Legal Assistant Resume Template for MS Word
CONTENTS
Introduction
When searching for a job, it is essential that you leave potential employers with a lasting first impression of yourself. For eye-catching results, you will need to highlight your skills, accomplishments and experience in a concise and straightforward way. If you need help with writing a strong resume, our legal assistant resume template for Word and following writing guidelines can help. You will see how to successfully incorporate the summary statement, work history, skills and education sections so your resume is readable for employers.
Writing Your Summary Statement
The summary statement section is the first thing hiring managers will see when they look at your resume, so it is especially important that it is eye catching. This is your chance to show employers just how good of a fit you are for the job, so be sure to include the most relevant information that aligns with the job description. Use the legal assistant resume template for Word to create your personalized statement.
In this section, you can use three sentences or three bullet points to briefly describe why you are a suitable candidate. Use skills and keywords relevant to the posting for optimal results. Ensure you include the following:
Your best two to three skills relevant to the job
Your title and experience
Job-specific expertise or accomplishments
Here are some summary statement examples:
Example 1
Legal assistant with 10 years of professional experience assisting lawyers. Expertise in drafting legal documents and gathering case facts. Highly organized with the ability to multitask.
Example 2
Professional legal assistant working in law firms for seven years. Exceptional phone skills with the ability to handle and organize large volumes of documents. Solid communication, computer and research skills with proficiency in Microsoft Office.
Example 3
Legal Assistant:
10 years of experience
Filing, organization, research, drafting and report-writing expertise
Excellent communication skills
Example 4
Legal assistant with five years of experience. Well-versed in Microsoft Office, drafting legal documents and communicating with diverse clients. Solid organization, speaking and writing skills with willingness to learn.
Writing Your Skills Section
In this section, you will provide a list of your best skills relevant to the position for which you are applying. This shows hiring managers that you are able to succeed in the position. Look at the job posting to find keywords and phrases, and add them to your skills section. Using bullet points to form a neat list makes this section easy to read. The legal assistant resume template for Word includes the skills section right after the summary statement, making it easy to locate. Here are some skills writing tips:
List the most important and relevant skills first
Use words and phrases to keep it succinct
Include six to eight skills
Here are some skills typically required of legal assistants that you may want to include in your own skills section:
Excellent research and organizational skills
Written and oral communication abilities
Filing
Strong typing skills – 60 wpm
Time management
Proficient in Microsoft Office
Writing Your Work History Section
The work history resume section is where you will showcase what you are capable of and your relevant experience. Here, you will provide hiring managers with information that backs up what you have stated in the previous two sections. For help, use the legal assistant resume template for Word and these helpful tips when writing:
Include anywhere from five to eight bullet points per job
After each title, include the company name, location and employment dates
Add metrics and accomplishments when you can
Begin each point with a strong action verb
Utilize keywords and phrases from the description
Here are some job description example points for a legal assistant work history section:
Reorganized the documentation system in a new database, shorting the retrieval time by 30 percent
Investigated and gathered case facts and information for lawyers
Prepared affidavits and legal correspondence and organized all documents in an electronic filing system
Prepared legal documents, including pleadings, briefs, wills, contracts, appeals and real estate closing statements
Writing Your Education Section
Often, job postings will include a required education level. The legal assistant resume template for Word includes an education section made for listing degrees, certificates, diplomas and academic achievements. Here are some education section tips to follow:
Education should be listed in chronological order, beginning with the most recent level
Everything from short courses and certificates to volunteer work and seminars can be listed
A GPA is not necessary unless you graduated recently
Here are some excellent education section examples for legal assistants:
Example 1:
Associate of Arts in Business Law – 2010
Delaware County Community College – Media, PA
Example 2:
Bachelor of Science in Law – 2015
Florida State University – Tallahassee, FL
Certificate in Legal Studies – 2010
Florida Keys Community College – Key West, FL
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