How to Write a Legal Assistant Resume
A legal assistant is not a lawyer but helps lawyers do their jobs. A legal assistant can do most of the tasks a lawyer does, from legal research to drafting documents and organizing courtroom presentations, but cannot represent a client in court or give legal advice. Legal assistants free up a lawyer's time. In some states, paralegals and legal assistants have optional registration programs with specific education and registration criteria that make job applicants more attractive. Whether you are registered through a state or national organization, your resume should show you have the education, experience and practice area knowledge to be an immediate asset to a law firm.
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Instructions
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Provide contact information. Like all resumes, a legal assistant resume must begin with the basic contact information that allows a potential employer to follow up with an interview or job offer. In addition to your name, provide a physical address, day and evening (or cell) phone numbers and email. In your cover letter, you mention which method is your preferred or best way to be reached.
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Write a strong objective. Most of a resume is devoted to listing factual information. The objective is one of the few places where you can write in complete sentences and distinguish yourself from other applicants. The strongest objective statements avoid cliches and instead take the opportunity to show how your skills and knowledge will directly benefit this particular employer. Understanding how the company's focus and needs match your abilities is the key to a persuasive objective.
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Present professional synopsis. The professional synopsis, or employment history, provides most of a resume's content. Your jobs should be listed in reverse chronological order starting from the most recent. You don't need to list every job you've ever had, unless they're highly relevant. In that case, it's OK to use more than one page. When describing each position, emphasize legal areas in which your skills have been applied, professional accomplishments and other illustrations of specific knowledge or ability directly applicable to a legal setting.
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List educational accomplishments. Any resume is going to include a section on education that includes degrees and awards earned. A legal assistant can also include any continuing legal education seminars, classes or training attended to underscore specific legal knowledge and skills. Registered paralegals in some states have strict education and certification requirements. List these and other credentials on your resume.
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Tips & Warnings
Choose your words carefully. A resume is intended to convey as much specific information as possible in as few words as possible. Avoid cliches. Use descriptive words and specific accomplishments to illustrate your abilities rather than just listing them. A legal assistant is often most effective when he has considerable knowledge of a particular practice area whether it is legal experience or not.
Avoid sending a form resume to all your potential employers. Instead, tailor a separate application to each firm, company or lawyer so that your skills and their needs are closely matched.
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