Paralegal resume example & writing guide
- What is a paralegal job?
- Why use this paralegal resume example?
- How to write a great paralegal resume
- Which key skills are relevant for a paralegal resume?
If you’re an experienced paralegal looking for career advancement opportunities, check out our paralegal resume. The resume template contains the right blend of skills and corporate lingo that will help you make a lasting impression on a hiring manager.
What is a paralegal job?
Paralegals collaborate with civil and criminal attorneys, law departments, law firms, and government agencies to manage different legal cases. Their responsibilities include performing legal research, drafting documents, attending legal proceedings with lawyers, and summarizing depositions and testimonies.
Paralegals are different from legal assistants. While the former helps lawyers prepare case files and documents, the latter offers administrative and secretarial support (such as proofreading documents and scheduling meetings).
Why use this paralegal resume example?
For experienced paralegals, a chronological, go-getter resume works well. This resume focuses on your skills, core competencies, and relevant work experience to let the hiring manager know that you’re the right fit for a paralegal job.
The resume begins with a professional summary that highlights your work experience and includes a few accomplishments that are relevant to the job role of a paralegal. Next, there’s an areas of expertise section that features job-related skills that are crucial for all paralegals, such as legal research, report writing, and regulatory compliance.
Your professional experience is listed in a reverse chronological sequence. Each job detail includes a short paragraph on your daily tasks and a bulleted accomplishments list.
Your job duties begin with action verbs, such as analyzed, maintained, documented, compiled, researched, proofread, and reviewed. These action verbs are intended to capture the reader’s attention and establish you as an achiever, rather than a doer.
Most paralegal jobs require an education in business management, criminal law, English, political science, psychology, or legal studies. This is why it’s important to mention your education towards the end of your resume. The final section of your resume includes any software and technical tools in which you are proficient.
How to write a great paralegal resume
When writing a paralegal resume, keep the following tips in mind:
Review the target job description in detail, identify the keywords, and try to understand what the employer is looking for.
Even if you have extensive work experience, try to limit your professional summary to 4-5 sentences. Adding a lot of information could make this section verbose and repetitive.
Make sure to include a combination of job-related skills (e.g., documentation, litigation support, legal research) and soft skills (leadership, communication skills, presentation skills).
Which key skills are relevant for a paralegal resume?
To apply for a paralegal job, you’ll likely need the following skills:
Documentation review
Basic knowledge of civil and criminal laws
Writing, editing, and proofreading skills
Strong attention to detail
Ability to meet short deadlines
Multi-tasking skills
Communication skills
Presentation skills
Summary example
Accomplished Paralegal with extensive experience providing legal and administrative support for attorneys with diverse specialties, including real estate, litigation, and corporate law. Able to effectively navigate the complexities of multi-million dollar legal transactions and cases, ensuring that required processes and procedures to support the legal staff are performed accurately and in compliance with all regulations.
Employment history example
Corporate paralegal at XYZ GROUP INTERNATIONAL, Scottsdale, AZ
2015 - Present
Provide legal assistance to general counsel in preparing documents to form corporations, partnerships, and limited liability corporations across 14 states. Monitor corporate governance controls and ensure compliance across corporate departments. Supervise all litigation matters through resolution, including settlement agreements for tenant complaints in multi-family residential communities. Prepare contracts, securities filings, consents, releases, operating agreements, closing papers, binders, and minute books. Serve as point of contact for litigation and multi-family tenant issues; facilitate communication between property managers and legal department. Train legal staff on data input and report output; update and maintain documents using document management software.
Oversaw the formation and termination of all entities involved in multi-million dollar acquisitions and dissolutions across jurisdictions, researching license regulations in all jurisdictions to ensure compliance.
Drafted lease agreements, transaction documents, investor documents for 1031 investors, broker dealer agreements for Hedge Funds, and tax implications on investments.
LITIGATION PARALEGAL at SMITH & ADAMS LLP, Phoenix, AZ
2013 - 2015
Assisted two attorneys in reviewing, drafting, and filing all documentation, complaints, responses, interrogatories, and motions to be filed with the court related to foreclosures, bankruptcies, and related litigation. Utilized LexisNexis for comprehensive case research. Administered procedures from trial preparations to case closings.
Initiated and established a streamlined procedure that improved process serving and tracking.
Developed and maintained a calendar to ensure accurate and on-time filings and preparations for court dates.
LEGAL SECRETARY at SANDERS & SON LLP, Tuscon, AZ
2010 - 2013
Provided paraprofessional legal support and executive assistance to five attorneys and one administrator for complex cases in the areas of commercial real estate, bankruptcy, foreclosure, corporate law, and litigation, from initial stages to completion and closures. Provided executive assistance to partners, including organizing special events and making all travel arrangements. Analyzed complex financial data and set up payment structures to support Chapter 13 filings. Researched cases in LexisNexis. Drafted and filed documents in compliance with all regulations. Created PowerPoint presentations for law partners to be used for internal training.
Assisted Chapter 13 Trustee at hearings, meticulously documenting all procedures. Maintained Trustee case files and accounting records using TCMS bankruptcy software.
Education example
PARALEGAL CERTIFICATE at Arizona State University
BACHELOR OF ARTS, BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION: LEGAL STUDIES at Arizona State University
Notary Public
Association of Bankruptcy Judicial Assistants
Skills example
Drafting & Filing of Legal Documents
Regulatory Compliance
Legal Research & Investigations
Litigation & Trial Support
Executive Legal Assistance
Process Improvement
Writing, Proofing, & Editing
Project Management
Staff Training
