Legal Assistant Resume Examples & Templates
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Legal assistants, often called paralegals, provide crucial support in law firms. They conduct legal research, prepare documents, manage schedules, act as liaisons between attorneys and clients, and more.
Follow the guide below to create a resume for a legal assistant that showcases your best qualities and secures an interview.
You can start by editing our legal assistant resumes, or exploring our library of resume templates to find one that matches your style.
Legal Assistant Resume Example (Text Version)
Liam Torres
San Francisco, CA 94110
(555) 555-5555
example@example.com
Resume Objective
Proactive legal secretary with three years of experience in litigation support and administrative tasks. Skilled in managing case schedules, transcribing legal documents and coordinating with court officials. Contributed to successful outcomes in high-profile cases by assisting with trial preparation. Recognized for improving attorney productivity by 10% through effective time management, now aiming to transition into a legal assistant role focused on client service and operational efficiency.
Skills
- Case file management
- Client communication
- MS Office
- Adaptability
- Legal research
- Data security
- Legal software: Clio, LexisNexis, Westlaw
- Time management
Professional Skills
Document Preparation and Management
- Drafted and formatted over 50 legal documents monthly, including contracts, affidavits and pleadings, with 98% accuracy.
- Reduced document retrieval time by 30% by implementing a new electronic filing system.
- Managed a filing system of over 2,000 legal documents, ensuring 100% compliance with data retention policies.
Calendar Management and Scheduling
- Maintained and updated calendars for five attorneys, ensuring zero conflicts with court dates and deadlines.
- Organized travel arrangements for legal teams, resulting in a 10% reduction in travel costs.
- Increased scheduling efficiency by 25% using specialized legal calendaring software.
Court Filing and Legal Procedures
- Filed over 500 legal documents annually, ensuring all deadlines were met with zero late submissions.
- Successfully tracked and recorded case developments, maintaining 100% compliance with jurisdictional requirements.
- Coordinated court appearances for attorneys, leading to a 15% reduction in missed hearings.
Work History
Legal Secretary, 06/2021 to Current
Colman Perkins Law Group – San Francisco, CA
Education
Bachelor of Arts: Legal Studies, 06/2021
The University of California, Berkeley – Berkeley
Important Resume Sections
Contact information
Begin writing your resume by including your contact details at the top of the page. Include the following information:
- Full name
- City
- State
- ZIP code
- Phone number
- Professional email address
If you have a LinkedIn profile, online portfolio or professional website, add those as well.
Resume summary
Your resume summary serves as your professional introduction to the employer. The goal is to hook the hiring manager into reading the rest of your resume. In no more than three sentences, highlight the most significant skills and achievements that qualify you for the role.
Here is a sample legal assistant resume summary:
“Detail-oriented and organized legal assistant with over three years of experience providing comprehensive support to attorneys in fast-paced law firms. Proficient in legal research, drafting legal documents, case management, and client communication. Adept at managing high-volume caseloads, preparing court filings, and coordinating with various legal professionals.”
If you’re starting or are changing careers, use a legal assistant resume objective instead.
Skills
The skills section is another opportunity to show the hiring manager your top qualifications. Include six to eight soft skills and hard skills relevant to the role.
Here are six legal assistant resume skills:
- Legal research: Legal assistants must be skilled in conducting thorough research on legal precedents, statutes, and case law to support attorneys in developing case strategies and preparing for trials or hearings.
- Document drafting: Experience drafting legal documents such as pleadings, contracts, briefs, and affidavits, ensuring accuracy and compliance with legal standards.
- Case management: Proficiency in managing case files from inception to resolution, including organizing evidence, coordinating with experts, and maintaining detailed case records.
- Court filing procedures: Legal assistants must be knowledgeable in preparing and electronically filing legal documents with courts, adhering to all deadlines and procedural requirements.
- Client communication: Strong interpersonal skills allow legal assistants to communicate effectively with clients, schedule appointments, gather information, and provide updates on case progress.
- Attention to detail: Demonstrated ability to review legal documents meticulously for accuracy and completeness, ensuring that all details are correctly captured to avoid potential errors.
Work history
Your resume’s work history section lists relevant employment experiences in reverse chronological order. Always include the respective company names, dates and locations.
When applicable, write measurable accomplishments to show your ability to go above and beyond your job duties.
Here’s an example:
Legal Assistant | Arnold Law Firm
Providence, RI | June 2020 – Present- Conducted comprehensive legal research for over 50 cases annually, providing attorneys with relevant case law and precedents, contributing to a 95% success rate in motions filed.
- Prepared and filed over 150 court documents, including briefs, motions, and subpoenas, with zero filing errors or missed deadlines over two years.
- Assisted in trial preparation for 25+ cases, organizing exhibits, evidence, and witness coordination, resulting in a 20% reduction in attorney preparation time and improved case efficiency.
Education
While a degree is not always a strict requirement to become a legal assistant, it is highly beneficial and often preferred by employers. Write the institution’s name, degree, and graduation year in your educational background. See how it might look:
University of Rhode Island
Bachelors in Political Science
June 2019
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Action Words for Your Resume
Action verbs help you effectively communicate your impact in the workplace while displaying confidence and reducing wordiness.
Consider adding these action verbs to your legal assistant resume:
- Analyze
- Assist
- Coordinate
- Draft
- Evaluate
- File
- Gather
- Investigate
- Manage
- Organize
- Prepare
- Research
- Review
- Schedule
- Summarize
- Verify
Browse our 800+ resume examples to gather inspiration for your legal assistant resume.
Best Skills for Your Resume
Read the job posting carefully to identify the crucial skills required for the role. Here are a few examples of skills for a legal assistant resume:
- Litigation support
- Discovery management
- Deposition coordination
- Westlaw/LexisNexis proficiency
- Case law analysis
- Witness preparation
- Courtroom procedures
- Legal transcription
- Settlement agreement preparation
- Notary public services
- Task prioritization
- Legal correspondence
- Communication skills
- Problem-solving skills
- Adaptability
- Collaboration
- Time management skills
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Certifications for Your Resume
Including certifications in your resume for a legal assistant shows a commitment to honing your skills and achieving professional growth.
Here are some certifications a legal assistant might include in their resume:
- Certified Paralegal (CP)
- National Certified Legal Assistant (NALA)
- Notary Public Certification
- Registered Paralegal (RP)
- Certified E-Discovery Specialist (CEDS)
Ensure that you list the full name of the certification, the issuing organization, and the date obtained. If you have multiple certifications, list them in a separate section.
Pair your resume with a matching cover letter
FAQ
What is a good objective for a legal assistant resume?
A resume objective is an excellent alternative for candidates starting their careers or recently switched industries. Here’s an example of a practical legal assistant resume objective:
“Detail-oriented and motivated legal assistant with over two years of experience providing comprehensive support in fast-paced legal environments. Seeking to leverage strong research, organizational, and communication skills to assist attorneys in delivering exceptional legal services. Committed to maintaining accuracy and efficiency while ensuring adherence to legal standards and deadlines.”
How do you describe a legal assistant on a resume?
A legal assistant is a professional with a diverse skill set and extensive law knowledge who can handle various administrative tasks specializing in law procedures to help manage their employer’s caseload.
When describing a legal assistant on a resume, highlight administrative skills and law expertise that allowed you to acquire knowledge and hone those skills.
See our legal assistant resume sample to learn more.
What’s the best format for a legal assistant resume?
A standard legal assistant resume format is well-organized and maximizes readability. Follow these formatting tips to ensure your resume is optimized:
- Use bold headings and subheadings to divide resume sections.
- Select a professional font such as Times New Roman, Arial or Calibri.
- Write in 10 to 12 points for body text and 14 for headings.
- Use reverse chronological order for every resume section.
Best Practices
- Tailor your resume to the target legal assistant position.
- Include keywords from the job description throughout your resume.
- Format your resume so that it is easily readable by ATS software and human eyes.
- Keep your resume length to one page.
- Create a generic legal assistant resume.
- Include professional references.
- Over-stylize your resume.
- Forget to proofread.
Interview Tips
Research the firm
Arriving at your interview with knowledge of the law firm and its practices will show the employer your enthusiasm for the opportunity. Additionally, it will help you evaluate if the position is the right fit for you.
Here are some areas to focus on:
- Practice areas: Research the firm’s primary practice area, such as criminal law, family law, corporate law, etc. Knowing this will help you tailor your answers and determine whether they align with your interests.
- Notable cases: Look for any high-profile cases, notable clients or major projects the firm has worked on recently. By mentioning these, you can show that you’re well prepared and can assess if you agree with their methods.
- Culture and values: Learn the firm’s mission statement and work culture. This can help you convey how you fit with their organizational values.
Practice common interview questions
Practice how you would respond to common interview questions to understand better how you wish to portray yourself in your interview and gain confidence.
Here are some common interview questions to consider:
Prepare questions for the interviewer
Interviewers always ask if you have any questions for them. Take advantage of the opportunity to clarify anything left out of the discussion and decide if the role fits your career. Write at least three questions for the interviewer.
Here are a few to consider:
- What type of cases or projects would I primarily be working on?
- How do attorneys and legal assistants collaborate on cases?
- How would you describe the firm’s work culture?
- What legal software or tools does the firm use for case management, legal research, and document preparation?
Bring references
Professional references will be handy if the hiring manager decides to proceed with your application. Create a list of two former colleagues and a former manager willing to vouch for your abilities to perform the legal assistant role.
Cover letter examples for the next step in your law career
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Natalia is a Certified Professional Resume Writer and member of the Professional Association of Resume Writers & Career Coaches. She is committed to helping job seekers navigate the job market and succeed in their careers.
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