Legal assistants assist supervising lawyers in drafting contracts and prepare critical legal documents. They are tasked with supporting the supervising lawyer's arguments in the role of prosecution or defense. If you want to get a job in this field, you should look at a sample resume for legal assistant to get an idea of writing yours.
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics, or BLS, pegs the average
legal assistant’s salary
at $56,230 per year and $27.03 per hour.
A legal assistant's goal should be to climb up the ladder in the legal profession. To do so, you can use a legal assistant resume sample to create a resume that stands out. Here are some tips for using to create your legal assistant resume.
Best Format for a Legal Assistant Resume
The best legal assistant resume format to use when preparing your resume is the reverse-chronological format. Don't forget to look for some CV or resume examples before you start crafting your resume. You can find such samples on cv writing services.This is where you list your relevant work experience starting with the most recent positions and proceeding backward. It would be best if you listed all the places you've worked, the employers, titles held, time spent at each company, and your responsibilities.
Your resume for a legal assistant should not exceed two pages and stand out the most samples of other legal assistants or you can hire a professional executive resume writing service. This ensures that your resume only focuses on the relevant information because most recruiters do not have time to go through a lengthy resume.
Ensure that you start with a summary in your legal assistant resume highlighting your strong skillset to grab the hiring manager's attention. The reverse-chronological format allows the recruiter to see your legal assistant resume's experience, which confirms you are a specialist in your field.
This format also positions you for your next upward career step, especially if your work record shows constant growth. While this is the most popular format among most employers, it might not be the best if you have evident gaps in your work history or have little experience as a legal assistant.
Legal Assistant Resume Templates
A legal assistant position is a great way to get started in the legal field. Don't forget to start LinkedIn profile it will help you a lot in your career. If you want to stand out, your resume needs to be written in a proper format using a resume template for legal assistant that is easy to read. Let's look at some of the tips you need to keep in mind when writing your legal assistant resume from our professional legal writers.
- Use a font that is easy to read.
- Bold all the subheadings to allow the hiring manager to see them easily.
- Use a font size of 11pt or 12pt on regular text and 2-4pt larger for headings.
Legal Assistant Resume Objective or Resume Summary
A legal assistant resume objective focuses on the job seeker's goals, while a resume summary describes the goals that relate to the company's needs and shifts the focus from the job seeker. A legal statement resume summary helps to communicate and highlight your skills and the proven ways those skills helped you achieve some results in the previous workplaces.
Legal assistant resume objectives are introductory statements that highlight what the potential employee can do. They work well if you do not have a lot of experience that you can highlight as an entry-level legal assistant or if you are changing your career.
Legal Assistant Resume Summaries [Examples]
One of the best ways to come up with a compelling summary is to look at some legal assistant resume samples.
Example of a wrong resume summary:
"Qualified legal assistant with a wealth of experience in the field. Would love to join your organization to seek new challenges and keep growing professionally."
This summary is vague and does not quantify the candidate's achievements.
Right resume summary:
"Self-motivated legal assistant professional with 4+ years of experience helping lawyers draft contracts and other legal documents."
This summary is more likely to capture a recruiter's attention because it clearly shows the candidate’s value.
Legal Assistant Resume Objectives [Examples]
Wrong legal assistant resume objective:
"Looking for a legal assistant role where I can apply my skills. I'm a self-starter and can make a difference but don't have a lot of experience yet."
This objective only shows what the candidate wants but not what they can offer the company.
Right objective:
"Hard-working legal assistant skilled in customer service, and family law. Seeking to offer my research and customer support skills to ensure your clients are satisfied."
This objective is excellent because it states some of the strong traits the candidate possesses and shows what value they will offer.
A Legal Assistant Job Description for a Resume
Once you decide you want to get a legal assistant job, the next thing you do is look through various job boards to see if you'll get something that matches your skills. When you are preparing your legal assistant resume, use the right keywords in the legal assistant job description.
You want to mention the skills you have and tailor your resume to fit the job you are applying for. Some of the keywords you can use include legal advice, court proceedings, legal documents, law firm, and discovery responses. These skills are needed in your resume because they play a crucial role in showing the hiring manager what you can offer the company.
Remember to stay truthful when stating your skills but don't be afraid to use the job description to your advantage. Include some of the job description skills in your resume to increase your chances of landing an interview.
Legal Assistant Resume Examples [Experience]
A hairstylist checks a sample hairstylist resume experience to know what to add in their experience section. Let us look at some examples of experience on a legal assistant sample resume.
Example of the right legal assistant work experience:
- Processed 100 to 180 foreclosure files in a month and a half.
- Organized attorneys' calendars leading to a 15% decrease in missed appointments.
- Drafted 800+ professional letters ensuring 100% accuracy.
Example of the wrong legal assistant work experience:
- Trained and managed different people in the office.
- Minimized office expenses significantly.
- Drafted legal documents for attorneys in the office.
A Resume for Legal Assistant with no Experience
Applying for a job without experience can be intimidating but is not impossible. If you're starting as a legal assistant, don't be afraid to send your resume for a legal assistant with no experience. When writing your resume, start with a compelling and targeted objective that shows you are eager to work for them.
You’d also want to identify any transferable skills that you acquired at school or in your previous job. If they are relevant to the legal assistant position, include them. You should also emphasize your knowledge of the law and the excellent skills that will help you contribute to the company's operations.
Beginner Legal Assistant Resume Samples [No Experience]
Here are some legal assistant resume examples for beginners with no experience.
Wrong example:
No legal assistant experience, but I'm a meticulous researcher and a hard worker.
Other experience:
The example above doesn't show any skills earned that are transferrable to a legal assistant position.
Right example:
- Worked as an office assistant and assisted with filing and research work.
- Volunteered as a legal assistant at Brown and Joe.
- Worked as an intern at Gina Media attached to the magazine department.
This candidate shows that they have some skills learned from their previous jobs that are useful in a legal assistant position.
Education Section: What It Might Be
The education section is vital and should always be included in a legal assistant resume. Some of the things you should add in the legal assistant education section include the school's name and location, the years spent in school, and the degree acquired. In each section, add 3-5 bullet points and expound on the achievements that allow you to stand out for the position.
If you did not complete your degree, mention the classes or number of credits you did complete. You can leave out your high school education, but include it if that is the only education you have.
Legal Assistant Resume Examples [Education]
Let's look at some legal assistant resume samples and see how you should add your education to your legal assistant resume.
Right example:
Associate of Science in Paralegal Studies, Brazen College
2018
- Excelled in intellectual property law and was awarded the highest mark for the best project.
- Top student in legal research in my class.
BA in English, New England University
2012-2016
- Commended by three professors for attention to detail.
- Excelled in all the writing classes.
Wrong example:
BA in English, New England University
2012-2016
- I got a GPA of 3.0.
- I received a degree with a major in creative writing.
Skills on a Resume for a Legal Assistant
If you want to land an interview for a legal assistant position, you need to add the relevant legal assistant resume skills. These are essential because most companies use an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) to sort through applications and eliminate any candidate who does not have the required skills.
One way to beat this system is to look through the job description and include as many skills as possible in your resume. When writing your resume, you need to know the keywords to use when mentioning your legal assistant resume skills. Using these keywords increases your chance of landing the job.
You can also check legal assistant resume samples if you are unsure of which skills to include in your resume. It is vital to tailor your resume to fit the job you are applying for because using the same one for different jobs is bound to let you down.
Legal Assistant Resume Examples [Skills]
When you look at professional legal assistant resume examples, specific skills are required when applying for a legal assistant position like editing skills for a writer. These skills combine hard and soft skills and depend on the law firm and its specialization. If you want to craft a winning resume that will stand out, you'll need to include them in your resume.
Some of the skills you'll see in legal assistant resume samples include:
- Interpersonal skills.
- Intellectual property.
- Legal terminology.
- Family Law.
- Communication skills.
- Contractual agreements.
- Pleadings.
- Legal document preparation.
- Detail-oriented.
- Scheduling appointments.
- Knowledge of drafting contracts and wills.
- Proficiency with e-filing systems.
Tips How to Make Your Resume Stand Out
The demand for legal assistant jobs is high, so you need to ensure your resume stands out if you want to land a job. Some of the ways you can make your legal assistant resume stand out include:
- Adding professional certifications and awards to your resume.
- Let professional editing service to review it.
- If you volunteered in a company and gained experience relevant to the legal assistant position you are applying for, you should include it in your resume.
The legal assistant resume sections should always include these additions because they make all the difference when applying for a job and help you get your dream job.
Legal Assistant Resume Examples [Other Sections]
If you want to submit your resume for legal assistant jobs, you can include an additional section that features your interests and hobbies. Here are some examples of additional sections in a professional legal assistant resume.
Wrong example:
- I love listening to music.
- I love hanging out with my friends on weekends.
Right example:
Publications
- Interviewed by About the Law podcast about contractual law.
Conferences
- I spoke on a panel about contractual law at the NALS Conference 2016.
Additional activities
- Volunteer thrice a month at Nyumbani Homeless shelter.
- I go to the gym four times a week as part of self-care.
Key Takeaway
Here is an overview of how to write a legal assistant resume:
- Write a compelling legal assistant resume summary or objective and include information that shows the value you will offer the company.
- Always read the job description and tailor your resume to fit the legal assistant job you are applying for. Remember to include all the relevant keywords stated in the job description in your resume.
- Add other sections that prove you possess legal assistant skills. List all your volunteer work, publications, certifications, and professional associations as these set you apart and increase your chances of landing the job.
- Let professional lawyer resume writing service help you if you need it.
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