Records Manager Resume Guide

Introduction

Creating a resume with the right keywords for a Records Manager in legal is essential for passing applicant tracking systems (ATS) and catching the eye of hiring managers. In 2025, legal records management continues to evolve with digital tools and compliance standards, making targeted keywords more important than ever. This guide helps entry-level candidates optimize their resumes to highlight relevant skills and experience effectively.

Who Is This For?

This guide is designed for individuals starting their career as a Records Manager in the legal sector, whether recent graduates, interns, or those transitioning from related roles. If you are based in any region and have limited professional experience but want to demonstrate your understanding of legal records management, this guide will help you craft an ATS-friendly resume that emphasizes your potential and foundational knowledge.

Resume Format for Records Manager in Legal (2025)

For entry-level candidates, a clear, straightforward format works best. Begin with a summary or objective that emphasizes your enthusiasm for legal records management. Follow with a skills section that features relevant keywords, then detail your education, internships, or related experience. If you have relevant projects or coursework, include a dedicated section. Use a one- or two-page layout depending on your experience, with the second page reserved for significant projects or certifications. Avoid overly complex designs—stick to clean, ATS-compatible fonts and layouts. When including certifications or portfolio links, ensure they are easy to read and properly labeled.

Role-Specific Skills & Keywords

To optimize your resume for ATS scans, incorporate these keywords and skills relevant to a legal records manager role in 2025:

• Legal records management
• Document retention and disposal
• Electronic document management systems (EDMS)
• Compliance with legal and regulatory standards
• Confidentiality and data privacy
• Legal coding and indexing
• Records inventory and audit procedures
• Litigation support documentation
• Digital archiving and backup
• Knowledge of GDPR, HIPAA, or local data protection laws
• Metadata tagging
• File classification and indexing
• Soft skills: attention to detail, organizational skills, communication, problem-solving, adaptability
• Software proficiency: MS Office Suite, SharePoint, iManage, LexisNexis, eDiscovery tools

Integrate these keywords naturally within your experience descriptions, skills list, and profile summary to improve ATS visibility.

Experience Bullets That Stand Out

Since this is an entry-level resume, focus on relevant internships, coursework, or volunteer work. Use action verbs and quantify achievements where possible:

• Assisted in organizing and maintaining legal case files, improving retrieval time by ~20%
• Supported the digitization of paper records, reducing physical storage needs by 30%
• Ensured compliance with data privacy policies during record handling, safeguarding sensitive client information
• Participated in legal document audits, identifying discrepancies and contributing to 100% accuracy
• Managed electronic filing systems, increasing efficiency in document retrieval and updating
• Maintained records inventory and performed regular audits, supporting legal team compliance efforts
• Contributed to the development of standard operating procedures for document retention

These examples showcase your ability to handle core responsibilities and demonstrate your understanding of legal records management principles.

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Common Mistakes (and Fixes)

• Vague summaries: Avoid generic phrases like “responsible for managing records.” Instead, specify your tasks, tools used, and outcomes.
• Dense paragraphs: Break down information into bullet points for easy scanning.
• Overloading with generic skills: Focus on role-specific keywords rather than broad terms like “team player” unless supported by concrete examples.
• Decorative formatting: Keep your resume simple; heavy use of tables, graphics, or text boxes can hinder ATS parsing.
• Omitting keywords: Review job postings for keywords and ensure they appear naturally in your resume content.

ATS Tips You Shouldn't Skip

• Save your resume as a Word document (.docx) or PDF, depending on the employer’s instructions.
• Use clear section headings like “Professional Summary,” “Skills,” “Experience,” and “Education.”
• Incorporate synonyms and related terms (e.g., “document management,” “records administration”) to maximize keyword coverage.
• Maintain consistent formatting, including font style and size.
• Avoid using tables or columns that can confuse ATS software.
• Use past tense for previous roles and present tense for current roles or skills.
• Name your file professionally, e.g., “FirstName_LastName_RecordsManager2025.docx.”

Following these guidelines ensures your resume is optimized for ATS scans and positions you effectively for an entry-level legal records manager role.