Paralegal Resume Example & Writing Guide
View a professional paralegal resume example with proven bullet points, key skills, and expert tips. Copy what works and customize with your own experience.
Professional Summary Examples
Start your resume with a compelling summary. Here are proven examples you can adapt:
Detail-oriented paralegal with 6+ years of experience supporting litigation and corporate legal teams. Managed caseloads of 80+ active matters while maintaining a 98% on-time filing record. Proficient in Westlaw, LexisNexis, and Relativity for e-discovery and legal research.
Experienced paralegal specializing in intellectual property and contract law with a proven track record of reducing document review time by 35% through streamlined workflows. Coordinated depositions for 50+ cases and prepared trial exhibits cited by attorneys in 20+ court proceedings.
Certified paralegal with expertise in corporate governance and regulatory compliance. Drafted and reviewed 200+ contracts annually with a 99% accuracy rate. Skilled at managing tight deadlines across multiple practice areas while delivering thorough, well-organized legal support.
Work Experience Bullet Points
Use these achievement-focused bullet points as inspiration. Replace the numbers with your own metrics.
- Managed a caseload of 85+ active litigation matters simultaneously, ensuring 100% compliance with court-mandated deadlines across 3 jurisdictions
- Conducted legal research and drafted memoranda for 40+ motions, contributing to a 75% favorable ruling rate for the firm
- Reduced document review time by 35% by implementing a standardized tagging protocol in Relativity for e-discovery projects spanning 500K+ documents
- Prepared trial exhibits and witness binders for 12 jury trials, supporting attorneys in securing $8M+ in client settlements
- Drafted and proofread 200+ contracts, NDAs, and corporate governance documents annually with a 99.5% accuracy rate
- Coordinated 60+ depositions including scheduling, transcript review, and summary preparation, reducing attorney prep time by 20%
- Organized and maintained digital case files for 150+ matters using case management software, improving retrieval efficiency by 40%
- Assisted with due diligence for 5 corporate acquisitions valued at $50M+, reviewing 1,200+ documents within tight 30-day timelines
- Filed 300+ court documents electronically across state and federal courts with zero rejected filings over a 3-year period
- Trained 4 junior paralegals on research methodologies and firm procedures, reducing onboarding time from 6 weeks to 3 weeks
Key Skills for Paralegal Resume
Include these skills on your resume to pass ATS screening and impress recruiters:
Recommended Certifications
These certifications can strengthen your paralegal resume:
Tips for Your Paralegal Resume
- Quantify your achievements: Use specific numbers, percentages, and dollar amounts to demonstrate impact.
- Use industry keywords: Include terms from the job description to pass ATS screening.
- Lead with action verbs: Start bullet points with strong verbs like developed, implemented, increased, reduced.
- Keep it concise: Aim for one page unless you have 10+ years of relevant experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
What skills should I put on a paralegal resume?
Highlight legal research tools (Westlaw, LexisNexis), case management software (Clio, PracticePanther), e-discovery platforms (Relativity), document drafting, contract review, litigation support, and strong organizational skills. Tailor skills to the specific practice area mentioned in the job posting, whether it is corporate, litigation, IP, or family law.
Should I include my paralegal certification on my resume?
Absolutely. Certifications like the Certified Paralegal (CP) from NALA or the Professional Paralegal (PP) from NFPA distinguish you from other candidates. Place certifications prominently near your name or in a dedicated section. Many employers prefer or require certified candidates, and it can increase earning potential by 10-15%.
How do I show achievements on a paralegal resume instead of just duties?
Quantify your impact with numbers. Instead of saying you managed cases, state you managed 80+ active matters with 100% deadline compliance. Instead of conducted research, say you drafted research memos supporting a 75% favorable motion outcome. Include metrics like documents reviewed, filing accuracy rates, and time savings from process improvements.
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