Legal Assistant Resume Examples for You Inspire You

Your resume structure will depend on the resume format that you use to write your resume. You can use the chronological, functional or combination formats, all of which prioritize different elements in your resume. Regardless of which format you end up using, the headings will be the same.

 

 

The first thing that recruiters will see on your resume will usually be your header. A professional resume header includes your full name, phone number, email address and job networking links, like LinkedIn.

 

 

The next section is your resume summary or resume objective. This is a two to three-sentence paragraph full of action verbs and short, snappy sentences that highlight your experience and best skills.

 

 

This section needs to showcase what skills you’ll use to provide support to the law office if you get hired. Here are some legal assistant skills that you’re likely to use:

• Gathering depositions
• Legal research skills
• Looking through case files and court filings
• Court document management
• Organizing pleadings
• Writing and signing affidavits
• Understanding legal terminology
• Filing subpoenas
• Managing spreadsheets (Microsoft Office Excel)
• Trial preparation
• Handling phone calls
• Time management
• Communication skills
• Interpersonal skills

Remember that in any legal assistant resume, you need to include both hard skills and soft skills. Be sure to closely reflect the skills featured in the job description as required skills.

 

 

If you have work experience in the legal industry, list it in this section. Include as much experience as possible, including relevant internship or volunteer work experience.

 

 

In this section, list your education whether you have an associate’s degree, bachelor’s degree or e a Paralegal Studies certificate

Do:

• Include experience that you have with specific software. If you are fluent with LexisNexis or Microsoft Excel, include that in your resume.
• Use metrics to create a clearer picture of what you can do for an organization. It’s better to use numbers to showcase your impact. For example: “Handled administrative duties for a legal firm of 50 employees.”
• Mention specific non-identifiable cases where you played a crucial role in the legal outcome. Terms like “Managed a death penalty case” or “Handled a $1 million lawsuit” can help you discuss these cases without mentioning names.

Don’t:

• Include completely unrelated professional experience. A hiring manager won’t care about your food service job from a few years ago, for example – but if you can show skills from your food service job that apply to administrative work, then include them.
• Try to create your own resume from scratch. The ResumeHelp resume builder will help you find a beautiful, professionally-designed template that you can use instead.
• Include identifying information from past clients on your resume. This may be a breach of contract or just generally seen as non-professional.