Best Paralegal Resume Examples For 2023 (Template & Guide)

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Experienced Paralegal Resume Sample

This resume sample for an experienced paralegal stands out for its clean design and comprehensive content. Notice how the professional language and a well-organized layout instantly communicate the candidate’s qualifications.

Clean and Professional Design:

This example of a paralegal resume features a clear and organized layout to make it easy to read. The chronological format emphasizes the candidate’s impressive work history and paralegal experience.

Strategic Use of White Space:

With a balance of white space and a touch of color which contribute to its visually engaging and professional appearance, this resume balances traditional aesthetics with modern tastes.

Comprehensive Professional Summary:

The resume begins with a strong professional summary that succinctly encapsulates the candidate’s experience and goals as a paralegal, including key phrases such as “Strong understanding of legal
language and principles, research methods, court pleadings and processes, and
legal holds.” It makes an excellent first impression in just a few brief sentences and encourages the reader to learn more.

Quantified Achievements:

The candidate quantifies their achievements, providing a tangible sense of their impact in previous roles. For example, “scheduled and participated in 50 witness interviews.” This demonstrates the specific value the candidate provides as a paralegal.

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Personal Injury Paralegal Resume Sample

This paralegal resume example makes an impression with its visually engaging design and strategic content placement. A well-structured combination format, a compelling professional summary, and detailed work experience make it a persuasive representation of the candidate’s legal qualifications.

Visually Engaging Design:

The resume captures attention with an aesthetically pleasing and modern design. Using the turquoise coloring and unique design elements instantly catches the eye without detracting from the content of the resume.

Clear and Organized Layout:

In this paralegal’s resume example, information is well-organized and clearly labeled, making it easy to read and find specific information. Additionally, the legal field is known for its more conservative approach to the application process, and this resume does a great job of keeping things professional, thanks to its organization.

Professional Summary:

This example features a concise yet impactful professional summary that succinctly communicates the candidate’s paralegal qualifications, highlighting relevant skills such as the ability to “expertly multi-task quickly and tactfully” in a legal setting, which sets up the rest of the resume for better engagement.

Showcases Skills and Qualifications:

This combination format resume is an excellent choice to highlight the candidate’s qualifications and skills. The summary of qualifications and skills sections at the top of the page emphasizes the candidate’s ability to do the job of a paralegal.

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How To Write A Paralegal Resume

Writing a paralegal resume requires a careful approach to outlining your document and clearly organizing your information. Remember these steps when you write your resume for your next paralegal job.

Pick a Format:

Three types of resume formats vary in their focus on skills and experience.

For most resumes, you will want to use the chronological format because it focuses on work history.

Many employers, such as competitive law firms, value work experience because it proves your ability to get the job done.

However, suppose you lack experience because you are fresh out of school or are changing careers. In that case, you can consider the functional format, which emphasizes skills and minimizes the work history section.

Or you might want to consider the combination format, which balances elements from both the chronological and functional formats to provide an equal focus on skills and experience.

Contact Information:

As in all resumes, include up-to-date contact information, including your full name, phone number, email address, and the city (or town) and state where you reside. You can also include a LinkedIn profile if you have one.

Resume Summary or Objective:

Starting a resume with a profile is a great way to engage the reader and stand out with applicant tracking systems (ATS).

A resume summary briefly overviews your skills and experience, focusing primarily on the most relevant qualifications.

An objective statement, meanwhile, can be used if you lack experience and/or want to focus on your passion for the paralegal position.

In either case, make sure to clearly communicate your interest and the value you offer as a potential employee.

Work History:

In your work history section, you will want to showcase your relevant work experience, emphasizing achievements and responsibilities. Starting with your most recent experience, list:

• • Job title
  • Name of employer
  • Location
  • Dates employed

Use bullet points to list your responsibilities, and as much as possible, quantify your accomplishments, using numbers and percentages to demonstrate your impact.

For example, saying you “performed research for over 70 cases” or “interviewed 12 clients daily to prepare witnesses to testify” clearly shows your capabilities and value.

Skills:

In a separate section, detail your skills in short bullets. Include technical skills like knowledge of Excel, legal software, or e-filing documents to the court to demonstrate your ability to do the job.

Also include soft skills such as communication, organization, and attention to detail to demonstrate your ability to work well with others, and use keywords in the paralegal job description to phrase your skills to align with the employer’s expectations.

Education:

Highlight your educational background. Paralegal jobs typically require an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in paralegal studies or fields such as social science, business, or security and protective service.

Include the name and location of your educational institution. If relevant, you can add additional information such as graduation date, GPA (if significant), and specific courses or projects you completed.

Additional Sections (optional):

If you have the space, include relevant sections such as certifications, languages, or professional affiliations. You may likely have one or two such things you want to share.

For example, a paralegal certification will validate your skills and demonstrate a professional commitment to your role.

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Key Skills For Paralegal Resumes

A paralegal’s resume will shine if it has the right combination of hard skills and soft skills that are required for the position. Here are some of the most popular to consider.

However, these are just guidelines. You should remember that any paralegal job description may require a specific set of skills, so tailor your resume accordingly.

Top 5 Hard Skills for Paralegal Resumes

1. 1. Legal Research: Paralegals must be proficient in conducting thorough legal research, since they often gather facts of the case and research laws and regulations to help attorneys prepare for court.
   2. Document Drafting: Demonstrating your skill in preparing legal documents and correspondence, which are core responsibilities for most paralegals, is key trait to showcase.
   3. Case Management: Highlighting experience in managing legal cases efficiently demonstrates your ability to help an attorney stay organized, one of the most valuable assets you will provide.
   4. Litigation Support: Attorneys can get bogged down with the back-end work of litigation when juggling multiple clients, so paralegals can provide litigation support by collecting, analyzing, securing and organizing data related to a case.
   5. Legal Software: Familiarity with legal research and case management software is a sought-after computer skill for paralegals. Examples include comfort with various databases, court e-filing systems, common word processors, and email applications.

Top 5 Soft Skills for Paralegal Resumes

1. 1. Communication: Effective written and verbal communication skills are essential, as paralegals must interact and coordinate with attorneys, their clients, and court staff on various legal needs.
   2. Organization: Successful paralegals must have strong organizational abilities for managing case files and documents, sometimes handling several cases at any given time.
   3. Attention to Detail: Especially since many documents involve high stakes, potential employers will seek a paralegal with meticulous attention to detail for error-free legal documentation.
   4. Time Management: Demonstrating efficiency in handling multiple tasks and deadlines will make a strong impression. Paralegals must be able to adapt quickly to changing deadlines and priorities while ensuring cases comply with court requirements.
   5. Teamwork: This skill will highlight your ability to collaborate with attorneys and legal teams, an integral part of the role.

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Certifications For Paralegal Resumes

As a legal professional, having the proper certifications is key to getting hired and, in many cases, even being allowed to perform your job! Here are some important certifications paralegals must consider highlighting when they write their resumes.

1. 1. Certified Paralegal (CP): Obtaining this certification for paralegal professionals from a program approved by the American Bar Association (ABA) will demonstrate your qualifications and dedication to the job.
   2. Advanced Paralegal Certification: Pursuing this specialized certification demonstrates expertise and desire for continued growth. This certification will showcase your professionalism and knowledge.
   3. Legal Technology Certification: a certificate in legal technology will give you a competitive edge. Courses in legal technology will develop your ability to leverage new technology in the legal field. You can gain experience in AI-powered legal tools and collaboration platforms reshaping the industry. These skills will be highly sought after in the years to come.
   4. Notary Public: Becoming a Notary Public gives you the qualification to witness and authenticate legal documents. This designation is a must-have for every paralegal.
   5. Advanced Legal Research Certification: Listing specialized training in advanced legal research methods on your paralegal resume showcases your ability to evaluate, select and use appropriate research tools and sources.