Resume example

Paralegal resume example

paralegal supporting attorneys with precise legal research and case preparation that strengthens filings and streamlines discovery. See a recruiter-approved, ATS-friendly sample below — then build your own free.

A strong Paralegal resume leads with a 2–3 line summary of your Legal Research impact, 3–5 quantified bullet points per role (action verb + measurable result), and a skills section that mirrors the job posting — all in a single-column, ATS-safe layout. The example below shows exactly that.

A great Paralegal resume does two jobs at once: it passes automated tracking systems and it convinces a busy recruiter in seconds. The example below is built in our Startup template — recruiter-approved, ATS-friendly, and quantified. Use it as a blueprint for structure, tone, and the kind of measurable results (Legal Research, Document Drafting, Case Management) that get Paralegals interviews.

Noah Kim portrait
Noah Kim
Paralegal
noah.kim@email.com · (555) 010-3072 · San Francisco, CA
Summary

paralegal supporting attorneys with precise legal research and case preparation that strengthens filings and streamlines discovery. 8+ years of measurable impact, strong collaboration, and a track record of exceeding goals.

Experience
Senior Paralegal, Vertex
2021 – Present · San Francisco, Remote
Drove Legal Research-led initiatives that improved a core metric by 27% and saved an estimated $420K annually
Led a cross-functional team of 7, delivering paralegal work on time and above target
Introduced Case Management practices that cut turnaround time 28% across the team
Paralegal, Solstice
2018 – 2021 · San Francisco, CA
Owned Document Drafting delivery end-to-end, consistently exceeding targets by 30%+
Partnered with stakeholders to launch 5 initiatives generating measurable ROI
Skills
Legal ResearchDocument DraftingCase ManagementE-DiscoveryLitigation SupportWestlawContract ReviewRegulatory Filings
Education
B.S., Business Administration
NYU · 2014 – 2018

A real Paralegal resume example in our Startup template — recruiter-approved & ATS-friendly. Yours stays truthful and tailored to you.

Build each section

Paralegal resume: summary, bullets & skills

Professional summary example

Paralegal with 5+ years of experience supporting litigation and corporate legal teams. Reduced document review turnaround time by 30% using Relativity and Westlaw while managing a 150-case docket. Skilled in e-discovery, regulatory filings, and contract review.

Example paralegal resume bullet points

  • ✓Drafted 200+ pleadings, motions, and discovery responses using Microsoft Word and case management software, reducing attorney review time by 25%
  • ✓Conducted legal research on Westlaw and LexisNexis for 15 active litigation matters, summarizing 500+ cases into memos that informed settlement strategy
  • ✓Managed e-discovery for a 2TB document production using Relativity, processing 50,000+ records and cutting review costs by 20%

These are examples — swap in your own real numbers. Here’s how to quantify achievements.

Key paralegal skills & keywords

Legal Research and Drafting
Legal researchdocument draftingcontract reviewregulatory filingscase law analysis
Litigation and Case Management
Case managemente-discoverylitigation supporttrial preparationdocket management
Tools and Platforms
WestlawLexisNexisRelativityConcordanceMicrosoft OfficePACER

Mirror the job post’s exact wording — find the right keywords.

How to write a Paralegal resume

  • ✓Lead every bullet with a strong action verb and a number — Paralegals who quantify impact get noticed.
  • ✓Mirror the exact keywords from the job posting (skills like Legal Research, Document Drafting, Case Management) so you pass ATS scans — our free ATS checker shows your match instantly.
  • ✓Keep it single-column and one to two pages — clean formatting parses reliably. Start from an ATS-safe template.
  • ✓Tailor a fresh version for each application; a generic resume rarely beats a targeted one.

Ready to write yours? Add a matching Paralegal cover letter, then check your ATS score before you apply.

What good looks like

Paralegal resume, section by section

🎯

Summary

2–3 lines: your title, years of experience, and a signature Legal Research win. Tailor it to every posting.

💼

Experience

Reverse-chronological. Each bullet = action verb + what you did + a measurable result (%, $, scale, time).

🛠️

Skills

A scannable list of role-relevant tools and methods — mirror the job's wording (e.g. Legal Research, Document Drafting, Case Management).

Frequently asked

What skills should a Paralegal put on a resume?
High-value skills for a Paralegal include Legal Research, Document Drafting, Case Management, E-Discovery, Litigation Support, Westlaw, Contract Review, Regulatory Filings. List the ones that appear in the job description first, and back each with a quantified achievement rather than a bare keyword. ResumesKey’s ATS checker highlights any must-have skills you’re missing.
How long should a Paralegal resume be?
One page is right for most candidates; use two pages only with extensive, relevant experience (typically 10+ years). Recruiters spend about 7 seconds on a first pass, so lead with your strongest, most quantified bullets. ResumesKey flags if yours runs long.
What is the best resume format for a Paralegal?
A clean, single-column reverse-chronological format parses most reliably through ATS and is easiest for recruiters to scan. Avoid tables, text boxes, and multi-column layouts that scramble in parsers. Every ResumesKey template is built to stay ATS-safe.
How do I make a Paralegal resume pass ATS?
Mirror the exact keywords and skills from the posting, save as a standard PDF, use conventional section headings (Experience, Skills, Education), and skip graphics or icons in the body. Run it through our free ATS checker to see your match score and fixes before you apply.
What should a Paralegal resume summary include?
Open with your title and years of experience, then 1–2 signature, quantified wins relevant to the target role — e.g. the kind of Legal Research or Document Drafting impact you’ve driven. Keep it to 2–3 lines and tailor it to each job.
Is the Paralegal resume example free to use?
Yes — this example is free to view, and you can build your own on ResumesKey for free and download a real PDF (watermarked) with no credit card. A one-time $5 unlock or $9 Job Pass removes the watermark and unlocks Word/DOCX — no subscription required.

Build your Paralegal resume free

Use this example as a starting point — real PDF & DOCX, no credit card.

Get started free