Paralegal Resume Example & Writing Guide
Use this Paralegal resume example and guide to improve your career and write a powerful resume that will separate you from the competition.
Paralegals are indispensable members of legal teams who provide support by conducting research, drafting documents, and helping attorneys with their caseloads. They’re skilled researchers and excellent communicators—able to translate complex legal jargon into language that’s easy for non-lawyers to understand.
Because you’re such an integral part of the team, it’s important to write a compelling paralegal resume that highlights your unique skills and experience. Here are some tips and an example resume to help you write an effective paralegal resume that will get you hired.
How to Write a Paralegal Resume
Here’s how to write a paralegal resume of your own.
Write Compelling Bullet Points
Bullet points are the most effective way to showcase your experience and qualifications. But rather than simply listing your responsibilities, you can make your bullet points much more interesting by using them to tell a story about your work.
For example, rather than saying you “assisted attorneys with legal research,” you could say that you “assisted attorneys with legal research for case involving breach of contract, resulting in favorable settlement for client.”
The second bullet point is much more interesting because it provides more detail about what you did and the outcome of your work. And it also provides a clear indication of your level of involvement in the project.
Identify and Include Relevant Keywords
When you submit your resume online, it’s likely that it will be scanned by an applicant tracking system (ATS) for certain keywords. ATS programs rank resumes by scanning them for specific job-related terms. If your resume doesn’t have enough of the right keywords, the ATS might not forward it to a recruiter.
The best way to make sure your resume contains the right keywords is to read through job postings and take note of the words and phrases that are used most often. Then, make sure to include those same words on your resume. Here are some common paralegal keywords to get you started:
- Legal Advice
- Legal Research
- Litigation
- Legal Writing
- Legal Document Preparation
- Corporate Law
- Civil Litigation
- Dispute Resolution
- Commercial Litigation
- Mediation
- Document Drafting
- Westlaw
- Document Review
- Paralegals
- Legal Consulting
- Labor and Employment Law
- Document Review Drafting
- Family Law
- Trademark
- Personal Injury Law
- Arbitration
- Intellectual Property
- Trial Practice
- Legal Support
- Document Drafting & Review
- Trademarks
- Legal Document Preparation
- Administrative Law
- Legal Administration
- Pleadings
Showcase Your Technical Skills
Recruiters are looking for paralegals who are proficient in the use of technology, like legal research databases and case management software. They also want to see that you have experience with specific programs, like Microsoft Office Suite and Westlaw. Being able to list your level of expertise in each area will show that you’re a valuable asset to any law firm.