Legal professionals know how to argue and back up their arguments with solid facts and case history. That’s exactly what a great paralegal CV does for your job search: It takes your skills and experience, backs them up with data and details, and propels recruiters to grant you an interview.
To get started on your application document, use the resources from Resume.io that are already at your fingertips. We provide CV guides and CV examples for 60+ professions, and an easy-to-use resume builder. With your abilities and our tools, you’ll be on your way to a great job in no time.
Keep reading, because this CV guide, with the its embedded CV example, will offer answers and advice on the following topics:
First up, let’s take a look at this job role. Paralegals perform legal tasks and services, most of the time for a solicitor, barrister, chartered legal executive or licenced conveyancer. Paralegals are not qualified in any of these legal capacities, but do have legal training.
Some specific task paralegals perform are:
Paralegals may work in a firm of solicitors, a paralegal law firm, a set of chambers, in the private and public sector, within government or industry, or for not-for-profit organisations and charities.
The demand for paralegals has been on the rise for the past few years as legal professionals and those seeking legal help realise that they don’t need to pay a solicitor’s hourly rate to get the job done. An estimated 100,000 paralegals work in the UK, making it the second largest profession in the legal services market after solicitors.
How much does a paralegal earn?
How much a paralegal earns depends on several factors. The location, the area of practice, size of employer, experience level, and responsibility level all contribute. Here are some salary ranges, according to Prospects:
Before you begin compiling your paralegal CV, you need to break it down into sections.
As you can see in our CV sample, your application should contain the following elements:
The next key decision you will make is the format of your CV. Let’s discuss that now.
We typically recommend the reverse chronological order format for CVs and your paralegal CV is no exception. That’s because it allows recruiters to easily find the information they seek – your most recent position, skills, and contact information – in a style to which they are accustomed.
It also makes your life easier since online HR software, or the Applicant Tracking System (ATS), is set up to scan CVs in this format.
Unless you are a career changer with many transferable skills, looking for your first job, or have a gap in your CV you wish to explain, stick with reverse chronological order. Otherwise, you may consider one of the other CV formats we suggest.
Whenever you answer a job advert through an online system, that system will be ranking your CV based on keywords and phrases important to your prospective employer. Make sure you correlate your words with those in the job advert to give your CV the best chance of passing this first test.
Especially if you aspire to work in a large firm, you must demonstrate not just your legal knowledge, but your professional demeanour as well. The summary of your paralegal CV is the place to accomplish this. Start with a description of your biggest achievement and go from there.
Use the other two or three sentences to relate your legal philosophy and explain how your experience will enhance the law practice. Always keep in mind that employers want to know what you will bring to them, not what they offer you.
Highly detail-oriented and efficient Paralegal with proven capacity for excelling in a challenging litigation / corporate paralegal role with a successful law firm. Deadline-driven in conducting legal research for cases of all sizes and generating / revising documentation to support a wide range of case proceedings. Type 85 WPM with complete accuracy.
You can find additional writing material in our related CV examples:
Instead of creating a list of responsibilities, the employment history section of your paralegal CV should show your prospective employer how you have grown in your career. Compile a bulleted list of your highest-level or most impressive tasks. Save space by eliminating basic responsibilities.
Just as you develop a case by presenting evidence to back up your assertions, you must do so in your CV. Don’t merely say that you assisted many clients; instead, detail a particularly difficult case or research project. Use data to describe how you increased office efficiency or handled numerous cases.
Corporate Paralegal at Law Firm Limited, London, UK
June 2018 - Present
Litigation Assistant at JMW Solicitors LLP, London, UK
February 2014 - June 2018
Legal Secretary at ITN Solicitors, London, UK
May 2012 - January 2014
This section of your CV is designed to allow recruiters to quickly scan your skills to see if they fit their needs. That’s why personalisation is so important. Match your CV skills list to those desired by your targeted employer. Choose high-level abilities over basic ones.
As a professional who works with clients as well as coworkers, you also need to demonstrate that you have communication, collaboration, and organisational skills. This section of your CV should contain a blend of your legal knowledge and abilities and your people-oriented skills.
You do not need a law degree to become a paralegal, but you may have some sort of legal training. That might include a National Association of Licensed Paralegals (NALP) practice award, certificate, or diploma or another type of postgraduate paralegal diploma.
This is the place to list that along with any other academic achievements you have. If you have earned any awards or professional accolades, you may consider creating a new section to highlight them.
Paralegal Studies Diploma, Law Training Centre, Ashford, UK
February 2010 - February 2012
Law firms are traditionally conservative workplaces, so keep your CV design neat, clean, and professional. Avoid colour, fancy fonts, or overly busy layouts. Here are a few more guidelines to follow:
If you’re not a layout or formatting whiz, consider using one of Resume.io’s expertly-designed CV templates to speed the development of your CV and avoid costly errors.