Paralegal Resume Sample

The Bureau of Labor Statistics states that there were 279,500 paralegal positions in 2014; that figure is expected to increase by 8% over the next ten years, with an approximate 21,200 paralegals entering the field.

With a median salary of $48,800 a year, becoming a paralegal is a desirable career path for those interested in the legal field.

For an entry-level position, the only educational requirements are an associate’s or bachelor’s degree with a certificate in paralegal studies. They are much cheaper than lawyers and can work in a variety of capacities, making them valuable assets to law firms, corporate legal departments, and government agencies.

1. Write a Resume Objective that Shows Your Skills, Specializations, and Intent

A resume objective geared towards a position as a paralegal should highlight any previous academic training or experience, specializations or skills specific to the legal field, and the applicant’s intent. Let’s take a look at the sample resume to break it down:

• “Paralegal graduate with 2 years of experience, specializing in preparing affidavits, briefs, legal correspondences, and other legal documents.”

In the first example, the applicant briefly outlines their experience and what skills they developed during that time. This is a good way to begin a career objective, since it provides pertinent background information about the candidate. Next, our applicant explains their intent:

• “Organized, hard-working individual seeking to apply academic training under an attorney for hands-on work experience.”

Here, the applicant states that they want to leverage their knowledge about the legal field to gain firsthand experience.They even go on to mention what kind of firm they hope to work for and exactly what areas of law interest them:

• “Interested in working for a boutique law firm with a focus on criminal defense or personal injury.”

By narrowing down what you are looking for in a job, you demonstrate to employers that you are ambitious and take initiative. These are key traits that will bolster your resume and your chances of getting the job.

2. Enhance Your Professional Experience

The professional experience section of a resume is crucial because it serves as a metric for both your success and potential as a candidate. With this in mind, what you include should be results-oriented, detailing only your noteworthy achievements and duties. Let’s refer to our sample resume to get a clearer idea on what to include:

• “Improved filing database by systematically arranging litigation files and introducing an improved file-opening checklist, resulting in a 15% reduction in the time it takes to catalogue new cases.”

In this example, the applicant provided a quantifiable achievement that demonstrates how they contributed to the firm. Using hard numbers to back up your experience shows that you are an asset and will increase your chances of getting the job.

• “Prepared and processed over 100 summons, complaints, motions, pretrial agreements, subpoenas, and other legal documents.”

Again, we see quantifiable experience that demonstrates competency and capability. This particular bullet point also shows that the candidate is well-versed in a certain aspect of the legal field.

Another thing to consider when writing your professional experience section are industry-specific buzzwords and descriptive language. For example, terms like “Bates Stamping,” “affidavit” or “subpoenas” apply directly to the legal field and are more informative than vague terminology like “forms” or “pages.”

3. Use Vivid Language

Using strong action words for resumes is also helpful. For example, our applicant enhanced their filing database by “arranging litigation files” and “introducing an improved file-opening checklist.” Emphasis on these words denotes initiative and they make your resume sound more impressive.

Here is a list of action words you can apply to your resume:

Organize	Improve	Design
Introduce	Conduct	Schedule
Assist	Prepare	Filing
Document	Process	Attend
Specialize	Apply	Sustain

4. Include an Additional Skills Section

An additional resume skills section is a great way to round out your resume. In it, you should mention any certifications or soft skills that are relevant to the industry. Our applicant included a LexisNexus certification, which is specific to the legal field; appending a niche resource like this will impress employers and increase your chances of getting the job. Here are more examples of relatable certifications and skills you might consider using:

• Westlaw certified
• Proficient in Bridgeway Software i.e. LawManager, eCouncel, and Secretariat
• Sure Will Writer certified
• Proficient in Adobe Systems and Adobe Acrobat
• Summation certified
• Proficient in Paralegal Pro-Pack software