Resume guide · Job Zone 3
Paralegals and Legal Assistantsresume guide.
Assist lawyers by investigating facts, preparing legal documents, or researching legal precedent. A strong Paralegals and Legal Assistants resume shows writing, active listening and reading comprehension, and names the tools you have worked with, such as Microsoft SharePoint, Adobe Acrobat and Microsoft Access.
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- 1Name your practice area.Titles in this guide include Litigation Paralegal and Real Estate Paralegal. Saying which kind of work you do helps a firm match you to the opening.
- 2Show the result, not just the task.Organizing and maintaining documents in an electronic filing system is a top task in this guide. Volume and a clean deadline record show you can be trusted with it.
- 3Show how you check the AI's work.Firms now use AI for document review and want paralegals who can run it and catch its mistakes. Naming the checks and the result shows you can.
- 4Tie your research to what it changed.This guide lists "Investigate facts and law of cases and search pertinent sources, such as public records." Ending the bullet with a dismissed claim shows why the research mattered.
- 5Spell your software the way postings do.Thomson Reuters Westlaw, Microsoft Word, Adobe Acrobat and Microsoft SharePoint are in-demand tools in this guide, so they are written exactly that way.
- 6Give your certification's full name and issuer.Most states, Maryland included, do not license paralegals, so a credential like NALA's Certified Paralegal helps you stand out. Write the full name, who issued it, and that it is current.
Sample resume. The candidate is fictional; the layout and templates are real.
01Also called
O*NETImmigration ParalegalLaw AssociateLegal AnalystLegal AssistantLegal ClerkLegal Processing AssistantLitigation ParalegalParalegalParalegal SpecialistReal Estate Paralegal
02Skills employers expect
O*NETImportance is how much the skill matters to the job; level is how much of it the job demands. Both are worth naming on the resume, in this order.
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Writing | Very high | Intermediate |
| Active Listening | High | Advanced |
| Reading Comprehension | High | Advanced |
| Speaking | High | Advanced |
| Critical Thinking | High | Intermediate |
| Active Learning | High | Intermediate |
| Complex Problem Solving | High | Intermediate |
| Judgment and Decision Making | High | Intermediate |
| Monitoring | High | Intermediate |
| Service Orientation | High | Intermediate |
03Knowledge areas
O*NET- Law and Government
- English Language
- Administrative
- Computers and Electronics
- Customer and Personal Service
- Administration and Management
- Mathematics
- Education and Training
- Economics and Accounting
- Personnel and Human Resources
04Common responsibilities
O*NETOrdered by importance. Each one is a bullet waiting for a result and a number.
- Prepare affidavits or other documents, such as legal correspondence, and organize and maintain documents in paper or electronic filing system.
- Prepare, edit, or review legal documents, including legislation, briefs, pleadings, appeals, wills, contracts, and real estate closing statements.
- Investigate facts and law of cases and search pertinent sources, such as public records and internet sources, to determine causes of action and to prepare cases.
- Prepare for trial by performing tasks such as organizing exhibits.
- Meet with clients and other professionals to discuss details of cases.
- Gather and analyze research data, such as statutes, decisions, and legal articles, codes, and documents.
05Software and tools
O*NET97 tools across 24 categories. The six largest categories are below; Hot marks a hot technology, In demand a tool employers ask for most often.
Document management software21
- Microsoft SharePointHotIn demand
- Adobe AcrobatHotIn demand
- Microsoft SharePoint Server
- Document management system software
- Records management software
- AbacusNext HotDocs
- Iron Mountain Accutrac records management software
- OmniRIM Records Management Suite
- NetDocuments
- Appligent Citation FDFMerge
- CaseSoft DepPrep
- CaseSoft TextMap
- Electronic transcription management software
- iManage document management software
- Inmagic DB/TextWorks
- IntelliPDF CURVES
- LexisNexis File and Serve
- LexisNexis Total Search
- Nuance Power PDF
- PDF Snake Easy Bates
- Summation Blaze
+ 16 more
Information retrieval or search software18
- Thomson Reuters WestlawIn demand
- LexisNexis
- Thomson Reuters Westlaw Edge
- Fastcase legal software
- LexisNexis SmartLinx
- Online database search and retrieval software
- Online title search and property report software
- American LegalNet USCourtForms
- dtSearch
- FindForms
- FindLaw Code of Federal Regulations CFR
- LawManager
- LexisNexis Company Analyzer
- Online public records search software
- Ovid SilverPlatter WebSPIRS
- THOMAS Global Register
- Thomson CompuMark SAEGIS
- Thomson West FindLaw
+ 13 more
Data base user interface and query software14
- Microsoft AccessHotIn demand
- Orion Law Management Systems OrionIn demand
- Database software
- Practice management software PMS
- Relational database software
- LexisNexis CaseMap
- Bridgeway eCounsel
- Corporate Focus Solium Shareworks
- LexisNexis Time Matters
- Saga Practice Manager
- Fund Software ATIDS
- LexisNexis CodeMaster
- Relativity e-Discovery
- TrialWorks
+ 9 more
Analytical or scientific software9
- Wilson's Computer Applications RealEasy Appraisals
- a la mode WinTOTAL
- LexisNexis CourtLink Strategic Profiles
- Case analysis software
- Electronic discovery software
- LexisNexis Applied Discovery
- LexisNexis Concordance
- Litigation support software
- Uniscribe
+ 4 more
Desktop publishing software6
- Microsoft Publisher
- Digital contract software
- Blumbeg Drafting Libraries
- Dataflight Opticon
- ProForce Paralegal Pro-Pack
- Sure Will Writer
+ 1 more
Word processing software5
- Microsoft WordHotIn demand
- Google DocsHot
- Legal document software
- LexisNexis CheckCite
- The Sackett Group MacPac for Legal
Office suite software3
- Microsoft Office softwareHotIn demand
- Google Workspace softwareHotIn demand
- Corel WordPerfect Office Suite
Accounting software2
- Intuit QuickBooksHotIn demand
- Tax softwareIn demand
Cloud-based data access and sharing software2
- Google Drive
- Dropbox
Customer relationship management CRM software2
- Software Technology PracticeMaster
- Thomson West ProLaw
Electronic mail software2
- Microsoft OutlookHotIn demand
- IBM Notes
Business intelligence and data analysis software1
- MicroStrategy
Categorization or classification software1
- Bowne JFS Litigator's Notebook
File versioning software1
- Zylab ZyImage
Internet browser software1
- Web browser softwareIn demand
Library software1
- Computer access catalog software
Optical character reader OCR or scanning software1
- Optical character recognition OCR software
Pattern design software1
- CaseSoft TimeMap
Presentation software1
- Microsoft PowerPointHotIn demand
Project management software1
- Microsoft ProjectHotIn demand
Spreadsheet software1
- Microsoft ExcelHotIn demand
Transaction server software1
- Tumbleweed SecureTransport
Video conferencing software1
- ZoomHotIn demand
Video creation and editing software1
- Thomson Reuters LiveNote Stream
06Education and preparation
O*NETTypical education
Bachelor's Degree
37% of surveyed workers. Others report Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree (20%) and High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) (19%).
Preparation level
Job Zone 3 · Medium preparation
Usually vocational training, an associate degree or a few years of related experience.
07Putting it on your resume
ResumeXRays guidanceBEE · How to show it
Lead with the credential and the record. Job Zone 3 roles usually ask for training, a license or a few years of related experience. Put those on the first screen, then show what you did with them.
Name the tools exactly. This occupation is heavy on named software. A skills section that says "Microsoft SharePoint, Adobe Acrobat, Microsoft Access, Microsoft Word" matches more job descriptions than a general phrase. Use the spelling employers use.
Show active listening and reading comprehension, not just writing. Active listening and reading comprehension rank close to writing for this occupation. One bullet per role that shows a decision, a tradeoff or a result covers them.
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