Paralegals are an important part of the legal industry, helping lawyers keep track of their daily activities and schedule. When law firms hire a new legal assistant, they want to find someone who has the skills and independence to meet the demands of the industry. Lawyers look for specific skills, experience and other qualifications in the field of legal assistant when sorting applications. A legal assistant must balance researching and creating high-quality documents with typical secretarial tasks such as greeting visitors and managing phones. While the number of vacancies for paralegals and paralegals is expected to increase, competition for positions will continue to be highly competitive. A resume that highlights your experience in helping lawyers prepare for hearings, lawsuits, and corporate meetings can help you stand out from other candidates. Below are tips for writing an effective resume for paralegals and how to tailor a resume to a specific job description. Highly effective legal assistant with over eight years of experience and in-depth knowledge of regulatory procedures and support required in the legal environment. Client-oriented and IT expert with proven experience of exemplary performance in a high-pressure law firm. Skilled in creating or reviewing a range of legal documents, including court records and injunctions. For years, I wanted to work exclusively in intellectual property law. At Reiger, Reiger & Wolff, I have done more than 50 trademark searches and prepared more than 200 legal documents, many of them in the field of intellectual property. Instead of saying you “participated” in a project, explain what you did.
Some examples of wording in the curriculum vitae of paralegals are the statement that you “organize” cases, “support” lawyers and “develop” procedures. Using these specific verbs instead of generic words gives hiring managers a better idea of your actual role and responsibilities to previous employers. Your resume as a legal assistant should be written taking into account the time of your potential employer. You`re busy and want a legal assistant to help them keep their office organized, so write your resume accordingly. Writing a resume for paralegals can be easy if you know what lawyers need. Read on to find out what to include and how to structure your next resume. If you have your paralegal certificate, list it first before doing your other training: Enthusiastic Legal Assistant looking for a new opportunity. Very competent in real estate law. An extremely hard worker who thrives in a fast-paced environment. But let`s face it, being a legal assistant can be one of the most stressful jobs.
Dealing with tight deadlines, difficult clients and demanding lawyers throughout the day is exhausting at best. Maybe if you want to work for Slippin` Jimmy. But you want the position of a solid legal assistant. Work like Ropes & Gray or Foley Hoag. Of course, you will show the preparation of legal documents, audiovisual skills and planning in your list of skills, as well as a few others. For example: “Experienced legal assistant who wants to use her secretarial and research skills at Brown LLP. More than 7 years of secretarial experience include supporting a law firm with four lawyers, implementing a paperless file storage system and reducing costs by 17%. For example, this CURRICULUM VITAE includes an excellent combination of experience and soft skills that highlights the assistant`s past achievements. The art of writing a resume for paralegals is to explain how you have these attributes. You should present your technical and non-technical skills, highlight all relevant certifications, and put your previous experiences in context.
There`s a delicate balance between explaining your background and allowing your resume to speak for itself. Then the employer will know that you are qualified, even if they go through your resume for legal assistant jobs. Should you include scholarships in a resume for legal assistant jobs? Internships? Software? Foreign languages? Read our guide: What to write on a resume (good things to include) If you`re creating a resume for paralegals or law students, you should move on to our special guides: Pro Tip: Can`t you get a job with a resume for real estate or immigration assistants? Consider taking a job as a legal secretary and working it. You can get a paralegal certificate in just 14 weeks. Is it easy to add contact information to a legal advisor`s resume? Imagine kevin wanting someone with writing skills and a detail-oriented mindset. The first of our sample CVs for paralegals sets a precedent: legal assistant with excellent communication and interpersonal skills and extensive experience in case preparation, as well as knowledge of litigation. Experience is one of the most valuable qualities a legal assistant can have. Use accurate language and quantifiable data on your resume to explain your past experience to potential employers. List your job titles, the companies you worked for, and the dates you worked there.
Next, list your responsibilities and accomplishments based on their relevance to your application. The demand for paralegals and paralegals is increasing as clients push for cheaper legal services and law firms try to cut costs. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the labor market for paralegals is expected to grow by 10 percent (or about 35,300 jobs) from 2019 to 2029. Paralegals and paralegals can perform many of the tasks previously performed by junior lawyers. We analyzed countless CVs of legal assistants. Our analysis revealed which resume elements are absolutely crucial to getting the attention of hiring managers and, more importantly, the most common mistakes you should avoid on your resume. This profession needs a legal assistant CV that stands out like a tailor-made Brioni in a sea of T-shirts. Pro Tip: If you use LinkedIn as your job search page, you`ll get lists of paralegals or legal administration assistants for each job posting. These are exactly the skills the employer wants. Someone who “needs a job”? Or – a legal assistant who cares more about her job than Jack McCoy? It is for a job that wants skills in (1) preparing legal documents, (2) audiovisual systems and (3) making appointments.
The easiest way to highlight your certificates and training is to place them in a separate section. A special title about your relevant education shows your commitment to your career. You can also highlight important resume keywords for paralegals. As a legal assistant, you serve the community by helping clients get justice through the legal system. Legal assistants are the backbone of any good law firm. Pro Tip: Did you only work as a receptionist for a few months? Remove it from your CV for legal administrative assistants. Use the section to show how far you`ve progressed in more relevant jobs. Associate in Applied Science in Paralegal Studies Oakland Community College, Bloomfield Hills, MI, September 2016 to May 2018 Why does the word “PS” on a cover letter ask the hiring manager to read your resume as a legal assistant? Read our guide: How to Write a Good Cover Letter for Any Job Read these five free resume examples for paralegals and free resume writing tips to give you more interviews in 2022. It could miss your excellent certification if you hide it on your resume for legal assistant jobs. The demand for paralegals is skyrocketing. So, can you scribble your resume at the edge of a letter and get the job? Versatile professional with over 20 years of experience in complex legal matters, extensive administrative functions and unique translation roles.
Proven ability to manage office functions, provide management-level support and facilitate the smooth running of legal operations in various sectors. Maintains strong business relationships and communicates effectively with people from different backgrounds. Writing a professional profile that summarizes your experience and details your skills is a great way to introduce yourself to hiring managers and differentiate yourself from other candidates. When writing your professional profile, be sure to highlight the key qualities and skills of a legal assistant and, if possible, quantify them. No one will hire a legal assistant without experience. Leverage an initial 2-week assignment in a 9-month contract in collaboration with the General Counsel to ensure compliance with all legal, regulatory, business, and financial requirements, including reviewing, updating, and reviewing standard contracts, project files, master service agreements, and non-disclosure agreements. Many companies use applicant tracking systems (ATS) to collect and evaluate resumes. These systems often scan resumes for specific keywords and phrases, including key competencies and action verbs, to identify a match for a position. To grab the attention of hiring managers, you need to include these key skills and qualifications in your resume. A resume that lacks certain keywords and phrases may never exceed an ATS, no matter how qualified you are.
Below are some common key skills and action verbs for paralegal and paralegal resumes. Law firms have also started calling legal secretaries legal assistants. A legal brief begins with a brief description of the case. What is the difference between a paralegal and a legal assistant? Good question! Pro Tip: Even without experience, you can have a killer resume. Fill it with positions you had at school (assistant, intern, projects, part-time jobs).