How to Write a Great Paralegal Resume

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Paralegal Resume Sample

Although the law is often seen as one of the most competitive fields to get into, it’s important to remember that there are many different jobs in the legal field. Paralegal jobs are a great starting point for anyone interested in the legal field but may not be ready to study or commit to becoming a lawyer just yet. If you’re interested in becoming a paralegal, then here’s how you can create a job-winning resume.

What Is A Paralegal Resume?

Paralegals are individuals who assist attorneys in their jobs. A paralegal can work in just about any legal field, including family law, personal injury and real estate. Although they work with an attorney, they often have to complete their own legal training and perform work outside of the realms of a clerical, legal assistant.

Paralegal Resume Tips

Use the ResumeNerd resume builder to create your paralegal resume. This resume builder is a great way to create a professional resume even if you’ve never made one before.
If you have more than ten years of experience as a paralegal, then you can include that experience on your LinkedIn. You don’t have to include work from 10+ years ago on your resume.
Before you create your job application, research the company you are applying to thoroughly. Understanding the company culture is key to creating a great resume, especially when it comes to a law firm or related company.

Paralegal Resume Example

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Paralegal Resume Format To Utilize

If you want to impress a recruiter, then it’s important that you know how to perform well during the job search. Here are a few tips for writing a resume that will make law offices want to call you in for an interview.

Resume header

The resume header is the top part of your resume design. It includes your contact information such as name, phone number, location, email address and links to your job networking profiles such as your LinkedIn.

Resume Summary or resume objective

A paralegal resume objective or resume summary will be a brief overview of the highlights featured in your resume. It should be no more than two to three sentences. You will typically include a synopsis of your paralegal experience, skills, accomplishments and general knowledge. If you lack relevant work experience, use a resume objective instead. You can focus on your skills rather than on experience.

Skills

Your skills section should showcase your best skills and knowledge that make you qualified in this field. Here are a few bullet points you may find in a paralegal resume sample:

Doing legal research online (LexisNexis, Westlaw)
Understanding legal documents
Drafting pleadings
Scheduling depositions
Trial preparation
Reading through case files
Communication skills
General case management
Detail-oriented nature
E-filing and records management
Multitasking
Creating a filing system
Responding to subpoenas
Time management skills

These are some tasks and tools that you’ll likely use as a paralegal professional. You should include both hard skills and soft skills, as a paralegal needs to be adept at both connecting with clients and actually doing paralegal jobs.

Work history

The work experience section is where you include any previous paralegal positions you’ve held, as well as any other legal assistant experiences you’ve had. As an entry-level paralegal, you may have less experience as a paralegal. In this case, consider any other relevant legal job positions you’ve held, including internships, volunteer work and academic projects.

Education

The last section is typically your education section. This is where you include all of your paralegal studies and typically your certifications, including your license as a Certified Paralegal or Certified Legal Assistant. If you have any college experience outside of being a paralegal, then you can include it in this section as well.

FAQ: Paralegal Resume Example

How long should my paralegal resume be?

Most of the time, a resume should only be one page long. Although two-page resumes do exist and can be helpful in some situations, these are not typical. Unless you have many years of experience and lots of great cases to cover throughout your resume, you should try to cut your resume down to a single page.

Do I need to include a cover letter with my paralegal resume?

Yes. You should always include a cover letter with any resume. A cover letter is a great way to show a hiring manager that you really know what you’re talking about. Plus, you can cover your work experience in a different way, talking directly to the hiring manager about it. It also gives you a chance to ask for a job interview directly. If you want to include a cover letter and you’re not confident in your cover letter writing skills, then just use the cover letter builder from ResumeNerd.

How can I personalize a paralegal resume for every job application?

The best way to personalize your resume is to use resume keywords. Scan through the job description and pick out all the skills and experiences that the hiring manager is asking for. Then, you can sprinkle those skills and experiences throughout your resume wherever you have them. A winning resume is always the one that best reflects the job application.

Write a Better Paralegal Resume With These Tips