Paralegal Resume Example & Writing Guide

Paralegals are in great demand these days. No matter if you’re just starting out, looking for new opportunities, or considering a career change, a stellar paralegal resume is key to coming on board.

A well-crafted resume matters more than you may think—it’s precisely what helps you communicate your skills, qualifications, and personal brand. Therefore, the objective of the paralegal resume is to show what makes you different from other candidates and help you stand out.

If you’re not sure how to write your resume, don’t worry—we got your back. We’ll guide you through the entire process of crafting your resume so that you can have a perfect biography ready to make your job applications shine!

What Format is Best For a Paralegal Resume?

There are several types of resume formats—chronological, functional, and hybrid or combination formats. Each of them suits candidates with different levels of experience.

The first, chronological format, is best for job seekers who have consistent experience in a specific field. In a resume like this, you can elaborate on your previous positions in detail in chronological or reverse-chronological order.

A functional format is suitable for candidates who have little experience in an industry but have relevant skill sets. This resume format allows you to emphasize all the skills you’ve acquired in previous positions or by attending various courses.

The hybrid or combination resume format is great for job hunters who possess both relevant skill sets and experience, as it highlights both equally. It also offers a comprehensive view of your career and emphasizes your accomplishments.

The best resume format for paralegals is the reverse-chronological. It points out the pinnacle of your experience first, then goes through your working and educational history and skills.

Paralegal Resume Layout

A layout refers to a manner in which information is organized throughout the resume, involving the order of sections and the information you include in each of them.

Here is what the recommended layout encompasses:

Even though pouring some creativity into your resume may help it stand out from others, don’t overdo it. You can play around with colors and font types as long as they remain highly professional.

Paralegal Resume Sections

There are specific sections that must be included in every resume, and the paralegal is no exception. Those are:

In the optional section of your resume, you can mention:

Writing all these pieces of information can be daunting sometimes, particularly if you’re unsure of their order. To make sure there will be no errors and boost your chances of being invited for an interview, use a resume builder.

These builders have templates with all the sections already included; all you have to do is fill them in with information pertaining to you.

Paralegal Resume Template

Here’s a paralegal resume template you can use to craft your own and make it shine!

How to Include Contact Information to Your Paralegal Resume

Contact information is the very first section of your paralegal resume. Here, you’ll include basic information about yourself, such as:

Make sure that you list your name and surname, not a nickname. List the phone number that you use most frequently. The email should be professional, consisting of your name and surname or initials.

In terms of location, never include your home address; your state and city of residence would be sufficient. Optionally, you can state that you’re open to relocation in case you’re applying for a position in another city.

Links to social media profiles other than LinkedIn are not wanted here unless you use them for business. In addition, if you keep a blog or have a website related to law and legislation, feel free to list them.

A good contact information section would go like this:

How to Write a Good Paralegal Resume Objective/Summary

You have about seven seconds to grab a recruiter’s attention. The best way to do so is to include an objective or summary in your paralegal resume. However, make sure that you know the difference between the two.

If you’re just starting out and have very little to no experience as a paralegal, add an objective to your resume. As its name suggests, this piece of text highlights your professional goals and aspirations, and as such, it is perfect for an entry-level paralegal resume.

On the other hand, if you have a wealth of experience working as a paralegal, you should add a summary of your expertise and accomplishments.

Emerging Paralegal Resume Objective

You should pay attention to detail when composing a resume objective since every little thing counts. You don’t want to include something that will make a recruiter believe you’re not the right fit for their firm, so take a look at what a good resume objective should look like:

This objective example is good as it indicates the candidate’s education and experience gained during studies. It also shows what the candidate is comfortable working with.

Make sure that your objective is not too generic, self-focused, or not indicating what you want to focus on. Never write an objective like the one exemplified below:

Established Paralegal Resume Summary

Use this section at the top of your resume to highlight your expertise. Don’t be too shy or too modest, but don’t be a show-off, either.

Here’s an example of a good paralegal resume summary:

This short section indicates what the candidate is experienced in and what they used to be responsible for.

On the other hand, here is a bad example of a paralegal resume summary:

There’s nothing wrong with being motivated, responsible, and able to work in a team. The problem here is that this summary doesn’t show anything specific about the candidate. Therefore, nothing will intrigue a recruiter to invite the candidate for an interview.

Paralegal Resume Professional Experience

This section is your opportunity to shine—use it to impress a recruiter with your professional experience. List the information in the following order:

Remember that, in the reverse chronological format of a paralegal resume, the latest company you worked for and the position you had should go first.

General Tips

When listing your professional expertise, it’s not enough to only mention the company and the role. Try to include a detailed overview of your responsibilities and achievements in your previous positions.

When doing so, avoid weak expressions like “was responsible for,” “created,” or “was working on.” Instead, use strong action words, such as “crafted,” “developed,” “facilitated,” “prepared,” “initiated,” “spearheaded,” "streamlined,” etc.

Also, try to include paralegal-specific keywords, including “legal filing,” “trial preparation,” “legal documents,” “investigation,” “legal assistance,” “court calendaring," and “office and court procedures.” These expressions will not only let a recruiter or hiring manager know you’re able to get the work done, but they will also make your resume .

Pay close attention to your accomplishments; don’t just list the duties you were responsible for. Add KPIs, numbers, or statistics to support your claims.

Paralegal With No Experience

Filling in the professional experience section is not so challenging when you have enough expertise to write about. But what can you do if you don’t?

No matter if you’re transitioning to paralegal from some other position or you’ve just graduated, there is always an option. If you’ve done any internships, add them to your resume. Mention where you did it and what you were responsible for. Here’s how:

Another convenient option is to include a portfolio. If you have drafted legal documents before, don’t hesitate to link them to your paralegal resume. In case you haven’t, waste no time and start building one.

Make use of various freelance platforms, such as Upwork, to land a gig or two (and get paid for it). Alternatively, you can provide paralegal services for your relatives, friends, or acquaintances.

Paralegal With Experience

Check out this sample of a paralegal resume with experience:

Paralegal Resume Education Section

Unlike lawyers, professional paralegals don’t need to fulfill any strict requirements when it comes to their education. Thus, they can take numerous educational paths to become paralegals.

Whatever your major or level of education is, describe your academic activity to date. If you’re still a student, list all of the years you’ve spent at college or university.

Elaborate on your educational path to date in this section. Your degree and major should go first, followed by the name of the university and how many years you spent there. Mention all honors, courses, and GPA, as well as other relevant accomplishments.

In case you don’t have a degree, include your high school education. Here’s an example of how to format the education section of your resume properly:

Paralegal Resume Skills

As a paralegal, you need to possess a specific set of both soft and hard skills to persuade the hiring manager that you’re the right person for the job.

Enrich this section with your skills, but make sure they are relevant to the position. Try to include those skills required by the paralegal job description. If you have no previous experience in this field, focus on transferable skills from previous roles.

Paralegal Hard Skills

Hard skills for paralegals are closely related to the knowledge these professionals must possess. Some of the paralegal resume hard skills samples include, but are not limited to:

Paralegal Soft Skills

Don’t forget to include soft skills—they are as important as the hard ones. Check out the list below to see what soft skills you can include in your resume:

Again, don’t go overboard with listing soft skills, as you’ll end up with a resume that lacks credibility.

Paralegal Resume Other Sections

The four sections we discussed above are mandatory and mustn’t be omitted from your resume. However, there are certain parts that you don’t have to include, but adding them may be beneficial, especially for the role of a paralegal.

All these sections should be placed toward the bottom of your resume, following the skills section.

Awards

If you participated in any competition during your studies or internship and won recognition that is relevant to the paralegal profession, let the recruiter or hiring manager know.

Awards represent official recognition of your work and accomplishments. List them under the “Awards” or “Awards and Recognition” section. Alternatively, you can add them to the work experience and education section.

Certifications

Have you completed any extra courses outside your formal education? Include the certificates you earned to show that you’re continuously working on gaining new knowledge and skills. This will turn a good resume into a great one.

You can list them under the “Certificates” header or add them to the awards section. In case you don’t have a postsecondary degree, you can include these certificates in the education section.

Publications

Although it may be tempting to list all the publications you have, you should be careful here and include only those that are related to the law. Recruiters won’t be very interested in your writings about environmental protection, the benefits of sports, etc.

Add a new header titled “Publications” and list your published works, adding when and where they were published.

Languages

Knowledge of languages isn’t of huge importance for paralegals, though it may come in handy on some occasions. Plus, adding a language or two besides your native will make your resume look amazing!

Note that when you include language skills, you should also state your level of knowledge. You can choose from basic, intermediate, fluent, proficient, and native.

Should a Paralegal Write a Cover Letter as Well?

Yes, a paralegal should have a cover letter, too—it enables hiring staff to get to know you better.

The message that the cover letter conveys is that you’re not sending your resume randomly. On the contrary—you’re letting the recruiter know that you genuinely want this position at their company.

As you may guess, the paralegal cover letter should be well-structured, just like the resume. A well-written resume will allow you to stand out from other candidates, especially if you pair it with a superb cover letter.

4 Best Strategies for Writing a Paralegal Resume

To make an outstanding resume, follow these four strategies:

Standout Paralegal Resume Example

Use this example

Now that you know what you should include in your paralegal resume, check out this standout example to get an idea of how you should craft your own.

Final Thoughts

Creating a paralegal resume can be a challenge, particularly if you’re struggling with what information to include. Thankfully, with our comprehensive guide, you’ll be able to craft one hassle-free!

One of the key elements you should pay attention to is the adequate format. The best one for paralegal resumes is reverse-chronological. Next, make sure that all the information you include is relevant to the role. Listing your elementary education and sports skills is of no use for the paralegal position.

If you possess any awards, certificates, or publications, or if you speak a foreign language, add that to your resume. Extra skills will make it even greater, especially if you have no relevant professional experience.

Lastly, pair your paralegal resume with a cover letter to boost your chances of landing a new job.