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Entry Level Paralegal Resume
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Writing a resume for an entry level paralegal position can be quite easy for someone who has been trained to think analytically and is well organized. It is a simple matter of gathering all the necessary documents regarding work history and education, and spending a bit of time itemizing realistic skills and qualifications. Once the format of a resume is understood, and all documentation is available, everything else falls into place.
Entry Level Paralegal Resume – Objective Statement
Of course, most individuals who submit a resume will also provide a cover letter with the resume as a means of introduction. However, even in those cases, it is vitally important to state the intention of the resume in a brief line or two. The objective statement is directly under the contact information at the top of the page. An entry level para legal resume might state, “To obtain a challenging position in a busy law firm utilizing my ability to do thorough research and proper documentation.”
Entry Level Paralegal Resume – Qualifications and Skills
Certain qualifications that an entry level paralegal might possess would be to be well versed in Westlaw and Lexis for research, proficient in MS Office, including Excel and PowerPoint, and to have excellent written an oral communication skills. A paralegal would also be great at research and have an analytical mind. Perhaps skills to include would be if the job candidate spoke a second or third language fluently. Many law firms represent clients from other countries, and it is always an added incentive to hire a paralegal that is bilingual.
Professional Experience for an Entry Level Paralegal Resume
Many entry level paralegals are fresh out of school. If there is no previous employment to list on a resume, clinical/practical work that was conducted as part of coursework requirements could be listed here. While it is most important to list only professional experience that is pertinent to the legal field, any work history could be included if necessary. Standard United States resumes are in reverse chronological order, which means that all jobs would be listed from the most recent backwards over a period of perhaps 5 to 10 years. Include the name of the law firm, the location by city and state, and the dates of employment. Immediately following would be specific duties and responsibilities that were part of the job description.
Education Requirements for an Entry Level Paralegal Resume
The final section of an entry level paralegal resume would be where all degrees and certificates would be documented. Begin with the highest level of degree and work backwards to high school. In general, most paralegal resumes would list the certificate program or degree from a community college or four year college where coursework was taken. At the moment there are no educational requirements for becoming a paralegal in most states. It’s a matter of being able to pass the half day exam in order to be certified. Educational requirements will vary from attorney to attorney, so it is imperative to research their requirements.
Most law offices favor experience over education, so it is possible to get a great job with an entry level paralegal resume if the candidate has any previous work history in the field. In order to get ideas on how to format your resume, there are entry level paralegal resume samples online to use as guides.
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