Paralegal Resume Examples
Years of Experience
- Entry-level
- Mid-career
- Senior-level
Jonathan Mundus
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]
123 Main Street, Fort Drum, NY 13602
Profile
Highly organized Paralegal with recent experience in personal injury law. Committed to helping firms build and maintain positive attorney-client relations.
Key Skills
- Client Service & Communications
- Legal File Digitization
- Legal Research Best Practices
- LexisNexis
- Microsoft Office Suite
- Team Collaboration
- Time Management
- Trial Document Preparation
- Westlaw
- Writing, Editing & Proofreading
Professional Experience
Paralegal, Jenkins Law Firm, Watertown, NY | June 2022 to Present
- Draft pleadings, witness lists, and trial motions
- Assist with research for personal injury lawsuits
- Manage case files and documents
- Digitize physical documents in the electronic filing system
Highlight:
- Earned top marks on formal review for efficiency coordinating communication between attorneys and clients
Legal Intern, Clearwater Law Firm, Liverpool, NY | January 2022 to May 2022
- Drafted motions, subpoenas, and complaints
- Transcribed interviews between attorneys and clients
- Praised for thorough, accurate legal research
Education
Associate of Paralegal Studies, Onondaga Community College, Syracuse, NY | 2022
- Won a writing competition for essay detailing how criminal records laws affect offenders and society
Penny Paxmont
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]
100 First Street, West Genesee, NY 13031
Profile
Dedicated Paralegal with strong knowledge of both common and New York legal standards. Assisted in 700+ cases and conducted 2,000+ client interviews during 7+ years of experience at family law firms. Bachelor of Paralegal Studies from Syracuse University.
Key Skills
- Common legal research strategies, citation methods, and standards
- Legal writing, editing, and proofreading
- LexisNexis, Westlaw, and Microsoft Office applications
- New York family and criminal law practices
- Process streamlining and improvement
- Teamwork and collaboration
Professional Experience
Staff Paralegal, CNY Legal Assistance, Syracuse, NY | January 2018 to Present
- Perform legal research to help prepare for ~20 criminal and family law cases per month
- Draft and organize legal documents such as subpoenas, motions, and witness lists
- Manage case files, digitizing any physical documents
- Screen potential clients per the clinic’s eligibility requirements
Highlight:
- Improved the firm’s filing database system by introducing a checklist for opening litigation files. Measure reduced time needed to catalog new cases by 15%.
Paralegal, Collins & Griffith Law Firm, Central Square, NY | August 2015 to December 2017
- Helped draft subpoenas, motions, witness lists, and other documents
- Assisted with legal research for family law cases
- Served as liaison between attorneys and clients
- Answered phone calls, booked appointments, and oriented new clients
Education & Credential
Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Paralegal Studies, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY
Certified Professional Paralegal, The Paralegal Association, Tulsa, OK
Kimberly Clarkson
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]
1 Main Street, Carolina Beach, NC 28425
Profile
Certified Paralegal with 10+ years of experience including 5 years in North Carolina family and custody law. Draw on deep knowledge of common legal practices, documents, and standards.
Professional Experience
Staff Paralegal, Legal Assistance of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC | January 2018 to Present
- Conduct legal research for family court and custody cases
- Prepare motions, subpoenas, complaints, and witness lists for attorneys
- Manage case files and associated documents
- Serve as liaison between attorneys and clients to ensure positive, productive communications at all points
- Screen potential clients for subsidized legal assistance
Paralegal, Cowell Law Firm, Greensboro, NC | June 2012 to December 2017
- Contributed to legal research for upcoming trials
- Prepared motions, subpoenas, complaints, and witness lists
- Digitized physical documents in the electronic filing system
Legal Assistant, Anker & Collo, LLC, Durham, NC | September 2010 to May 2012
- Helped draft motions, subpoenas, complaints, and other legal documents
- Assisted with legal research for upcoming trials
- Uploaded physical documents to the digital legal filing system
Key Skills
- Legal File Digitization
- Legal Research Standards
- Strategic Time Management
- Task Prioritization
- Team Collaboration
- Trial Document Preparation
- Writing, Editing & Proofreading
Education
Bachelor of Arts in Legal Studies, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill | 2014
Associate of Arts in Paralegal Studies, Alamance Community College, Durham, NC | 2012
Credentials
Family Law Paralegal Specialist Certificate, Duke University, Durham, NC | 2017
Registered Paralegal, The National Federation of Paralegal Associations, Minneapolis, MN | 2012
Common Key Skills and Action Verbs for a Paralegal Resume
Ensure your resume gets past the initial screening by applicant tracking systems (ATS) and hiring managers by focusing on target words. Most positions have common key skills and action verbs that are important to the role. This applies to a paralegal position too. The employer wants to see that you have these necessary, fundamental skills before considering you for an interview. For a paralegal position, make sure to include the following essential skills and action verbs throughout your resume and cover letter:
| Key Skills & Proficiencies | |
|---|---|
| Client interviews | Communication skills |
| Confidentiality minded | Detail-orientated |
| Document drafting | Legal software |
| Microsoft Word | Organization |
| Team player | Technology proficient |
| Action Verbs | |
|---|---|
| Draft | Execute |
| Implement | Liaise |
| Multitask | Prepare |
| Research | Respond |
| Screen | Transcribe |
| Write | |
Tips for Writing a Better Paralegal Resume
Highlight your relevant experience for the role
Most lawyers don’t have the time for extensive onboarding, so they prefer a paralegal who’s experienced and knowledgeable in their field. A paralegal may be taught legislation, but the most valuable learning comes from job experience. If you have extensive work experience already, make sure to highlight the skills you’ve learned with specific examples.
Example #1
Good
My eight years of experience working in family law firms has allowed me to become an expert in this field. To date, I have assisted in over 500 divorce cases and 200 inheritance cases.
Bad
I have worked in two law firms that specialize in family law, so I am quite knowledgeable in this particular area of law.
Example #2
Good
I have conducted over 2,000 client interviews in my eight years of work experience. As a result, I have a clear process for interviewing and understand which probing questions to ask.
Bad
I enjoy conducting client interviews.
Highlight your education that relates to the position
A paralegal isn’t required to have a four-year bachelor’s degree; you can become a paralegal with a two-year associate degree. That being said, many companies and law firms prefer a paralegal with a bachelor’s degree or additional education beyond an associate degree. Additionally, it’s entirely optional to complete a paralegal certification program. If you have either of these, it’s essential to highlight them so you can stand out from other candidates.
Example #1
Good
I earned my Bachelor of Arts in Legal Studies from Smalltown College in 2015, which provided me with the foundational knowledge I need to succeed.
Bad
Bachelor of Arts in Legal Studies, Smalltown College 2015.
Example #2
Good
I greatly value education, and after completing my four-year degree, I completed a paralegal certification program.
Bad
I have my paralegal certification
How to Align Your Resume With the Job Description
When reviewing a stack of resumes for a position, the hiring manager needs to quickly narrow it down to a handful of final candidates. As the paralegal field is competitive, there are often dozens of applicants per job posting. Logistically speaking, a hiring manager simply doesn’t have the time to interview and consider every candidate thoroughly. As a result, a few potential candidates need to be identified.
Managers do this by screening for keywords, looking for a resume that matches their crafted job description. Make sure to identify keywords from the job posting and include them in your resume.
Example Paralegal Job Description
Anthony & Clark Law Firm is looking for an experienced paralegal who understands family law. This position requires an independent starter who feels comfortable conducting thorough client interviews, analyzing cases, and preparing filings. We are looking for a team player who is detail-oriented.
Responsibilities:
- Conduct client interviews without prep from attorneys
- Assist with preparing and filing pleadings
- Take notes during confidential client meetings
- Review and respond to discovery requests
- Summarize court transcripts
- Complete research for upcoming cases
Qualifications
- Minimum two-years work experience
- Minimum associate degree
- Experience in family law
According to the job description, the ideal candidate should have the following skills and qualifications:
- Work experience
- Independence
- Client interviews
- Team player
- Detail-oriented
- Associate degree
- Research skills
- Confidentiality
Now that you’ve identified the necessary skills and qualifications, it’s time to make sure you include your matching skills and experience in your resume. Here’s an example of how to do so:
Paralegal Work Experience Example
Paralegal
ABC Family Law Firm, 2016–2020
- Independently handled the prep, execution, and reporting on all confidential client interviews for the firm
- Conducted detail-oriented research with the team of paralegals to prep attorneys for upcoming cases
- Preparation of pleadings
- Thorough summarization of court transcripts