What skills should I put on a Paralegal resume?

Key skills for a Paralegal resume include: Legal research (Westlaw, LexisNexis), Contract & motion drafting, E-discovery & document review, Case management software (Clio, MyCase). Focus on skills mentioned in the job description and use exact keyword matches to pass ATS screening.

What is the best resume template for a Paralegal?

The best resume template for a Paralegal depends on your industry and experience level. We recommend starting with the classic template — it is ATS-friendly and professionally designed for legal roles.

How long should a Paralegal resume be?

For most paralegal positions, a one-page resume is ideal. If you have more than 10 years of relevant experience, a two-page resume is acceptable.

What achievements should I include on a Paralegal resume?

Use quantified achievements tied to the role: efficiency gains, revenue impact, quality improvements, customer outcomes, or project delivery metrics. Include percentages, dollar values, or time savings whenever possible.

Paralegal Resume Example & Template (2026)

A paralegal resume should highlight the practice areas you support, legal software proficiency, research and drafting skills, and any paralegal certifications.

Build my Paralegal resume

Sample professional summary for a Paralegal resume

Paralegal with proven results in legal environments, delivering measurable impact through legal research (westlaw, lexisnexis) and contract & motion drafting. Recognized for improving team outcomes, strengthening process quality, and driving consistently strong performance against business targets.

Quantified bullet examples for a Paralegal resume

Use these as inspiration and adapt with your real numbers, tools, and outcomes.

Improved legal research (westlaw, lexisnexis) by 28% over 2 quarters by redesigning workflows and introducing clearer performance tracking.
Reduced project turnaround time by 35% while maintaining 99% quality standards across high-priority deliverables for paralegal initiatives.
Led cross-functional collaboration with 6+ stakeholders to deliver a strategic initiative that increased team productivity by 22%.
Implemented contract & motion drafting that cut manual effort by 14 hours per week and improved reporting accuracy by 31%.
Exceeded quarterly performance targets by 18% through process improvements, tighter execution, and better prioritization of high-impact work.
Built and documented a repeatable playbook for e-discovery & document review, reducing onboarding time for new hires by 40%.

Key skills to include in a Paralegal resume

ATS systems scan for specific keywords. Including these skills in your resume increases the chance of passing automated screening for paralegal roles.

Legal research (Westlaw, LexisNexis)
Contract & motion drafting
E-discovery & document review
Case management software (Clio, MyCase)
Client intake & communication
Deposition & trial preparation
Billing & time tracking
NALA Certified Paralegal (CP)

Paralegal resume writing tips

Specify the practice area: litigation, corporate, real estate, immigration, family law.
Include any paralegal certificate or NALA/NFPA certification.
Describe the volume and complexity of work: number of active matters, attorneys supported.
Highlight any specialized tasks: managing complex document productions, drafting complex agreements.

Best resume templates for Paralegals

These free templates are well-suited for paralegal resumes — clean, ATS-friendly, and professionally designed.

Pro tip — tailor every resume to the job description

Mirror the exact keywords from the job posting in your resume. ATS systems score resumes based on keyword matches — a tailored resume consistently outperforms a generic one for paralegal roles.

Resume writing guides·Free resume builder

Start building your Paralegal resume now

Free, instant PDF download, no account required. Takes less than 10 minutes.

Build my resume for free