Resume

Legal Researcher Resume Example & Writing Guide

Use this Legal Researcher resume example and guide to improve your career and write a powerful resume that will separate you from the competition.

Legal researchers are an integral part of the law firm or corporate legal department. They’re tasked with finding information related to specific cases or projects so that attorneys can make informed decisions about their work.

Legal researchers might work directly with attorneys on their cases or with paralegals on larger projects with multiple components. Either way, they need to be highly organized and efficient at finding information quickly.

Here are some tips and an example to help you write a compelling legal researcher resume that will land you interviews with top firms.

David Moore
New York City, NY | (123) 456-7891 | [email protected]
Summary

Experienced legal researcher with a passion for civil liberties and social justice. Proven ability to manage complex legal research projects, identify relevant case law, and draft comprehensive legal memoranda. Seeking an opportunity to use research skills to make a positive impact in the world.

Education
Brooklyn Law School Jun '10
J.D.
University of Pennsylvania Jun '06
B.A. in Political Science
Experience
Company A, Legal Researcher Jan '17 – Current
  • Researched and analyzed legal cases, statutes, regulations, and other sources of law to provide information for use in developing arguments or defenses in support of the company’s clients’ positions.
  • Drafted memoranda summarizing research findings and presented them orally to attorneys as well as assisted with document review projects including organizing documents into folders based on client matter/subject matter.
  • Assisted attorneys by conducting internet searches using various search engines such as LexisNexis, Westlaw, Google Scholar, etc., locating articles that may be helpful in preparing a case.
  • Maintained attorney files by copying documents from incoming boxes onto file folders organized by client name and maintained electronic records through database entry utilizing Microsoft Access software.
  • Provided general office assistance such as photocopying materials, filing papers, delivering messages within the office building or between offices when necessary, maintaining conference rooms (setting up chairs at appropriate times), cleaning work areas and kitchen area(s) after lunch each day, etc..
Company B, Legal Researcher Jan '12 – Dec '16
  • Assisted in the drafting of a patent application for an international client, which resulted in a favorable outcome
  • Conducted extensive research on legal issues and prepared written reports to be used as evidence in court cases
  • Provided general administrative support for the firm’s attorneys by answering phone calls and emails from clients
  • Collaborated with other researchers to compile comprehensive case files that were submitted to courts for review
  • Prepared detailed timelines of events surrounding each case, including witness statements and police reports
Company C, Paralegal Jan '09 – Dec '11
  • Researched and gathered data relevant to assigned cases such as statutes, judicial decisions, and legal articles.
  • Assisted attorneys in the preparation of briefs, motions, and other legal documents.
  • Maintained communication with clients to keep them updated on the status of their cases.
Certifications
  • Certified Legal Research Professional
  • Certified Paralegal
  • Member, New York State Bar Association
Skills

Industry Knowledge: Legal Research, Legal Writing, Paralegal
Technical Skills: Westlaw, LexisNexis, Microsoft Office Suite, Google Drive
Soft Skills: Communication, Teamwork, Problem Solving, Leadership, Attention to Detail, Critical Thinking

How to Write a Legal Researcher Resume

Here’s how to write a resume of your own.

Write Compelling Bullet Points

Bullet points are the most effective way to showcase your experience and qualifications. And when it comes to legal research, you can use bullet points to describe the type of research you conducted, the type of information you found, and the type of organization or company you worked for.

For example, rather than saying you “conducted legal research,” you could say you “conducted legal research for a major pharmaceutical company to identify potential patent infringement by competitors.”

The second bullet point is much more specific and tells the reader not only what you did but also the outcome of your work.

Identify and Include Relevant Keywords

When you submit your resume for a legal researcher role, it’s likely that it will be scanned by an applicant tracking system (ATS) for certain keywords. These programs look for specific terms related to the job, like “evidence” or “legal research,” in order to determine whether your skills are a match. If your resume doesn’t include enough of the right terms, the ATS might filter out your application.

To increase your chances of getting an interview, make sure to include relevant keywords throughout all sections of your resume. You can find a list of common legal researcher keywords below:

  • Legal Research
  • Legal Writing
  • Litigation
  • Legal Advice
  • Corporate Law
  • Civil Litigation
  • Legal Document Preparation
  • Westlaw
  • Intellectual Property
  • Labor and Employment Law
  • Appeals
  • Legal Contract Review
  • Commercial Litigation
  • Legal Consulting
  • Document Drafting
  • Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A)
  • Trials
  • Criminal Law
  • LexisNexis
  • Trial Practice
  • Document Review
  • Research
  • Document Review Services
  • Document Drafting
  • Due Diligence
  • Document Preparation
  • Corporate Governance
  • Public Speaking
  • Microsoft Access
  • Family Law

Showcase Your Technical Skills

As a legal researcher, you will be expected to be proficient in the use of legal research databases, such as LexisNexis and Westlaw. You should also have experience with using a variety of software programs, such as Microsoft Office Suite and Adobe Acrobat. Additionally, it is helpful to be familiar with legal case management software, as this can be used to keep track of deadlines and progress on cases.

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