Paralegals offer valuable support to law firms by streamlining procedures and organizing materials for attorneys. When applying for paralegal jobs, you need a resume that features these skills and your relevant work, school, and other credentials. Learn how to write a resume that gets you interviews for your next paralegal job.
Most Popular Paralegal Resumes
Personal Injury Paralegal Resume Example
Why this Personal Injury Paralegal resume example is strong:
This resume highlights key paralegal skills relevant to personal injury law, including legal research, case management, and client communication. Efficiency improvements, such as an 85% case success rate and a 92% client satisfaction rating, show the candidate’s impact on the firm’s operations. For tips on emphasizing client communication and case management skills, refer to resume skills for paralegals.
Staff Paralegal Resume Example
Why this Staff Paralegal resume example is strong:
The resume stands out by showcasing extensive experience in New York family and criminal law, with measurable achievements such as reducing case cataloging time by 15%. The candidate’s Certified Professional Paralegal credential and strong teamwork skills align well with family law requirements. For advice on tailoring resumes to specific legal specialties, see this guide on legal resume writing.
Experienced Paralegal Resume Example
Why this Experienced Paralegal resume example is strong:
This resume demonstrates a seasoned understanding of legal practices, especially in family and custody law. The candidate’s ability to manage case files, conduct thorough research, and liaise effectively with clients showcases their value in a legal setting. Credentials like the Family Law Paralegal Specialist Certificate add credibility.
Paralegal Assistant Resume Example
Why this Paralegal Assistant resume example is strong:
This resume highlights key support skills for a paralegal role, such as organizing exhibits and reducing filing time, which shows process improvement capabilities. The candidate’s background in criminal and civil law and certification as a Certified Paralegal make them versatile for various legal tasks. If you want to learn more about showcasing support skills effectively, check out resume skills for office roles.
Immigration Paralegal Resume Example
Why this Immigration Paralegal resume example is strong:
This resume highlights specialized experience in immigration law, including a 94% success rate in immigration applications. Leadership experience in training junior paralegals demonstrates strong team collaboration. The candidate’s Certified Paralegal designation is especially relevant to their legal expertise. For advice on listing specialized skills like immigration law, check out technical skills for resumes.
Litigation Paralegal Resume Example
Why this Litigation Paralegal resume example is strong:
This resume emphasizes litigation support skills, including research on legal precedents and case documentation management across hundreds of cases. With measurable success in pretrial support and collaboration with court personnel, this candidate’s experience aligns with high-stakes litigation work. To learn more about emphasizing litigation skills, see resume skills for paralegals.
Personal Injury Paralegal Resume Example
Why this Personal Injury Paralegal resume example is strong:
This resume effectively highlights critical personal injury skills, including legal research, document preparation, and client communication. Achievements such as maintaining an 85% case success rate and achieving a 92% client satisfaction rating underscore the candidate’s impact on case outcomes and client relationships. The inclusion of relevant certifications, like the Certified Paralegal designation, enhances their qualifications for the field.
Law Clerk Resume Example
Why this Law Clerk resume example is strong:
This resume effectively showcases research and document preparation skills vital to litigation support. The candidate’s experience in drafting opposition briefs and managing case files adds depth, while their educational background in law and philosophy complements their analytical skills. To improve on legal research descriptions, see how to highlight research skills.
Law and Legal Resume Example
Why this Certified Paralegal resume example is strong:
This resume highlights deep expertise in family law and custody cases, with a focus on file digitization and task prioritization that demonstrates efficiency. Relevant certifications, such as the Family Law Paralegal Specialist Certificate, add credibility to the candidate’s specialized knowledge. To get tips on structuring similar achievements, view examples of legal resume formats.
Paralegal Text-Only Resume Templates and Examples
How To Write a Paralegal Resume
1. Craft an outstanding profile with a summary of your paralegal qualifications
Use the Profile section of your resume to briefly describe why you’re a great candidate for the job. This section should cite your key strengths, years of related legal experience, and any career highlights that speak strongly to the job opening. If you’re a certified paralegal, mention this sought-after credential in your Profile.
Mid-Career Profile Example
Dedicated paralegal with strong knowledge of both common and New York legal standards. Assisted in over 700 cases and conducted more than 2,000 client interviews during over seven years of experience at family law firms. Bachelor of Paralegal Studies from Syracuse University.
Entry-Level Profile Example
Highly organized paralegal with recent experience in personal injury law. Committed to helping firms build and maintain positive attorney-client relations.
2. Create a powerful list of your paralegal experiences
As a paralegal, your job is to support attorneys and expedite law office procedures. When writing your Experience section, focus on how you’ve helped firms streamline operations or break large projects into manageable steps. Also, emphasize your organizational skills since a key part of this role is researching and managing multiple case files across different clients.
Senior-Level Professional Experience Example
Staff Paralegal
Legal Assistance of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC | January 2018 – 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
Entry-Level Professional Experience Example
Paralegal
Jenkins Law Firm, Watertown, NY | June 2022 – 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
3. Outline your education and paralegal-related certifications
Give the basic details of your highest education degree to show your foundational knowledge. Also, specify where you gained your legal expertise — this may mean naming your college major, listing relevant courses, or citing a paralegal certificate.
Below are templates and examples to help you format these details on your resume. Note optional template areas appear in [brackets].
Education
Template
- Degree Name – [Major]
- School Name, City, State Abbreviation – [Graduation Year]
- [Select Coursework]
Example
- Bachelor of Arts (BA) – Paralegal Studies
- Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY – 2020
Certifications
Template
- Certification Name, [Awarding Organization], [Completion Year]
Example
- Certified Professional Paralegal, The Paralegal Association, 2021
4. Make a list of your paralegal-related skills and proficiencies
Paralegal jobs typically require a strong blend of research, technical, and client relations skills. While you can highlight these skills in your Experience section by relating them to specific cases or achievements, a Key Skills list lets you gather them all in one easy-to-read section for hiring managers. Consider including any of the below terms.
| Key Skills and Proficiencies | |
|---|---|
| Case management | Client service and communications |
| Contract management | Court procedures |
| Deadline management | Document drafting and preparation |
| E-discovery and document management | Filing and retrieval systems |
| Legal ethics and confidentiality | Legal file digitization |
| Legal research and analysis | Legal terminology and procedures |
| LexisNexis | Microsoft Office Suite |
| Process streamlining and improvement | Task prioritization |
| Team collaboration | Trial preparation and support |
| Westlaw | Writing, editing, and proofreading |
How To Pick the Best Paralegal Resume Template
Using a template can make it easier to draft and customize a polished resume for each paralegal application. Look for clean and simple templates, with enough white space that the page doesn’t seem cluttered. Law firms deal in paperwork all day, so showing how a crisp professional document should look can help make a good impression.
Erica Pizem - Legal Recruiter and Expert Contributor, Linkedin
Meet our Expert: Erica is a licensed attorney and legal recruiter, whose primary focus is successfully matching lateral attorney candidates with both large and boutique law firms in the New York City area.
1. What are the most in-demand skills for paralegals that should be featured on a candidate’s resume?-
Prospective paralegals should highlight they can support an attorney by preparing various documents, including but not limited to memos, briefs, pleadings, legal correspondence, and emails on behalf of attorneys. Additionally, candidates should emphasize their excellent written and oral skills, as paralegals often need to communicate with attorneys, clients, opposing counsel, and other legal professionals. Furthermore, prospective paralegals should mention they are detail-oriented, organized, and can multitask, as paralegals often need to balance different assignments with different deadlines daily.
2. What work experience and/or other accomplishments are hiring managers seeking in a paralegal?-
Hiring managers are interested in candidates with a bachelor’s degree or a paralegal certificate from an ABA-approved paralegal certification program. They would also prefer to hire candidates with relevant skills in the prospective employer's area of expertise or specialty. Most importantly, hiring managers want candidates with office administration experience, preferably in a legal setting.
3. What else should a paralegal candidate be prepared to provide hiring managers besides a resume?-
Besides a resume, a prospective paralegal should include a cover letter detailing their interest in the position and mention any language skills. The candidate should also mention their proficiency in Microsoft, Teams, and Adobe and highlight their familiarity with the relevant legal electronic databases, as paralegals often need to file, manage, and maintain documents in electronic databases.
4. What advice would you give a paralegal candidate about their job search? -
A prospective paralegal should maintain an updated LinkedIn profile, as it is usually one of the initial steps a hiring manager will seek out when researching a potential candidate. Additionally, a candidate ought to utilize the plethora of online websites for legal positions and can even search the “jobs” section of their local newspaper or local law journal.
Frequently Asked Questions: Paralegal Resume Examples and Advice
What are common action verbs for paralegal resumes?-
Resumes are concise, so every word matters. This rule is especially true for the verbs you use to start your Experience section bullet points. If you need help finding a unique verb for each bullet, the list below can give you some fresh ideas.
| Action Verbs | |
|---|---|
| Analyzed | Assisted |
| Discussed | Drafted |
| Enhanced | Exhibited |
| Expedited | Facilitated |
| Filed | Garnered |
| Generated | Helped |
| Interviewed | Investigated |
| Maintained | Managed |
| Met with | Negotiated |
| Organized | Prepared |
| Prevented | Processed |
| Ranked | Researched |
| Reviewed | Streamlined |
| Summarized | Supported |
| Uncovered | Updated |
| Verified | Wrote |
How do you align your resume with a job posting?-
The Bureau of Labor Statistics forecasts that jobs for paralegals and legal assistants will increase by about 14% (or nearly 50,000 jobs) between 2021 and 2031. This growth rate is much faster than the average for all U.S. vocations.
When you’re applying for similar paralegal positions, you may be tempted to use the exact same resume. But this approach can backfire and keep you from moving to the next hiring round. While some job skills do overlap, each hiring manager will look for different credentials in an applicant, such as experience with criminal law or the ability to create a file organization system. Get their attention by including keywords and phrases from the job posting in your Key Skills and Experience sections. Also, if the job requires a certification you have, add that to your Profile so you stand out as a qualified applicant right away.
What is the best paralegal resume format?-
In nearly all cases, use a Combination (or Hybrid) resume, because it’s easiest for hiring managers to learn about your pertinent skills and experience – it’s also simplest for you to align with your job goals.
With the combination format, you highlight your most relevant skills and experience in your Experience or Work History section, as well as an intro section. (This combination of work history and intro content is where the format gets its name.) Your resume intro should usually include a Profile summary and Key Skills section, but you may also add a Career Highlights or Awards section. By carefully choosing the details for your intro, you can (a) position yourself for your target job and (b) give hiring managers a clear, quick view of what you offer.
Should my paralegal resume be one or two pages?-
Your paralegal resume should ideally be one page, especially if you have fewer than 10 years of experience. A two-page resume can be effective for seasoned professionals with a longer track record if it highlights accomplishments and skills directly relevant to the job. Every detail should add value and strengthen your candidacy.
Limit your work experience to the past 10 to 15 years, unless earlier positions are highly relevant. Keeping your resume concise and targeted will make a strong and memorable impression on potential employers.
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Don’t forget to include a targeted cover letter with your resume before you send your application. This document gives you space to describe how you’d help the hiring organization and elaborate on your work highlights, such as finding a precedent that solidified a case or reducing the time it took to onboard clients. If you get stuck, see our paralegal cover letter guide.
