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Legal assistant resume example

A one-page resume for a legal assistant about 18 months into a first law firm job, after a front desk role in healthcare. Office managers and attorneys hiring legal assistants want proof that deadlines will not slip and clients will be treated well, so those two things lead.

Legal assistant resume example, page 1 of 1Lindiwe CarterLegal Assistantlindiwe.carter@example.com · (602) 555-0149 · Phoenix, AZ · linkedin.com/in/lindiwecarterSummaryLegal assistant with a year and a half at a personal injury firm, keeping calendars, filings and client files movingfor three attorneys and about 180 open cases. Fast, accurate and calm on the phone with clients who are havinga hard week. Studying for a paralegal degree in the evenings.ExperienceLegal AssistantApr 2025 – PresentCamelback Injury Law, PLLC · Phoenix, AZ•Support 3 attorneys and a paralegal on about 180 open personal injury cases, from intake to settlement.•Keep the litigation calendar in Clio for hearings, disclosure and discovery deadlines; no missed deadlinessince I took it over.•E-file and serve about 60 pleadings and notices a month in Maricopa County Superior Court.•Request medical records and bills for about 40 new clients a month; a follow-up schedule cut the average waitfor complete records from 9 weeks to 6.•Take 25 new-client intake calls a week and book consultations.Front Desk CoordinatorJun 2022 – Mar 2025Desert Sky Dental Group · Phoenix, AZ•Scheduled about 70 patients a day across 4 providers and verified insurance before each visit.•Cut no-shows by 20% with a reminder call and text routine.EducationA.A.S. in Paralegal Studies (in progress)2025 – 2027Phoenix College · Phoenix, AZCertificationsNotary Public, State of Arizona2025Arizona Secretary of StateSkillsClio · Litigation calendaring · E-filing and service · Medical records requests · Client intake ·Microsoft Word (pleading templates) · Outlook · Adobe Acrobat (Bates numbering, redaction) ·Document management · Typing 75 wpm · Confidentiality
Legal assistantUse this example

What recruiters look for

  • Calendaring and deadlines: court dates, filing deadlines and statutes of limitations. A missed deadline can mean a malpractice claim.
  • Filing and court procedure: e-filing, service, local rules and formatting pleadings.
  • Software: practice management (Clio, MyCase, PracticePanther), document management and Microsoft Word at an advanced level.
  • Client contact: intake calls, updates and handling upset callers with care.
  • Discretion: confidentiality is a basic requirement, and the resume itself should show it.

Writing the summary

Name the practice area and size of the team you support, then the tasks you handle best. Add one line on how you work with clients or attorneys, and mention any paralegal study.

The summary in this example

Legal assistant with a year and a half at a personal injury firm, keeping calendars, filings and client files moving for three attorneys and about 180 open cases. Fast, accurate and calm on the phone with clients who are having a hard week. Studying for a paralegal degree in the evenings.

First law firm job, coming from administrative work

Administrative assistant with four years in a busy medical office, managing schedules for 6 providers and handling confidential records every day. Looking for a first legal assistant role and starting a paralegal certificate in January.

Bilingual legal assistant in immigration or family law

Bilingual (English and Spanish) legal assistant with three years at an immigration firm, preparing family-based petitions and translating client documents. I keep 120 cases organized and make sure clients understand every next step.

Bullet points that work

Strong lines for this role, beyond the ones in the example. Borrow the shape and put in your own numbers.

  • Formatted and proofread 30 pleadings and letters a week to the firm’s templates and local court rules.
  • Built a statute of limitations tracker that flags cases 120, 60 and 30 days before the deadline.
  • Converted 400 paper client files into the firm’s document management system with consistent naming.
  • Prepared Bates-numbered document productions of up to 5,000 pages for the paralegal’s review.
  • Answered 60 calls a day on a 4-attorney team, routing urgent matters within minutes.
  • Scheduled 35 depositions in a quarter, coordinating court reporters, rooms and opposing counsel.
  • Reduced unpaid invoice balances by 15% by sending monthly statements and following up with clients.
  • Organized exhibit binders for 3 mediations and a 2-day trial.
  • Translated intake forms and client updates into Spanish for 25 clients a month.

Skills to list

Hard skills

  • Practice management software (Clio, MyCase or similar)
  • Court e-filing and service
  • Litigation calendaring and docketing
  • Microsoft Word for legal documents (styles, tables of authorities, templates)
  • Adobe Acrobat (Bates numbering, redaction, combining)
  • Records requests and tracking
  • Billing and time entry

Soft skills

  • Attention to detail
  • Calm with distressed clients
  • Managing several attorneys’ priorities
  • Discretion

Certifications and licenses worth listing

  • Paralegal certificate or degree (in progress or complete): shows you are building toward substantive legal work.
  • NALS Accredited Legal Professional (ALP): an entry-level certification designed for legal support staff.
  • Notary public commission: useful in many firms, especially estate planning, real estate and personal injury.

Length and format

One page. Summary, legal experience with four or five bullets, earlier jobs with one or two, then education, certifications and a skills list with the software you use.

Common mistakes

  • Generic office bullets (“answered phones, filed documents”) without volume or the legal context.
  • Leaving out the practice area. Personal injury, family and corporate legal assistants do different work.
  • Naming clients or cases. Describe the work without identifying anyone.
  • Typos. Law firms read your resume as a sample of your proofreading.

Questions and answers

What is the difference between a legal assistant and a paralegal?

At many firms the paralegal does substantive work under an attorney (drafting, research, discovery) and the legal assistant handles calendars, filings and client contact. Some firms use the titles interchangeably; describe the work you actually did.

Do I need a certificate to be a legal assistant?

No. Many legal assistants start from administrative jobs. A paralegal certificate helps you move up later and is worth listing while in progress.

How do I show results as a legal assistant?

Volume and accuracy: cases supported, filings per month, deadlines kept, records turnaround, files organized. Those are the numbers attorneys care about.

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