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Although paralegals aren’t qualified lawyers, they are invaluable members of legal practice. Assisting with everything from administrative duties to drafting official documents, paralegals can be trusted with a huge variety of tasks. But such a varied scope can make it difficult to write a targeted CV.
If you need a professional paralegal CV, you’re in the right place. At myPerfectCV, you’ll find everything you need – recruiter tips, a top-rated UK paralegal CV example, and our proven CV builder tool. We’ll make it quick and easy to polish your paralegal CV today.
Start by editing this Paralegal CV template, or peruse our extensive collection of free CV templates to find one that matches your needs.
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How to write a paralegal CV
A strong paralegal CV proves that you’re detail-oriented, legally knowledgeable, and capable of supporting lawyers and clients in high-pressure situations. Whether you’re applying to a law firm, in-house legal department, or government body, your CV should clearly highlight your technical legal skills, research ability, and administrative strength.
Here’s how to build a professional and compelling legal assistant CV, section by section:
1. Start with contact details
At the top of your paralegal CV, list:
- Full name
- Phone number
- Professional email address
- Town or city of residence
- Optional: LinkedIn profile or professional portfolio (if applicable)
Example:
Manchester, M4
alex.mitchell@email.com
07700 123 456
linkedin.com/in/alexmitchelllegal
2. Write a focused personal statement
Your CV summary (also called a professional profile) is the first thing recruiters read, so it must clearly communicate your legal expertise, specialisms, and goals. Include:
- Your current role or professional title
- Area of legal specialism
- Experience level or recent qualification
- Key soft and hard skills
- One quantified achievement that proves your impact
For example:
3. Describe your work experience
Your work history is key in a paralegal CV. List your roles in reverse chronological order, focusing on tasks and achievements that reflect legal competency. Include:
- Job title
- Organisation name
- Dates of employment (month/year)
- Location
- 4–6 bullet points per role with measurable accomplishments where possible
For example:
Paralegal – Family Law
Watkins Legal, Leeds | Feb 2021 – Present
- Drafted legal documents including divorce petitions, witness statements, and client correspondence
- Conducted research on child custody laws and precedents to support solicitor arguments
- Managed over 30 client case files concurrently while ensuring data compliance
- Prepared and filed court documents in accordance with HMCTS procedures
- Scheduled client meetings and supported solicitor in court preparation
Use action verbs like drafted, researched, supported, managed, and quantify your work when possible (e.g., handled 50+ files, reduced turnaround time by 20%).
4. Highlight both hard and soft skills
Your paralegal CV skills section should combine hard skills (technical/legal abilities) with soft skills (personal and interpersonal strengths). Employers value both equally—hard skills show what you can do, while soft skills show how you do it.
Sample hard skills for a paralegal CV:
- Legal research (Westlaw, LexisNexis)
- Document drafting (contracts, affidavits)
- Case file management
- Familiarity with court procedures
- Legal software (Clio, LEAP, PracticePanther)
- Data privacy compliance (GDPR)
Sample soft skills for a paralegal CV:
- Attention to detail
- Confidentiality and discretion
- Time management
- Communication skills (verbal and written)
- Organisation and multitasking
- Client service skills
5. Add your education
Legal qualifications and academic background matter greatly in a paralegal CV. List your CV education in reverse chronological order. Include:
- Course or qualification
- Institution
- Location
- Dates of attendance or completion
For example:
CILEx Level 3 Diploma in Law and Practice
CILEx Law School, Online | Completed 2022
LLB (Hons) Law
University of Liverpool | 2017 – 2020
6. Include bonus sections to strengthen your paralegal CV
To give your paralegal CV an edge, consider adding relevant bonus sections. These can offer valuable context and show dedication to your legal career.
Common bonus sections for a legal CV:
- Certifications & CPD: e.g. Legal Secretary training, GDPR compliance, AML awareness
- Tools & software: Clio, LEAP, PracticePanther, MS Office
- Languages: Multilingual skills are useful for international or immigration law
- Professional memberships: CILEx, Law Society affiliate, Young Legal Aid Lawyers
- Awards or achievements: e.g. Internal recognition, legal writing competitions
7. Format your CV professionally
Law firms expect clean, precise, and formal CVs. Follow these formatting tips:
- Font: Use a clear, traditional CV font like Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman
- Font size: 10–12 pt for body text; 14–16 pt for headings
- Margins: Standard 1-inch (2.5 cm) margins
- Line spacing: Use 1.15–1.5 spacing for clarity
- Length: 1 page if you’re new to the profession; 2 pages for those with several years of experience
- File format: Save your CV as a PDF unless the employer specifies otherwise
- Section layout: Use bold headers and bullet points to break up content
Avoid colours, graphics, or creative layouts—a paralegal CV should be professional and ATS-friendly.
Discover our top recruiter tips for writing your paralegal CV
Writing your CV shouldn’t feel like a trial. By following our top tips for UK applicants, you can craft a paralegal CV that ticks every box.
Highlight your specialist training
Although paralegals don’t require a law degree, it’s still important to have the necessary training for the role. That could be a legal secretary diploma, a certificate from the National Association of Licensed Paralegals (NALP), or even a paralegal postgraduate qualification.
Demonstrate your organisational skills
Paralegals are responsible for carrying out a range of administrative tasks, so careful organisation skills are a must. By using a well-structured UK paralegal CV template, you can show off your organisation before a recruiter even reads your application.
Use keywords from the paralegal job description
As a paralegal, you could work in a variety of different legal fields. Your day-to-day tasks could range from trial preparation to investigating clients, so it’s important to make sure your CV stays relevant to the specific role you’re applying for. Including keywords and phrases from the job description is a great way to do this.
Show attention to detail
Whether you’re checking documents or filing case notes, it’s crucial to have an impressive eye for detail as a paralegal. If your CV contains a typo, it could suggest you’re not careful enough for the role – so always proofread your application before you hit ‘send’.
Share your personality
Paralegals will work closely alongside a range of people, from qualified lawyers to valued clients. That makes it important to have the right interpersonal skills for the job. To show your recruiter you can work well with others, include positive language to describe your work ethic and approach as part of your personal statement.
Top-rated questions about your paralegal CV
What is a paralegal?
A paralegal is a legal professional that works for a law firm, but isn’t qualified to advise clients or sign legal documents. They may carry out a wide range of administrative duties, from investigation to arranging mediation between legal parties. The nature of different paralegal roles will depend on the firm and can vary enormously in scope.
How to become a paralegal?
You don’t need a law degree (or any degree) to become a paralegal, but you will need a good legal knowledge. Unless you’re applying for a trainee paralegal role, you might find it helpful to have a relevant qualification such as a legal diploma or paralegal certificate. It can give you a solid grounding in the paralegal duties and responsibilities and help you stand out from other applicants.
What skills should a paralegal have?
A paralegal will need a strong combination of practical, administrative skills and legal knowledge. Some of the most important skills include communication, the ability to handle sensitive information, and organisation. You will also need to have excellent research skills to investigate clients and write background reports.
How do you write a paralegal CV?
When writing your paralegal CV, make sure to follow to the same structure as our UK paralegal CV sample, ensuring you cover the following sections:
- A personal statement that outlines your career situation, goals, and key qualities.
- A work experience section that includes your previous positions, with 4-6 bullet points to explain your role in each job.
- A skills section that lists your most important professional skills.
- An education section that outlines your relevant qualifications, including any additional certificates as well as your academic achievements.
How much can you earn as a paralegal in the UK?
According to information from Indeed, the average base salary for a professional paralegal in the UK is £22,920 a year. Depending on your experience level, location, and particular field of law, it can increase to around £30,000 a year.
Get your application in order with our trusted CV builder
To take the next step in your career, you’ll need to write an impressive paralegal CV profile. Discover all the tips, tricks, and tools you need at myPerfectCV. Select your professional template and tailorable content to create your recruiter-ready CV today.
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