Paralegal and Legal Assistant Resume Example
Professional resume template and tips for Paralegal and Legal Assistant positions
Are you aiming to launch or advance your career as a paralegal and legal assistant? This comprehensive guide provides the practical roadmap you need. We detail the daily responsibilities, from drafting legal documents to meticulous case research, and outline the essential technical proficiencies, like Microsoft Office and legal databases such as Westlaw. You'll also discover the critical soft skills, like critical thinking and time management, that top law firms value. Beyond the job description, we offer actionable strategies to develop your expertise in law and administration, plus tips for crafting a resume that gets noticed. Use these insights to build your professional foundation and create a standout resume with Mokaru.
KATHERINE COOPER
Professional Summary
Paralegal and Legal Assistant with 5+ years supporting complex civil litigation for a mid-size firm. Prepared and filed over 200 pleadings and motions, achieving a 98% acceptance rate by courts. Proficient in legal research, document drafting, and Microsoft Office for case management.
Skills
Experience
- Orchestrated the transition from a paper-based to a fully digital filing system using Microsoft SharePoint and Adobe Acrobat, reducing document retrieval time by 35% for the entire litigation team
- Leveraged critical thinking and active learning to analyze complex case law, directly contributing to the strategic direction of three high-stakes corporate litigation cases that concluded favorably
- Mentored a team of 4 junior paralegals, enhancing their legal writing and social perceptiveness skills, which improved overall department efficiency by 20%
- Owned the preparation and critical review of over 200 real estate closing statements and contracts using Microsoft Word, ensuring 100% accuracy and compliance ahead of deadlines
- Collaborated with attorneys and investigators to monitor case developments, utilizing active listening to synthesize client interviews into compelling affidavits and briefs
- Managed the trial preparation for 15+ cases by organizing all physical and digital exhibits in Microsoft Access, streamlining the attorney's access to key evidence
- Supported senior paralegals by conducting initial fact investigations using online public records, compiling findings into concise reports for case strategy meetings
- Executed the preparation and distribution of routine legal correspondence and court filings via Microsoft Outlook, ensuring timely delivery for 50+ active cases
- Learned and applied Adobe Acrobat skills to electronically organize and Bates-stamp over 5,000 pages of discovery documents for a major litigation matter
Education
Certificates
- Certified Paralegal (CP)
- Advanced Certified Paralegal (ACP)
- NALA Certified Paralegal
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What does a Paralegal and Legal Assistant do?
A Paralegal and Legal Assistant performs various tasks on a daily basis. Here are the core responsibilities you can expect in this role:
- Prepare affidavits or other documents, such as legal correspondence, and organize and maintain documents in paper or electronic filing system.
- Prepare, edit, or review legal documents, including legislation, briefs, pleadings, appeals, wills, contracts, and real estate closing statements.
- Investigate facts and law of cases and search pertinent sources, such as public records and internet sources, to determine causes of action and to prepare cases.
- Prepare for trial by performing tasks such as organizing exhibits.
- Meet with clients and other professionals to discuss details of cases.
What skills do you need as a Paralegal and Legal Assistant?
Employers hiring for Paralegal and Legal Assistant positions look for candidates with a strong combination of technical and soft skills. Here are the most important skills to highlight on your resume:
What knowledge areas are important for a Paralegal and Legal Assistant?
Beyond skills and tools, employers value candidates with deep knowledge in these areas. Consider highlighting relevant coursework, certifications, or experience:
How do I write a great Paralegal and Legal Assistant resume?
Creating an effective Paralegal and Legal Assistant resume requires focusing on what employers in the Legal sector value most.
Use relevant keywords
ATS systems scan for specific terms. Include these keywords naturally throughout your resume:
Quantify your impact
When describing how you "prepare affidavits or other documents, such as legal correspondence, and organize and maintain documents in paper or electronic filing system", include metrics like percentages, team sizes, budgets, or project scope to demonstrate real results.
Showcase technical proficiency
Highlight hands-on experience with Microsoft Word, Microsoft Office software, Microsoft Excel and any law and government certifications that validate your expertise.
Match the experience level
For Paralegal and Legal Assistant roles, employers typically expect usually requires trade school, apprenticeship, or 2-year degree. Highlight matching qualifications prominently at the top of your resume.
Example bullet points
Here are some strong bullet points you could adapt for your Paralegal and Legal Assistant resume:
- Orchestrated the transition from a paper-based to a fully digital filing system using Microsoft SharePoint and Adobe Acrobat, reducing document retrieval time by 35% for the entire litigation team
- Leveraged critical thinking and active learning to analyze complex case law, directly contributing to the strategic direction of three high-stakes corporate litigation cases that concluded favorably
- Mentored a team of 4 junior paralegals, enhancing their legal writing and social perceptiveness skills, which improved overall department efficiency by 20%
How to use AI to improve your Paralegal and Legal Assistant resume
AI tools like ChatGPT can be incredibly helpful when crafting your Paralegal and Legal Assistant resume. They can help you brainstorm achievements, rephrase bullet points for impact, identify missing keywords, and tailor your content to specific job descriptions.
However, AI is not perfect. Always proofread the output carefully. AI can sometimes make factual errors, use generic language, or miss the nuances of your specific experience. Think of AI as a helpful assistant, not a replacement for your own judgment.
AI Resume Prompt
You are a senior recruiter with 15+ years of experience in technical hiring and resume optimization. You have reviewed thousands of resumes for Paralegal and Legal Assistant positions and know exactly what hiring managers and ATS systems look for.
Your task:
Analyze my resume for a Paralegal and Legal Assistant position and provide concrete, actionable feedback to maximize my chances.
Job description:
[paste the job description here]
Provide feedback on the following:
- Match analysis: Which requirements from the job description ARE and ARE NOT reflected in my resume?
- Quantification: Which bullet points lack concrete numbers/metrics? Provide examples of how I can rewrite them.
- Keywords: Which technical terms from the job description (such as Microsoft Word, Microsoft Office software, Microsoft Excel, etc.) are missing or could be more prominent?
- Impact statements: Rewrite my 3 weakest bullet points using the STAR format (Situation, Task, Action, Result)
- ATS optimization: What adjustments will increase my score in Applicant Tracking Systems?
- Priorities: Give me a top-5 of changes that will make the biggest difference, ranked by impact.
Be direct and critical - I want honest feedback, not compliments.
Why use Mokaru instead? At Mokaru, we have invested extensive research into our AI prompts and continuously update them based on recruiter feedback and ATS testing. Our AI resume builder handles the complexity for you: optimizing for ATS systems, matching job descriptions, and ensuring professional formatting, so you can focus on landing interviews.
Legal Assistant Resume Example
Looking for a Legal Assistant resume instead? The skills and experience are very similar to a Paralegal and Legal Assistant. Here is an example you can use as inspiration:
MARK REED
Summary
Paralegal and Legal Assistant with 5+ years supporting complex civil litigation for a mid-size firm. Prepared and filed over 200 pleadings and motions, achieving a 98% acceptance rate by courts. Proficient in legal research, document drafting, and Microsoft Office for case management.
Skills
Experience
- Orchestrated the transition from a paper-based to a fully digital filing system using Microsoft SharePoint and Adobe Acrobat, reducing document retrieval time by 35% for the entire litigation team
- Leveraged critical thinking and active learning to analyze complex case law, directly contributing to the strategic direction of three high-stakes corporate litigation cases that concluded favorably
- Mentored a team of 4 junior paralegals, enhancing their legal writing and social perceptiveness skills, which improved overall department efficiency by 20%
- Owned the preparation and critical review of over 200 real estate closing statements and contracts using Microsoft Word, ensuring 100% accuracy and compliance ahead of deadlines
- Collaborated with attorneys and investigators to monitor case developments, utilizing active listening to synthesize client interviews into compelling affidavits and briefs
- Managed the trial preparation for 15+ cases by organizing all physical and digital exhibits in Microsoft Access, streamlining the attorney's access to key evidence
- Supported senior paralegals by conducting initial fact investigations using online public records, compiling findings into concise reports for case strategy meetings
- Executed the preparation and distribution of routine legal correspondence and court filings via Microsoft Outlook, ensuring timely delivery for 50+ active cases
- Learned and applied Adobe Acrobat skills to electronically organize and Bates-stamp over 5,000 pages of discovery documents for a major litigation matter
Education
Certifications
- Certified Paralegal (CP)
- Advanced Certified Paralegal (ACP)
- NALA Certified Paralegal
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