For a legal secretary role, show your knowledge of specific legal software. Mention your experience with programs like Clio, LexisNexis, or Westlaw. This makes your resume stand out.

Include any certifications or training you have completed in legal technology. This tells employers you are prepared and competent in using tools critical to their operations.

As a legal secretary, handling sensitive information securely is very important. Highlight any past roles where you managed confidential information. This can set you apart from other candidates.

Describe the steps you took to protect this information and any training you received on confidentiality. Employers need to trust that you are responsible and detail-oriented.

When you apply for a job, your resume should show you're a perfect fit. This means mentioning skills and experience that match what the job needs. Legal secretaries need to be precise, organized, and good at supporting lawyers. Here's how to make your resume speak to that.

• Show your knowledge of legal terminology and document management by mentioning specific systems or processes you’ve worked with, like e-filing or document drafting.

• Highlight examples where you've supported legal staff. Use bullet points like 'Managed correspondence for a team of 4 attorneys', focusing on teamwork and multitasking.

• If you're coming from a different job, find the common tasks. Maybe you've scheduled appointments or kept records confidential. Mention those skills and connect them to a legal secretary’s work.

When crafting your resume for a legal secretary position, you need to show that you have the right skills for the job. Here's a list of skills to consider including on your resume:

• Legal terminology
• Transcription
• Document preparation
• Court filing procedures
• Calendar management
• Case management software
• Microsoft Office Suite
• Typing speed
• Client billing
• Data entry

As you decide which skills to include, think about the tasks you've done in the past. Choose the skills that match the job you want. Include them in a dedicated skills section for easy reading. This helps with Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) which look for specific keywords related to the job. Not all skills must be listed, but focus on the ones that match your experiences and the job description.

Remember, some skills like case management software might be listed under experience too. This shows how you've used the skill in a work setting. For roles in legal offices, knowing specific software like LexisNexis or Westlaw is good to mention if you have experience with them. Always tailor your resume to fit the job you are applying to, and don't forget to update it as you gain new skills.

When you've climbed the career ladder, show this growth on your resume. If you've been a legal secretary, you might have gained experience that shows you can lead. Include any roles where you were in charge or where you helped the team work better. This will show that you have good skills for managing tasks and people.

Think about times when you:

• Trained new team members, which shows you can teach and lead.
• Headed a project, like updating office filing systems, which shows you can manage tasks.
• Received a promotion from an entry-level position, which shows your growth.
• Were picked to represent your team in meetings, which shows trust in your abilities.

Use simple, clear sentences to describe these experiences. For example:

• 'Promoted to senior legal secretary after leading a digitization project.'
• 'Trusted to train and guide new staff members in document management.'

When you want to show your value as a legal secretary, numbers can be very powerful. They make your achievements clear and easy for hiring managers to understand.

Think about tasks you've done that had measurable outcomes. For example:

• How many legal documents have you drafted or processed? This could be shown as 'Over 500 legal documents drafted'.
• Have you improved filing systems or made data entry more efficient? Estimate the time saved like, 'Reduced file retrieval time by 30%'.

Try to remember specific projects where your work made a difference. Did you help with a large case? Mention something like 'Supported a team of 4 lawyers on a high-profile case'. Or if you implemented a new scheduling system, quantify the improvement, 'Improved meeting scheduling efficiency by 25%'.

Even if you are not sure of the exact number, a good estimate is valuable. Think about how often you completed a task weekly or monthly and use simple math. For example, if you scheduled 15 meetings per week, over a year that adds up to approximately 780 meetings. This gives a hiring manager a clear picture of your experience and impact.

When you're applying for a legal secretary position at a large firm like Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom or Baker McKenzie, show that you can handle complex tasks and large volumes of work. Mention any experience with high-profile cases or managing extensive documentation. Big firms often look for secretaries who can navigate sophisticated case management systems, so highlight any relevant software proficiency.

For smaller firms or startups, such as boutique law offices, the focus is often on versatility and personal rapport. You might be working more closely with a smaller team, so emphasize your communication skills and ability to build strong relationships. Small companies often value a jack-of-all-trades, so showcase a wide range of skills from scheduling to client interaction.

• If targeting a large company, try phrases like 'Managed documentation for high-profile cases' or 'Proficient in advanced legal software systems.'
• Applying to a smaller company, you might say 'Developed strong client relationships' or 'Handled diverse administrative responsibilities.'