![How to Explain Employment Gaps on Resumes [25 Tips]](https://cdn-images.resumelab.com/pages/employment_gaps_listing.jpg?fit=crop&h=175&dpr=3)
How to Explain Employment Gaps on Resumes [25 Tips]
Resume gaps are embarrassing and they can keep you from getting hired. How can you show you’re not a slacker? See this sample resume with gaps in employment and get hired fast.
You make the lawyers in the expensive suits look superhuman while you research, write, and schedule like a champion. Prove it to partners with your legal assistant resume.
You’ve stumbled on the perfect legal assistant resume sample. But they won’t hire the best legal assistant for the job.
They’ll hire whoever has the best resume.
Not a resume writing expert? Don’t worry. We are. And we’ll guide you through the steps to knock those partners on their Gucci mohair pants.
In this guide:
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Nola Breguet
Legal Assistant
Personal Info
Phone: 651-403-4329
Email: nolabreguet@gmail.com
linkedin.com/in/nolabreguet
twitter.com/nolabreguet
Summary
Efficient legal assistant with 3+ years of experience saving time for partners. Seeking to provide fast, excellent support at Dobbins & Eisengart. Wrote 150+ legal documents at Walsh, Harrison & Montana with no errors. Saved 5+ hours a week with new file system.
Certifications
2019 — Certified Paralegal, NALA
2018 — Certified Notary
Experience
Legal Assistant
Walsh, Harrison & Montana, Minneapolis, MN
2016–2019
Key Achievement
Front Desk Clerk
Walsh, Harrison & Montana, Minneapolis, MN
2014–2016
Education
Post Baccalaureate Certificate in Paralegal Studies
Kent State University, OH
2012–2014
BA in Liberal Arts
Carleton College, MN
2008–2012
Skills:
Additional Activities
Legal Assistants are responsible for aiding lawyers with a variety of tasks. These can include taking notes during meetings, scheduling travels and appointments, and answering phone calls and emails. They also often help with creating legal documentation and conducting legal research.
Here’s how to write a legal assistant resume that works:
Yikes!
The format of your resume is sloppy. Now the partners think you’re lazy. At this moment, they’re picturing you dropping horseradish on a case file.
Let’s file an injunction against that. To write a professional legal assistant resume use these tips:
Expert Hint: Glassdoor data shows legal assistants make from $42,000 to $79,000 per year. That’s a massive spread. To find your way to the upper end of the range, target your resume for legal assistant jobs like Jack McCoy. I’ll show how next.
Warning:
Most hiring managers and partners spend 6 seconds reading each resume. But what if you could make them spend ten times that on yours?
You can.
You just need a powerful career objective statement or career summary statement.
Include:
See these legal assistant resume examples:
Verdict?
The second of those legal assistant resume samples promises writing and filing. But the first adds 150+ documents and 5+ hours saved per week.
Saying you’re skilled is nice. Giving proof is hirable.
“But I’m just getting started in the legal assistant field!”
You can still have a great resume. See these entry-level resume samples for legal assistant jobs:
Brief recess.
The second of those entry-level legal assistant resume examples with no experience makes empty promises.
Wouldn’t you rather hire the first? You can believe she’ll do the job. But here’s the kicker—
It’s the same applicant. She just used more details in exhibit A.
What legal assistant skills do you need in a resume? See this list of skills to put on a resume:
Hard Skills | Soft Skills |
Legal Research | Interpersonal Skills |
Writing | Collaboration |
Billing | |
Scheduling | |
Docketing | Efficiency |
Transcription | Problem Solving |
Pleadings | Perception |
Family Law | Attention to Detail |
Contracts | Accountability |
Filing | Analytical Skills |
Don’t pin them all on a resume for legal assistant jobs. That’s shifty.
Instead, write the job description and tailor your resume with resume keywords from the online job posting.
These legal assistant resume samples show how:
Say the job ad wants skills in answering calls, maintaining office records, billing, and proofreading.
Experience
Legal Assistant
Walsh, Harrison & Montana, Minneapolis, MN
2016–2019
I rest my case.
The first of those legal assistant resume examples has evidence of billing, proofreading, and other desired skills. It’s also got 5+, 10%, and 150+ for scale.
But—
What if your legal assistant experience is preliminary? A resume with no experience can use law office achievements from other jobs.
See these junior legal assistant resume examples with no experience:
This job wants answering phones, scheduling, and research.
Front Desk Clerk
Walsh, Harrison & Montana, Minneapolis, MN
2014–2016
Always add numbers when you can to measure your success.
The second of those entry-level legal assistant resume samples misses out on numbers and resume keywords.
Expert Hint: NALA research shows most legal assistants and paralegals work in litigation or family law practices. If you’ve got experience in those areas, show it on your resume for legal assistant jobs. That’s especially powerful if you’re applying to a litigation or family law firm!
The ResumeLab builder is more than looks. Get specific content to boost your chances of getting the job. Add job descriptions, bullet points, and skills. Easy. Improve your resume in our resume builder now.
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Can your resume education section get you hired?
Yes! But not the way you think.
You don’t need a Harvard Law School degree to be a great legal assistant.
You just need to show you built law skills in school.
Follow this legal assistant resume sample:
Education
Post Baccalaureate Certificate in Paralegal Studies
Kent State University, OH
2012–2014
BA in Liberal Arts
Carleton College, MN
2008–2012
Question:
Who will the partners hire? A legal assistant who punched a clock? Or someone passionate?
If you show legal achievements outside work, they’ll know you love your career.
You can add:
See these legal assistant resume examples:
Certifications
2019 — Certified Paralegal, NALA
2018 — Certified Notary
Additional Activities
Additional Activities
The facts?
Only the first of those legal assistant resume samples makes you more hirable.
Expert Hint: Learn how to write a cover letter for a job as a legal assistant. Focus on the firm’s needs so they know you understand them. Then show you’ve handled similar legal assistant duties before.
Double your impact with a matching resume and cover letter combo. Use our cover letter generator and make your application documents pop out.
Want to try a different look? There's 21 more. A single click will give your document a total makeover. Pick a cover letter template here.
Haven't written your cover letter yet? See these related guides:
Here’s how to write a legal assistant resume:
Got questions on how to write good resumes for legal assistant jobs? Not sure how to put legal assistant on a resume? Leave a comment. We’ll be happy to reply!
Resume gaps are embarrassing and they can keep you from getting hired. How can you show you’re not a slacker? See this sample resume with gaps in employment and get hired fast.
You have solid law knowledge and can help top lawyers win their cases. Showcase your expertise with this job-winning law clerk resume example.
Do you have trouble writing your cover letter? Need help figuring out how to start? No more! Plan your cover letter the right way with our cover letter outline guide.