In a competitive legal job market, your resume isn’t just a summary of your experience—it’s your first impression with law firms, corporate legal departments, and recruiters. Whether you're applying for your first legal support role or looking to move up in your career, crafting a strong, professional resume can make all the difference.
This guide provides the best resume tips for legal assistants and paralegals, helping you effectively highlight the skills, achievements, and experience that matter most to employers.
1. Use a Professional Legal Resume Format
Legal employers value clarity, precision, and professionalism—qualities that should be reflected in your resume’s layout. Use a reverse chronological format, starting with your most recent experience, and avoid flashy designs or graphics.
Stick to classic fonts like Times New Roman or Calibri, use consistent spacing and margins, and organize your resume with clear section headers (Summary, Skills, Experience, Education). Keep your resume to one page if you have less than 10 years of experience; two pages are necessary if you have more than 10 years of experience.
A clean, well-organized resume not only makes you look professional but also ensures you pass applicant tracking systems (ATS) and make a strong first impression.
Key Formatting Tips:
- Use 11–12 pt font size for body text; 14–16 pt for headings
- Leave 0.5–1 inch margins on all sides
- Use bullet points for accomplishments—not paragraphs
- Bold section titles and employer names for quick scanning
- Save your resume as a PDF to preserve formatting unless instructed otherwise
2. Start with a Compelling Summary Statement
Your resume should open with a concise, attention-grabbing summary that quickly communicates who you are, what you specialize in, and the value you bring to a potential employer. This 2–4 sentence section sits at the top of your resume and acts like your personal elevator pitch—designed to hook the reader and make them want to learn more.
Unlike an objective statement (which focuses on what you want), a summary focuses on what you offer, highlighting your strengths, experience level, and legal competencies.
Why It Matters:
- Hiring managers often scan resumes in 10 seconds or less. A clear summary helps your resume stand out immediately.
- It’s your opportunity to tailor your resume to the job you’re applying for by aligning your skills with the employer’s needs.
- It sets the tone for the rest of your resume and highlights your most relevant qualifications upfront.
What to Include:
- Your current role or title (e.g., Paralegal, Legal Assistant, Litigation Support Professional)
- Years of experience in the legal field
- Specific legal areas you’ve worked in (e.g., family law, litigation, corporate law)
- A few key strengths (e.g., case management, legal writing, client service, attention to detail)
Example Summary Statements:
Entry-Level Legal AssistantMotivated and detail-oriented legal assistant with a paralegal certificate and hands-on internship experience in civil litigation. Skilled in client intake, legal research, and drafting discovery documents. Eager to contribute to a fast-paced legal team.
Experienced Paralegal
Seasoned litigation paralegal with over 7 years of experience supporting attorneys in personal injury and commercial law. Proven expertise in managing large caseloads, coordinating discovery, and preparing trial exhibits. Adept at navigating eFiling systems and legal case management software.
Corporate Legal Assistant
Efficient legal assistant with 5 years of experience supporting in-house counsel in corporate governance and contract review. Strong background in document drafting, calendar management, and maintaining confidential corporate records.
Pro Tip: Tailor your summary to the job posting whenever possible. Incorporate keywords from the listing and focus on the skills and experience the employer values most.
3. Tailor Your Resume to the Job Description
Every legal assistant or paralegal job has unique requirements, so your resume should reflect the specific skills, experience, and language mentioned in the job posting. Tailoring your resume helps you stand out and ensures you pass through applicant tracking systems (ATS) that scan for keyword matches.
Quick Tips:
- Mirror the job title and required skills in your summary and skills section
- Highlight experience in the same practice area (e.g., litigation, family law, real estate)
- Include legal software or procedural knowledge that the employer specifically requests
- Reword bullet points to reflect key responsibilities listed in the ad
Pro Tip: Save a version of your resume for each job you apply to. Small adjustments can make a big difference in getting noticed.
4. Showcase Your Legal Skills and Software Proficiency
Legal employers don’t just want to know where you’ve worked—they want to know what you can do. Highlighting your technical skills and software proficiency shows that you’re equipped to handle the demands of a fast-paced legal environment from day one.
Creating a dedicated “Skills” section near the top or side of your resume helps hiring managers quickly see your core competencies. It also improves your resume’s chances of passing through applicant tracking systems (ATS) that scan for specific keywords.
Key Legal Skills to Include:
Tailor your skills list to the type of legal work you're targeting, but consider including:
- Legal research and writing
- Document drafting and editing
- Filing (electronic and physical) and eFiling procedures
- Discovery support and trial preparation
- Calendar and deadline management
- Client intake and communication
- Case file organization
- Legal citation formatting (e.g., Bluebook)
Popular Legal Software to Highlight:
Firms seek legal assistants and paralegals who are tech-savvy and proficient in using common platforms. If you're proficient in any of the following, be sure to list them:
- Case Management: Clio, MyCase, PracticePanther, Rocket Matter
- Document Management: NetDocuments, iManage, Worldox
- Billing and Timekeeping: Timeslips, LEAP, Bill4Time
- Legal Research: Westlaw, LexisNexis, Casetext
- Productivity Tools: Microsoft Office Suite (especially Word and Outlook), Adobe Acrobat Pro
How to Format This Section:
You can list skills as bullet points or categorize them into Technical Skills and Legal Skills for added clarity.
Example:
Legal Skills
Drafting pleadings, motions, and discovery responses
- Civil litigation case management
- Client intake and interview support
Technical Skills
- Clio, NetDocuments, Timeslips
- Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook
- Westlaw, LexisNexis
Pro Tip: Only include skills you're confident using. Be ready to discuss or demonstrate them during an interview.
Bottom line: Showcasing your legal and technical skills helps you position yourself as a capable, efficient legal support professional—someone who can immediately add value to any legal team.
5. Use Accomplishment-Based Bullet Points
Instead of simply listing job duties, use bullet points that highlight your achievements and measurable impact. Start each bullet with a strong action verb and, whenever possible, include results that show how you added value.
Examples:
- Coordinated discovery for 25+ litigation cases, reducing document turnaround time by 30%.
- Drafted and proofread legal documents with 99% accuracy, contributing to successful case outcomes.
6. Highlight Relevant Education and Certifications
Your education and certifications are essential credentials that demonstrate your qualifications and commitment to a legal career. Whether you're a seasoned paralegal or just starting, clearly listing your academic background and any industry-recognized certifications can significantly enhance your resume.
Place this section near the bottom of your resume, unless you're an entry-level candidate, in which case it can follow your summary and skills.
What to Include:
Degree(s): List your degree, major, school name, and graduation year (optional if you have years of experience).Example: Associate of Science in Paralegal Studies, XYZ Community College, 2022
Paralegal Certificate: Especially important if you don’t have a legal degree. Indicate if the program was ABA-approved for added value.
Example: Paralegal Certificate – UCLA Extension (ABA-Approved), 2023
Certifications: If you’ve passed a national exam, include it in a separate Certifications section. Recognized credentials include:
- Certified Paralegal (CP) – NALA
- Advanced Certified Paralegal (ACP)
- PACE Registered Paralegal (RP) – NFPA
- Legal Secretary Specialist – NALS
Bonus Tip:
Include relevant coursework (e.g., Legal Research & Writing, Litigation, Contract Law) if you're a recent graduate or if the employer is looking for a specific practice area.
Bottom line: Highlighting your education and credentials assures employers that you have the legal foundation—and formal training—to support attorneys with confidence and competence.
7. Emphasize Practice Area Experience
Legal employers often seek candidates with experience in specific areas of law, such as litigation, family law, corporate, real estate, or immigration. Highlighting your practice area expertise shows that you're not only familiar with the legal terminology and procedures of that field, but also that you can jump in with minimal training.
Tailoring your resume to reflect this experience can significantly increase your chances of getting noticed, especially when applying to firms that specialize in a particular niche.
How to Showcase Practice Area Experience:
- Include it in your summary
Example: “Paralegal with 5+ years of experience in corporate and real estate law…” - Mention it under each job entry
Use bullet points to describe tasks specific to the practice area:
“Prepared lease agreements and reviewed title documents for commercial real estate transactions.” - Call it out in your skills section
Example: “Experience supporting attorneys in personal injury, family law, and workers’ compensation cases.”
Why It Matters:
- Specialization builds trust: Employers prefer candidates who already understand the nuances of their legal focus.
- It shortens the learning curve: Your familiarity with the court rules, document types, and client needs in a particular area allows you to contribute faster.
- You’ll stand out from generalists: Demonstrating focused experience sets you apart, especially in competitive markets.
Pro Tip: If you’ve worked in multiple practice areas, tailor your resume to match the specific job posting. Emphasize the practice area that aligns best with the employer’s needs.
8. Include Legal Internship or Volunteer Experience
If you're just starting your legal career—or transitioning from another field—internships and volunteer work can be just as valuable as paid positions. Many employers understand that early-career paralegals and legal assistants may not yet have years of experience, so they seek practical exposure to legal environments, even if the work is unpaid.
Including this type of experience shows initiative, a genuine interest in the field, and a willingness to gain hands-on training. It can also help demonstrate familiarity with legal procedures, client service, and office protocols.
How to Include It on Your Resume:
List internships and volunteer roles in the same format as paid positions, under your Experience section.
Example:
Legal InternSmith & Johnson LLP, San Diego, CA
May 2023 – August 2023
- Drafted client correspondence, discovery requests, and simple pleadings
- Assisted attorneys with trial preparation and document review
- Managed legal filing and case calendar updates
If you've volunteered with legal aid clinics, court self-help centers, or nonprofit organizations (e.g., those providing immigration support or housing rights), treat those roles with the same professionalism.
Pro Tip: If your internship involved a specific area of law (e.g., family law, immigration, bankruptcy), be sure to mention it. Experience in a practice area—whether paid or unpaid—is always a plus.
9. Keep Language Concise, Clear, and Professional
In the legal industry, communication is everything, and your resume is a reflection of how well you communicate. Hiring managers and attorneys often review dozens (or hundreds) of resumes at a time, so yours needs to be easy to read, clutter-free, and professionally written.
Legal resumes that are overly wordy, packed with jargon, or poorly structured can appear disorganized or inexperienced. On the other hand, a concise and well-written resume demonstrates attention to detail, one of the most important skills for any legal assistant or paralegal.
Best Practices for Clear and Professional Resume Writing:
- Use bullet points, not long paragraphs, to describe your experience
- Begin each bullet with an action verb (e.g., drafted, coordinated, managed, supported)
- Avoid filler words like “responsible for” or “worked on”—get straight to the result
- Be specific, but don’t overwhelm with unnecessary detail
- Use consistent formatting and professional font styles (e.g., Times New Roman, Calibri)
Examples:
Too Wordy:Responsible for organizing client case files in a way that made it easier for attorneys to access what they needed during trial preparation.
Improved:
Organized 100+ client case files to support efficient trial prep for three litigation attorneys.
Proofread Carefully:
- Double-check grammar, punctuation, and spelling
- Watch for legal-specific terms (e.g., “statute” vs. “statute”)
- Ask a trusted colleague or mentor to review it for tone and clarity
10. Add a Strong Cover Letter (Optional but Recommended)
While not every employer requires one, including a well-crafted cover letter can significantly enhance your job application, especially in the legal field, where writing and communication skills are highly valued. A cover letter gives you the opportunity to introduce yourself, explain your interest in the role, and connect your experience to the firm’s needs in a way your resume alone cannot.Many legal hiring managers use cover letters to assess an applicant’s attention to detail, professionalism, and enthusiasm for the position. Submitting one—even when optional—can give you a competitive edge.
Why a Cover Letter Matters:
- Personalizes your application: Demonstrates that you’ve researched the firm and understand its practice areas or values.
- Highlights key accomplishments: You can elaborate on a specific project, skill, or result that’s particularly relevant to the job.
- Demonstrates communication skills: Writing clearly and persuasively is essential in legal support roles, and your cover letter is proof that you can do both.
- Addresses employment gaps or career changes: If you’re transitioning roles or returning to the workforce, your cover letter gives you a chance to explain.
What to Include:
- A strong opening that states the position you’re applying for and grabs the reader’s attention
- A paragraph connecting your experience to the job posting—mention relevant practice areas, software, or legal tasks
- A brief explanation of why you want to work at that specific firm
- A closing paragraph thanking the employer and expressing enthusiasm for the opportunity
Example Snippet:
As a litigation paralegal with over five years of experience, I’ve managed discovery for multi-party lawsuits, coordinated trial prep under tight deadlines, and drafted key documents that helped shape case strategy. I am confident that my background supporting high-volume caseloads, combined with my proficiency in Clio and Westlaw, makes me a strong match for your litigation team.Tips for Success:
- Keep it to one page max
- Customize it for each job application
- Proofread meticulously—typos can disqualify even the strongest candidate
- Address the letter to a specific person, if possible
Bottom line: A strong cover letter adds personality, clarity, and professionalism to your application. While optional, it’s often your best chance to make a lasting impression, especially in the detail-oriented legal profession.
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Final Thoughts
A well-written resume is your ticket to standing out in a crowded legal job market. By focusing on relevant experience, legal skills, accomplishments, and professionalism, you show employers that you're more than just a good candidate—you’re the right one.
Pair your resume with a thoughtful cover letter, follow up on applications, and keep improving your skills to stay competitive.
