Legal Assistant Resume Example and Templates

Ready to take the legal world by storm and make your mark as a stellar legal assistant? Your first step towards career triumph starts with an impressive legal assistant resume.

Legal assistants are the backbone of a legal team, providing vital support and contributing to the success of the cases they work on.

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This guide will show you how to weave together your legal skills, experiences, and unique traits into a captivating document. Get ready to unlock opportunities, dazzle hiring managers, and pave the way for an exciting legal assistant journey.

Let's dive into the art of composing a winning resume!

Legal Assistant Resume Examples

Corporate Legal Assistant Resume Template

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Entry-Level Legal Assistant Resume Example

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Experienced Legal Assistant Resume Example

Adrien Narcisse

adrien-narcisse@email.com | 504-528-1577 | New Orleans, LA

Summary:

Dynamic and detail-oriented Legal Assistant with a Juris Doctor degree from Tulane University of Louisiana, complemented by a Master of Business Administration (MBA) and a Bachelor of Arts in Legal Studies. Proven expertise in legal research, case management, and administrative support. Recipient of the Certified Legal Assistant (CLA) certification.

Education:

Juris Doctor (JD), Tulane University of Louisiana, New Orleans, LA, May 2019

Master of Business Administration (MBA), University of New Orleans, New Orleans, LA, May 2017

Bachelor of Arts in Legal Studies, University of New Orleans, New Orleans, LA, May 2015

Professional Experience:

Legal Assistant

JJC Law, New Orleans, LA, June 2019 - Present

• Conduct comprehensive legal research, contributing to successful case outcomes.
• Draft and edited legal documents, including motions, pleadings, and correspondence.
• Manage case files, ensuring timely filings and compliance with procedural requirements.
• Facilitate communication between clients, opposing counsel, and court personnel.
• Coordinate client meetings, witness interviews, and deposition schedules.

Business Development Analyst

Parker & Elder Law, New Orleans, LA, August 2015 - May 2019

• Conducted market research and analysis to identify business growth opportunities.
• Assisted in the development of business plans and strategies to expand the firm's client base.
• Collaborated with attorneys on the implementation of marketing initiatives.
• Prepared reports and presentations for client pitches and internal strategy meetings.

Legal Intern

Nearby Notary LLC, New Orleans, LA, January 2015 - May 2015

• Assisted in the preparation of legal documents, such as memoranda and briefs.
• Conducted legal research on relevant statutes, regulations, and case law.
• Supported attorneys in trial preparation, focusing on document organization and exhibit preparation.
• Maintained organized legal files, ensuring quick retrieval of critical information.
• Provided administrative support, managing phones, scheduling appointments, and handling correspondence.

Awards:

Outstanding Legal Professional Award

Louisiana Legal Professionals Association

• Date of Award: March 2020

Skills:

• Legal research and writing;
• Case management;
• Notarial processes and document authentication;
• Business development analysis;
• Client interaction;
• Data protection laws and regulations.

Mid-Level Legal Assistant Resume Sample

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Sample resume for immigration legal assistants

Jacob Reed

jacob-reed@email.com | 205-299-9602 | Birmingham, AL

Objective:

Detail-oriented and experienced Immigration Legal Assistant seeking to contribute strong organizational skills, legal knowledge, and dedication to client service in a dynamic immigration law firm.

Education:

Bachelor of Arts in Political Science | Samford University (Homewood, AL)

• Minor: Legal Studies
• GPA: 3.90
• Graduation date: May 2021

Certifications:

• Immigration Law Training | Mennonite Central Committee, 2022
• Certified Paralegal (CP) | American Paralegal Association, 2021

Professional Experience:

Immigration Legal Assistant | Greenfield & Associates (Birmingham, AL)
February 2022 - Present

• Assist immigration attorneys with preparing and filing immigration petitions for H-1B applications, and other legal documents such as I-130, I-485, etc.
• Conduct legal research on immigration laws, regulations, and procedural requirements.
• Communicate with clients to gather necessary information and documents for cases.
• Maintain case files, ensuring all documentation is accurate, up-to-date, and organized.
• Prepare correspondence and draft legal documents under attorney supervision.
• Schedule client appointments, court dates, and USCIS interviews.
• Assist in translating documents and interpreting during client meetings as needed.

Legal Intern | Smith & Partners (Birmingham, AL)
June 2021 - January 2022

• Provided administrative support to attorneys, including drafting correspondence and organizing case files.
• Conducted initial client interviews and intake assessments.
• Researched legal issues and prepared memoranda on various immigration law topics.
• Assisted in preparing legal documents for filing with USCIS and immigration courts.
• Participated in client meetings and observed court proceedings.

Skills:

• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint)
• Strong knowledge of immigration law and procedures
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal
• Ability to prioritize tasks and manage time effectively in a fast-paced environment
• Bilingual proficiency in Spanish, with experience in translation and interpretation

Professional Affiliations:

• Member, American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) | since 2023
• Member, Birmingham Paralegal Association | since 2022

References:

Available upon request.

Contact Information

There are over 426,833 employed legal assistants and paralegals in the United States, according to National Today.

While putting down contact information on a legal assistant's resume, it is necessary to be brief and direct. Refrain from excessive descriptions of your personal life facts.

The following data is essential for your paralegal resume:

• Name. Indicate your full name with the correct spelling and capitalization.
• Address. Display your current address or provide your city, state, and zip code.
• Phone number. Provide a number that you can be reached at or a valid voicemail.
• Email address. Give an appropriate email.
• Website URL. If applicable, attach a site showcasing your skills or credentials.
• LinkedIn profile. Include a hyperlink to your LinkedIn.

The inclusion of all this information on your resume will make sure HR can easily identify your application among others. It also gives employers a way to contact you directly if they have questions or need more information from you.

Legal Assistant Experience

It is imperative to structure your work background in the most advantageous way possible. Starting with the most recent experience, list each of your entries in reverse chronological order. This will provide employers with an overview of your career in a brief and organized manner.

For each job history entry, you should add the name of your employer, location, job title, and dates employed. Also, enumerate any key duties or achievements that you've had in your previous roles.

Carrying this out facilitates employers to rapidly examine the resume and comprehend what talents you possess.

Employers will understand your accomplishments and value to the company if you invest the time into clearly structuring your resume. Ensure that your resume grabs attention by incorporating the above tips.

Legal assistants are projected to grow 14% from 2021 to 2031, faster than the average for all occupations, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Education

When constructing a legal assistant resume, keep your academic background properly organized. Focus on including the most pertinent data that can describe you in the best way.

It's best to arrange your education chronologically, starting with your most recent degree or certification.

To help you craft an effective resume, here are some listing tips:

• Start with your highest degree.
• State the school's name, location, degree, and year of completion.
• If you have more than one certification, rank them in reverse chronological order.
• Remember to add any courses you have taken that are analogous to the field of law.
• If you have any honors or awards related to your education, include them.
• Don't forget to record internships or extracurricular activities you may have had.

Look at the below legal assistant resume sample that demonstrates how you might list your education history:

By applying the mentioned tips you will definitely make your education history demonstrate that you're a qualified legal professional.

Legal Assistant Skills

It is crucial to incorporate both hard and soft skills to show that you're a well-rounded candidate.

Hard skills are those that can be measured and are specific to the job. Soft skills are more personal qualities that make someone successful in their role.

Resume Summary

According to Statista, legal assistants in the United States earn an average annual salary of approximately $63,000.

A good legal assistant resume summary should concentrate on the key points of your career journey that make you the best-suited contestant. It should be concise and to the point, engagingly presenting your information.

These are 3 strategies for crafting an impressive resume summary:

1. Display your primary qualifications and triumphs that are suitable for the job you are hunting.
2. Use action verbs like "organized", "developed", or "negotiated" to describe your accomplishments.
3. Avoid using too many adjectives or making it sound too generic by employing phrases like "hardworking" or "team player".

Legal Assistant Resume Summary Example:

Highly motivated and detail-oriented legal assistant with 5+ years of experience in offering comprehensive assistance to attorneys, paralegals, and other professionals. Experienced in drafting documents, researching case law, preparing presentations, filing pleadings, and organizing case files. Expert in Microsoft Office programs and legal software platforms such as LexisNexis and Westlaw. Skilled communicator with the ability to build rapport with clients and colleagues alike.

Additional Information

Legal assistants should consider providing additional sections to their resumes beyond the basic requirements. This will give a more comprehensive overview of their skills and qualifications.

Including such sections allows candidates to showcase their commitment to ongoing learning, their involvement in community initiatives, or their proficiency in specific software or tools relevant to the legal field.

Here are the examples of what to mention:

• Hobbies: Reading legal journals for development, attending local bar association meetings, and volunteering with pro bono organizations to provide assistance to those in need.
• Courses: Completed lections in civil law, criminal law, contracts, constitutional law, and evidence.
• Internships: Completed a summer internship at a small firm specializing in family law and estate planning. Conducted legal research, drafted pleadings and motions, and attended court hearings and client meetings.
• Languages: Proficient in English and Spanish; basic French phrases.
• Awards: Received the Outstanding Student award for maintaining a high GPA and demonstrating excellence in the study of law.
• References: Recommendation letters are available upon request from former employers, professors, or colleagues.
• Certificates: Certified Professional Paralegal by National Association of Legal Assistants.

These supplementary sections not only offer a deeper insight into the candidate's capabilities but also demonstrate their versatility, initiative, and potential for growth, thus making their resume stand out to employers in a competitive job market.

Use Resume Builder

Do you need a resume but don't know where to start? Look no further! We offer a ready-made legal assistant resume examples that will give you an edge.

With our service, you can quickly and easily create an eye-catching and well-structured legal assistant resume.

Our legal assistant resume templates are designed by experienced tutors and industry experts. You can be confident that using these templates will make resumes look professional.

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Creating your resume with us has numerous advantages over writing one in Word as plain text:

• Our legal assistant resume templates provide a structure for your document which simplifies the organization of all the information in the correct way.
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So why not give it a try? Create a top-notch, market-ready resume today with our easy-to-use template!

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Write a Legal Assistant Cover Letter

Legal Assistant Cover Letter Template

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Your cover letter is your chance to elaborate on the resume in more detail. Here are some guidelines for creating a compelling legal resume letter.

Strong Introduction

At the beginning of the letter, you should introduce yourself and mention the position you're applying. Make sure to keep it short, and ensure that you incorporate relevant details about the background.

Highlighting Your Skills

Your cover letter should center on the facts that make you the top choice for the position as well as your enthusiasm for this particular role. Focus on the skills, and experiences and provide supporting arguments.

Conveying Enthusiasm

Employers need to understand that you are sincerely eager about the job opportunity. Use language that conveys passion and expresses your willingness to work hard and take initiative.

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This legal assistant resume letter example is bad because it lacks enthusiasm or any real effort put into creating an appealing introduction. There is no emphasis on relevant skills or qualifications.

There is just a list with no explanation or evidence of why you are qualified for the job. It fails to provide any specific details about why they should be considered over other applicants as well.

This example is good because it explicitly states why the candidate is applying for the job along with the needed qualifications. Then explain what was learned during the internship.

This cover letter example demonstrates that the author is knowledgeable about numerous aspects of the law, even without prior practical experience.

Proofread

Double-checking the resume and cover letter is a must. Grammatical errors, typos, and poor formatting can leave employers with an unfavorable impression of you.

Not only is it important to use proper grammar, but also accurate words. It's essential to choose descriptive words, as this will set you apart from other applicants.

Here is a guide for reviewing your legal assistant resume:

• Read the entire document out loud - This allows you to hear any errors or awkward phrasing.
• Check all facts - Make sure your education, experience, etc., are correct.
• Get an outside opinion - Ask a family member or friend to inspect the document; they could potentially discover something you overlooked.
• Double-check punctuation - Ensure all commas, periods, colons, etc., are in the appropriate place.
• Perform a word count - Having too few or too many words can hurt your chances of landing a job.

Make the effort to proofread and spell-check the piece of work if you want to provide a good impression. Taking these extra steps will show that you care about your work and take pride in it.

The NALA survey also found that most paralegals work full-time, with 41% reporting 40 hours per week and 27% working more than that.

Final Words

Formulating a legal assistant resume may be daunting, but with the proper strategy, it can be streamlined.

Begin by highlighting all of your accomplishments. Ensure to include your contact information and certifications. Additionally, highlight your experience with case management, document filing, and litigation.

Writing a resume can seem intimidating, but along with the right guidance and a reliable resume builder you can accomplish the task in no time!