Professional Paralegal Project Notes

Overlapping Concepts

  • LEG 240 consists of three units:
    • Unit 1: Litigation and the Paralegal
    • Unit 2: Intake and Interviews
    • Unit 3: Investigations
  • The Professional Paralegal Project has three parts:
    • Resume
    • Mock Interviews
    • Networking Portfolio and Presentation
  • Concepts learned in LEG 240 apply to the professional setting for employment opportunities.

Part One: Resume

  • Unit 1 and the concept of a professional paralegal correlate with the resume portion.
  • Resources include links to sample resumes, articles, and videos related to interviewing.

Resume Creation

  • It is recommended to create a resume from scratch in Word or a similar program instead of using templates.
  • Templates can be difficult to manipulate.

Resume Length

  • Ideally, resumes should be one page.
  • If a resume must be two pages, it should be two full pages.

Resume Formatting

  • Margins: No wider than standard margins, but no less than 0.5 inches on all sides.
  • Font Sizes: Generally, between 10 and 12 points, except for your name.

Resume Content

  • Critical information should be included, such as contact information.
  • Education should be listed; note that you are pursuing an Associate in Applied Science in Paralegal at Greenville Tech.
    • If no paralegal experience, education should come before experience.
    • If there is legal experience, it should be listed before education.
  • Everything should be in reverse chronological order.
  • Balance the information on both sides of the page.

Objective vs. Summary of Qualifications

  • Including an objective is optional.
  • A summary of qualifications with bullet points highlighting key skills may be more effective.

Legal Technology Certificate

  • Include the legal technology certificate earned in LEG 262 through NSLT, with the month and year.

Verbs

  • Use active verbs to describe responsibilities.
  • Past tense for prior employment, present tense for current employment.

Attention to Detail

  • Ensure there are no misspellings or inconsistencies.
  • Print the resume to catch errors.
  • Maintain consistency in formatting (e.g., bolding employer names and italicizing titles).

Education Section

  • List degrees in reverse chronological order, starting with the Greenville Tech degree.
  • Do not include high school information.
  • Include the anticipated graduation date to avoid showing the duration of time spent in the program.
  • Only include degrees that have been earned.

Resume Review and Feedback

  • Detailed feedback and suggested edits will be provided on the resume.
  • Employers may spend as little as 10-20 seconds scanning a resume initially.
  • A well-organized and appealing resume is more likely to be reviewed closely.

Part Two: Mock Interview

  • A legal professional will be assigned to conduct a mock interview.
  • The interview simulates an employment opportunity.
  • Confirm the meeting with the legal professional and email a copy of your resume.
  • The interview can be in person or via Zoom.
  • The interviewer will submit an evaluation form.
  • Thank the interviewer for their time.
  • Interviewers may include senior paralegals, office managers, attorneys, or judges.

Part Three: Networking Portfolio and Presentation

Networking

  • 50% of hires come from personal connections.
  • Complete two networking opportunities.

Networking Opportunities

  • Attend a SCUPA luncheon or event (usually the second Thursday of each month).
  • Attend an LSPG luncheon or event (usually the third Wednesday of each month).
  • Attend a GTCBA meeting with a guest speaker.

Alternatives to In-Person Events

  • Earn a free certificate from LexisNexis, Westlaw, or Clio.
  • Other ideas can be proposed and checked with the instructor.

Proof of Networking Activities

  • Upload certificates from online events.
  • Take a selfie at social events.

Portfolio

  • Create a digital portfolio using LinkedIn or Wix.
  • Hard copies are less common due to virtual interviews.
  • Consider using a QR code on a business card to link to the portfolio.

LinkedIn Profile

  • Create or update your LinkedIn profile.
  • Connect with instructors (e.g., Mr. Bell, Ms. Jayla) and other legal professionals.

Wix Portfolio

  • Wix is a free website for creating a portfolio.
  • A Wix portfolio allows you to share a link with specific individuals.

Portfolio Content

  • Updated resume.
  • At least three writing samples from the paralegal program (e.g., correspondence, memos, pleadings).
  • Two additional sections (choices):
    • Letters of recommendation.
    • List of references.
    • Volunteer experiences.
    • Achievements.
    • Skills.
    • Articles.

File Format

  • Use PDF format for all uploaded documents.

Presentation

  • Create a 5-15 minute video presentation.

Presentation Topics

  • Walk through your portfolio.
  • Explain your overall design and thought process.
  • Discuss your next steps.