Writing Paralegal Resumes for Experienced and New Paralegals

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Career Advice

Writing Paralegal Resumes

Tips for experienced and new paralegals.

By Linda T. Chin

September 2008

Web Exclusive

Many paralegal students who have just graduated from college or who have completed a paralegal studies programost likely are searching for their first paralegal jobs. Experienced paralegals also might be looking to change job

This article will assist both new and experienced paralegals in drafting resumes and cover letters that will be

concise but comprehensive, appealing but not overwhelming to prospective employers. Sample paralegal resumes

and cover letters also are included.

Resumes for New Paralegals

Lets begin with some general pointers. Your name, home address, phone number and e-mail address should be o

top of the resume. Use more common computer fonts, such as 12-point Times New Roman. Your name can be boand a larger font than the rest of the content in the resume. Try to keep the resume to one page, if possible.

Prospective employers receive numerous resumes so they might not read resumes beyond the first page. Many

resumes usually contain four to five sections. Some resumes might include sections such as Honors and Awards o

Achievements. For the purpose of this article, I have concentrated on these sections: Career Objective, Education,

Experience, Skills and Other Relevant Experience, if applicable.

Career objective. This is important for several reasons. Its the first paragraph after you provide your personinformation and it immediately lets the prospective employers know what your career goal is, and encourages the

to continue reading the resume. You should express your career objective by writing a 1-sentence description of t

job you are seeking. If you are unsure ofthe area of legal practice in which you want to specialize, focus your

objective to a general practice of law. Some examples ofcareer objectives are: To secure an entry-level position

as a paralegal in a real estate law firm, or To secure a position in a law firm that can use a legal professional w

outstanding research and writing skills.

Education. This section is an important part of the resume for those new paralegals who have just completed

their education. If you are a new paralegal with limited or no work experience, this is the section on which you

should focus. Indicate your degree or the paralegal certificate you completed, your major, the college from which

you graduated, and the date of your graduation. List the courses that are relevant to the jobs for which you are

applying. In general, law firms seek prospective employees who have skills in areas of legal research and writing,

litigation and law office management.

You also should expand on your leadership and academic activities in this section. List your membership in all

student and academic organizations. Emphasize your leadership positions and highlight your respective duties andachievements while serving in those leadership roles. If you were a member of the organization but didnt hold a

leadership position, specify your contributions to the organizations. For example, you might have arranged for a

speaker, publicized an event or coordinated a social event for the organization. Did you write for a college

newspaper, or contribute or edit an article for a newsletter or the college yearbook? If so, these activities should b

included in your resume since they show initiative and leadership qualities characteristics that all employers see

in a prospective employee.

Finally, if you have received academic achievements such as being on the deans l ist or graduating with variou

honors, emphasize these awards and honors in your resume.

Experience. This section is the meat of a resume. While your work history as a new paralegal is minimal, the

are other areas besides employment that can be classified as experience. Serving in an internship program is an

excellent way to highlight your duties and responsibilities as well as the skills you obtained. Under this section, list

the duties you performed, as well as the skills that were enhanced during this internship. If you have participated

more than one internship, list the most recent internship first with the relevant dates.
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into their academic curriculum. St. Johns University in New York, for example, defines Academic Service Learningas a teaching method in which students learn and develop through organized service that reinforces course conte

This organized service takes place in nonprofit organizations such as bar associations, senior citizen centers, Lega

Aid offices or other organizations that provide legal services at reduced fees or at no cost to the clients. If you hav

participated in an Academic Service Learning program, you should indicate the organization in which you served,

and your duties while serving in that capacity. For example, if you helped draft health planning documents in an

Elder Law Clinic as part of the Elder Law course you took, you should incorporate these duties in the Experience

section of your resume.

Skills. This section of the resume focuses on special skills you have that you might not have highlighted in othe

sections of the resume. Are you familiar with Microsoft Word? Do you have skills in other software applications su

as Microsoft PowerPoint or Excel? Are you an expert in using Westlaw and/or Lexis as a research tool? Are you

proficient in a foreign language? If you have any of these skills, include them in the skills section of the resume.However, be honest in assessing your proficiency. For example, dont indicate fluency in Spanish if you can only

read it, but not speak it.

Other relevant experience. The last section of the resume is for other relevant experience that you might

have but was not addressed in the other sections of the resume. For example, if you demonstrated leadership ski

while serving in a civic or community project or activity, then certainly include this experience.

The Cover Letter From New Paralegals

The cover letter is your initial contact with the prospective employer. The purpose of the cover letter is to convinc

the employer to read your resume and invite you for an interview. Therefore, like the resume it has to be error-

proof and neat. It should be well-written since employers are seeking paralegals with good writing skills.

The cover letter should have the following information: your name, address, and the date, name and title of th

person to whom you are writing, the company or organization and the relevant salutation. Try to get the exact nam

of the person to whom you are writing since this will be more personal.

The first paragraph of the cover letter should explain why you are writing and indicate how you found out abou

the available position. For example, I am writing to apply for the position of paralegal as advertised in the June 2

New York Times, or We met last month at the paralegal conference and I am following up on my interest to obta

a paralegal position in your law firm.

The next few paragraphs are where you want to highlight and discuss your qualifications, achievements and

experience. Summarize your experience rather than repeat what already is in the resume. Discuss why your

qualifications and experience are a good fit with the company and what you can contribute to that company.

The final paragraph closes the letter by thanking the employers for their consideration of your application and

notifying them where they can contact you for an interview. Also indicate that your resume is enclosed and that

references are available upon request.

Resumes for Experienced Paralegals

Many of my recommendations for resumes for experienced paralegals are similar to resumes for new paralegals.

Your name, home address, phone number and e-mail address should be on the top of the resume and it should b

limited to one page, if possible. Resumes for experienced paralegals should contain the following or similar

sections: Career Objective, Professional Experience, Skills, Other Relevant Experience and Education.

Career objective. This is important for experienced paralegals. It signals to the prospective employer wheth

the applicant is seeking a career change, a position with greater responsibility or a lateral move to a different

company. For example: To secure a senior level paralegal position with supervisory responsibilities indicates to

the employers that the applicant has prior paralegal experience and is seeking further professional growth.

Education. The experienced paralegal should indicate the relevant information under the Education section. Y

should provide your degree or the certificate completed as well as your major, the college from where you

graduated and the date of your graduation. List any awards and honors you received upon graduation. Since

prospective employers will focus more on the work history of experienced paralegals, the education information ca

be included either at the beginning or at the end of the resume.

Experience. For the experienced paralegal, this section of the resume is the most important information

provided by the applicant in engaging the interest of the prospective employers. The most common form of

presentation is to list jobs in reverse chronological order; therefore, you should list your most recent job first.Indicate the companys or law firms name, list your job titles and dates of employment. Use active verbs to descryour duties and responsibilities, and be consistent in the use of the verb tense. For examples: Developed systems

for billing clients, Conducted extensive research for class action lawsuit and Maintained and updated court

dates.

Skills. This section is where you can highlight your technological skills. At a minimum, employers expect theirexperienced paralegals to be proficient in word processing, and to be able to navigate e-mails and prepare

spreadsheets using Excel. Do you have computer-assisted research skills using Westlaw or Lexis? Are you proficie

in other software applications such as CaseMap, LiveNote or Abacus Law? If so, dont hesitate to list them.

Prospective employers always are seeking applicants who are technologically savvy to help make their law offices

become more efficient.

Other relevant experience. Ifyou have had relevant experience other than work experience, you can

describe it under this section. Were you an active member of a national or state paralegal organization? Did you

volunteer to participate in your firms pro bono program in providing legal service to those who could not afford to


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or civic groups. These all are activities to stress in your resume. They demonstrate initiative, leadership and

commitment to the legal profession.

The Cover Letter from Experienced Paralegals

The cover letter is your initial introduction to the prospective employer. The purpose of the cover letter is to

encourage the employer to read your resume and invite you for an interview. Therefore, like the resume, it has to

be error-proof, neat and well-written.

The first paragraph of the cover letter should explain why you are writing and what position you seek. For

example: I am writing to apply for the position of Senior Paralegal that was advertised on your Web site. Also

explain why you are interested in the position, such as seeking greater and/or more diverse responsibilities.

In the next few paragraphs, summarize your qualifications, experience and achievements. For example: As thenclosed resume indicates, I have had over 10 years of paralegal experience in employment law or My 10 years

experience include working with cases involving bankruptcy law. Follow up as to why this experience will benefit

the law firm. You also can highlight specific skills, such as the ability to use computer-assisted research or softwar

applications that help with the management of a law office.

The final paragraph closes the letter by thanking the employers for their consideration of your application and

notifying the employers where they can contact you for an interview. Also indicate that your resume is enclosed an

that references are available upon request.

SAMPLE COVER LETTER FOR NEW PARALEGALS

JANE P. NEWMAN

345 Highway StreetLakeview, NJ 10671

(555) 555-5555

[email protected]

[Date]

Ms. Jane Jones

Senior Paralegal

Tobin and Dempf, LLP

[address]

[address]

Dear Ms. Jones:

I am writing to apply for the position of Paralegal in your litigation department as advertised in the New Jersey

Times, dated June 25, 2008. I have just completed the ABA Approved-paralegal program at Gainsville State

University. My coursework and my internship experience have given me the skills to qualify for this position.

As you can see from my resume, in addition to coursework in the areas of civil litigation and trial practice, I ha

enhanced my skills in the practice of l itigation through my internship experiences. I have had practical experience

legal research, writing complaints and legal memoranda, and filing pleadings.

I am highly proficient and comfortable in the use of technology. I am proficient in using Westlaw to perform

research. I am also skilled in using Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel and Outlook.

Thank you for your consideration. I look forward to speaking with you further regarding my qualifications for this

position. Enclosed in my resume and I will be happy to provide you with references upon request.

Sincerely yours,

SAMPLE RESUME FOR NEW PARALEGALS

JANE P. NEWMAN

345 Highway Street

Lakeview, NJ 10671

(555) 555-5555

[email protected]

Career Objective


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Education

June 2008: Gainsville S tate University, Smithtown, New Jersey

Paralegal Certificate Program, ABA Approved

Deans List

Coursework: Introduction to Law, Civil Litigation, Legal Research and Wr iting, Tort Law, Family Law, Elder Law

Real Estate Law, Trial Practice

Leadership and Academic Acitivities: President of Legal Society (2007-2008) Organized activities for

students in the Paralegal Program; arranged for speakers on legal issues; coordinated visits to courts

Experience

Feb. 2008-May 2008: Paralegal Intern, Smith & Smith, Smithtown, New Jersey

Assisted with scheduling meetings with clients

Helped with filing pleadings

Performed legal research using Westlaw and in the library

Wrote legal memoranda

Prepared demand letters

Sept. 2007-Jan. 2008: Academic Service Learning in conjunction with Elder Law course, Senior Legal Clinic,

Newtown, New Jersey

Assisted in drafting advance health planning documents

Interviewed clients for case intake

Assisted with drafting complaintsAssisted in drafting health proxies and living wills

Skills

Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook, Westlaw

Other Experience

Coordinated Annual Fund-Raising Event for the Homeless since 2000

SAMPLE COVER LETTER FOR EXPERIENCED PARALEGALS

JAMES P. VETERAN

345 Highway Street

Lakeview, NJ 10671

(555) 555-5555

[email protected]

[Date]

Ms. Mary Thomas

Managing Partner

Tobin and Dempf, LLP

[address]

[address]

Dear Ms. Thomas:

I am writing to apply for the position of supervising paralegal in your litigation department as advertised in the

New Jersey Times, dated June 25, 2008. After more than 10 years of experience as a litigation paralegal, I am

seeking a new position that can provide me with additional responsibilities and an opportunity to use my superviso

skills.

As you can see from my resume, I have had extensive experience as a litigation paralegal and my

responsibilities have increased over the years. Recently, I was given the additional responsibility of supervising an

training secretarial staff and student interns. In that capacity, I have developed my mentoring and supervisory skil

I am highly proficient and comfortable in the use of technology. I am proficient in using Westlaw and Lexis to

perform research. I have assisted the attorneys in my firm in making presentations using Microsoft PowerPoint an

have created spreadsheets using Microsoft Excel. I have become skilled in the use of software applications to ass

with the management of complex litigation cases. As a result, I can offer your firm a high level of expertise in usin


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Concordance, Summation and CaseMap.

I believe I can contribute much to your firm. Thank you for taking time from your schedule to consider me for

this position. I look forward to speaking with you further regarding my qualifications. Enclosed is my resume andwill be happy to provide you with references upon request.

Sincerely yours,

SAMPLE RESUME FOR EXPERIENCED PARALEGALS

JAMES P. VETERAN

345 Highway Street

Lakeview, NJ 10671

(512) 760-9678

[email protected]

Career Objective

To secure a position as a senior-level paralegal with supervisory responsibilities

Experience

July 2000-Present: Paralegal, Kleinsmith & Associates, Newark, N.J.

Provide legal and administrative support for civil litigation firmSupervise and train secretarial staff and student interns

Implement an online billing system for clients

Draft legal memoranda and client correspondence

Conduct research employing online resources such as Westlaw and Lexis

Assist with document production and trial preparation

July 1998-June 2000: Paralegal, Smith & Smith, Smithtown, N.J.

Assisted with scheduling meetings with clients

Assisted with filing pleadings

Performed legal research using Westlaw and in the library

Wrote legal memoranda

Prepared billings for clients

Feb. 1998-June 1998: Paralegal Intern, Legal Aid of New Jersey, Newtown, N.J.

Interviewed clients for case intake

Assisted with drafting complaints

Assisted with document production

Skills

Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook, Westlaw, Lexis, Concordance, Summation and CaseMap

Other Experience

Member of the American Alliance of Paralegals and the Legal Assistants Association of New Jersey; organized

workshops on technology for paralegals

Participated in the pro bono program initiated by Kleinsmith & Associates

Education

June 1998: Gainsville State University, Smithtown, N.J.

Bachelor of Arts, Legal Studies, ABA-Approved Paralegal Program

Cum Laude

Linda T. Chin is an assistant professor at St. Johns University in New York City. She teaches in the American Bar

Association-approved legal studies program, which prepares students to work as paralegals in the legal professio

Professor Chins field of expertise is employment and elder law.


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