirm it has no grammatical errors.
How to Write a Paralegal Resume without Experience?
You can still create a stellar resume even if you do not have sufficient work experience or are still an undergrad. In fact, you might even land the position you seek if you create a good enough resume.
Instead of a resume summary, you should have a resume objective listing your career goals, particularly tailored for the firm you are applying for. You will have to place a higher emphasis on your educational background rather than your work experience. You can even list the relevant courses you have studied as a part of your degree.
For example:
- Legal Writing and Research: Developed skills in drafting case briefs and conducting comprehensive research leveraging tools like Westlaw and LexisNexis.
- Contract Law: Studied the basics of contract formulation and dispute resolution.
Additionally, any volunteer work, Internships, or certifications you have apart from your degree can also be listed, so long as they are relevant to the paralegal position.
Final Thoughts
Crafting a paralegal resume can be tricky, especially for those only stepping into the field. But if you know what elements to add and work with a defined skeleton, you can have a well-crafted resume at hand!
Check out our comprehensive online resume maker that simplifies the way you create your paralegal resume with high-quality Paralegal resume templates. Explore our website today for Paralegal resume examples!
Also Read :- How to Write Lawyer Resume