Paralegal Resume Example

A concise, ATS‑friendly resume with measurable outcomes you can adapt.

Paralegal Resume Sample

Alexandra Kim
alexandra@kim.com
(202) 555-0624
linkedin.com/in/alexandra-kim-paralegal
Paralegal
Paralegal with 3+ years supporting litigation, corporate, and regulatory legal teams at mid-size law firm. Managed 50+ active case files across commercial litigation, employment law, and contract disputes. Conducted legal research for 30+ motions and briefs achieving 95% attorney approval rate, coordinated document discovery managing 10,000+ documents, and supported 5 jury trials. Skilled in Westlaw, LexisNexis, Relativity, case management systems, and legal drafting. Certified Paralegal with strong attention to detail, excellent time management under pressure, and commitment to professional excellence.
WORK EXPERIENCE
Paralegal
Jun 2021 – Present
Smith & Associates Law Firm
  • Litigation Case Management: Manage 50+ active case files across commercial litigation, employment law, and contract disputes, maintaining 100% on-time filing rate and supporting attorneys through all phases of litigation
  • Legal Research: Conduct legal research for 30+ motions and briefs using Westlaw and LexisNexis, achieving 95% attorney approval rate and supporting successful case outcomes
  • E-Discovery: Coordinate document discovery managing 10,000+ documents using Relativity platform, conducting privilege review and preparing discovery responses
  • Trial Support: Supported 5 jury trials including witness coordination, exhibit preparation, and courtroom technology operation during trial proceedings
Legal Assistant
May 2020 – May 2021
Regional Law Office
  • Administrative Support: Provided administrative support to 3 attorneys managing calendars, scheduling depositions and court appearances, and maintaining organized case files
  • Document Preparation: Prepared and filed legal documents including pleadings, discovery requests, and motions in state and federal courts using electronic filing systems
  • Client Relations: Served as primary client contact for scheduling and general inquiries, maintaining professional relationships and high client satisfaction
SKILLS & COMPETENCIES
Litigation Case Management | Legal Research (Westlaw, LexisNexis) | Document Discovery and E-Discovery | Relativity Platform | Trial Preparation and Support | Legal Document Drafting | Clio Case Management | Court Filing and Procedures | Deposition Summary Preparation | Client Communication | Bluebook Citation | Microsoft Office Suite (Advanced)
CERTIFICATIONS
Certified Paralegal (CP)
Aug 2022
National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA)
E-Discovery Specialist Certificate
Jan 2023
Relativity Certified User Program
Continuing Legal Education (15 hours annually)
Ongoing
DC Bar Paralegal Division
EDUCATION
Bachelor of Arts in Legal Studies
2017-2021
Georgetown University
Washington, DC
  • Civil Procedure
  • Legal Research and Writing

Tools to build your Paralegal resume

Copy and adapt these proven examples to create a resume that stands out.

Resume Headlines

Use these attention-grabbing headlines to make a strong first impression.

Paralegal | Certified (CP) | Managing 50+ Litigation Case Files
Litigation Paralegal | Westlaw & LexisNexis Expert | 95% Research Approval Rate
Paralegal | E-Discovery Specialist | 10,000+ Documents Managed
Certified Paralegal | Trial Support | Commercial Litigation
Paralegal | Legal Research & Case Management | 100% Deadline Compliance
Paralegal (CP) | Document Discovery | Relativity Platform Expert
Legal Research Specialist | Paralegal | Supporting Complex Litigation

💡 Tip: Choose a headline that reflects your unique value proposition and matches the job requirements.

Power Bullet Points

Adapt these achievement-focused bullets to showcase your impact.

Case Management & Organization

• Manage 50+ active litigation case files across commercial disputes, employment law, and contract litigation, maintaining detailed case notes, tracking deadlines, and achieving 100% on-time filing rate
• Coordinate case calendaring and deadline management using Clio case management system, monitoring court dates, discovery deadlines, and filing requirements for multiple attorneys
• Organize and maintain case files including pleadings, discovery materials, correspondence, and exhibits for easy attorney access and trial preparation
• Communicate with clients, opposing counsel, and court personnel regarding scheduling, document requests, and case status updates while maintaining professional client relationships

Legal Research & Writing

• Conduct comprehensive legal research using Westlaw and LexisNexis for 30+ motions and briefs, analyzing case law, statutes, and regulations with 95% attorney approval rate
• Draft legal memoranda summarizing research findings on complex legal issues including contract interpretation, employment law matters, and procedural questions
• Cite-check and Bluebook-format legal briefs, motions, and appellate documents ensuring accuracy and compliance with court rules
• Research jury instructions, expert witness qualifications, and evidentiary issues supporting trial preparation and motion practice

Document Discovery & E-Discovery

• Coordinate document discovery for complex commercial litigation managing 10,000+ documents including collection, review, privilege screening, and production using Relativity platform
• Conduct first-level document review identifying key documents, privileged materials, and responsive records while maintaining detailed privilege logs
• Manage discovery responses including preparing interrogatory answers, document production letters, and objection responses meeting all court-ordered deadlines
• Organize deposition exhibits and prepare deposition summaries for attorney review, highlighting key testimony and identifying inconsistencies

Trial Preparation & Support

• Supported 5 jury trials from pre-trial through verdict including witness coordination, exhibit preparation, courtroom technology setup, and real-time trial assistance
• Prepared trial notebooks and exhibit binders organizing hundreds of documents, depositions, and exhibits for efficient courtroom reference
• Coordinated witness scheduling and preparation including subpoena service, travel arrangements, and trial date coordination
• Operated courtroom presentation technology including document cameras, PowerPoint displays, and video depositions during trial proceedings

💡 Tip: Replace generic terms with specific metrics, technologies, and outcomes from your experience.

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Resume Writing Tips for Paralegals

1

Lead with Volume and Accuracy

Paralegals are measured on capacity and precision. Start bullets with workload ("Manage 50+ case files") AND accuracy ("100% on-time filing rate" or "95% attorney approval"). Show you can handle high volume without sacrificing quality, which is critical in fast-paced legal environments.

2

Quantify Case and Document Volume

Use specific numbers to demonstrate scope of work: active case files (50+), motions researched (30+), documents managed (10,000+), trials supported (5), depositions summarized (20+). Volume metrics show capacity, efficiency, and experience level in legal support.

3

Emphasize Legal Technology Proficiency

Modern legal practice requires technology skills. Prominently feature Westlaw, LexisNexis, Relativity, Clio, and other legal software. These are often ATS keywords and demonstrate you can work efficiently in technology-driven law firms. Include specific features you use (e.g., "Relativity privilege review" or "Westlaw KeyCite").

4

Show Breadth Across Practice Areas

Demonstrate versatility by listing multiple practice areas: commercial litigation, employment law, corporate transactions, intellectual property, real estate. Breadth shows adaptability and makes you valuable to firms with diverse practices. If specialized, show depth in that specialty.

5

Highlight Certification and Professional Development

Certified Paralegal (CP) certification from NALA or similar credentials significantly enhance your resume. Feature it prominently in your headline and certifications section. Also include relevant CLEs, paralegal courses, and professional memberships (e.g., local paralegal associations) showing commitment to the profession.

🎯

Essential Skills & Keywords

Include these skills to optimize your resume for ATS systems and recruiter searches.

Legal Support & Case Management

Litigation Case Management Trial Preparation and Support Court Filing and Procedures Deadline and Calendar Management Client Communication Legal Document Drafting

Legal Research

Westlaw Legal Research LexisNexis Research Platform Case Law and Statutory Research Legal Memorandum Writing Cite-Checking (Bluebook) Regulatory Research

E-Discovery & Document Management

Relativity E-Discovery Platform Document Review and Analysis Privilege Review and Logs Discovery Response Coordination Deposition Summary Preparation Document Production Management

Technology & Software

Clio Case Management Microsoft Office Suite (Advanced) Adobe Acrobat Pro Courtroom Presentation Technology Document Management Systems Electronic Filing Systems (CM/ECF)

💡 Tip: Naturally integrate 8-12 of these keywords throughout your resume, especially in your summary and experience sections.

Why this resume works

Role-Specific Strengths

  • High-volume case management: Successfully managed 50+ active litigation files simultaneously with strong organizational skills, meeting 100% of court deadlines and maintaining detailed case documentation
  • Legal research excellence: Conducted comprehensive legal research for 30+ motions and briefs using Westlaw and LexisNexis, achieving 95% attorney approval rate and directly supporting favorable case outcomes
  • Discovery coordination: Managed complex document discovery process for multi-million dollar litigation including organization, review, and production of 10,000+ documents using Relativity e-discovery platform
  • Trial preparation support: Provided critical trial support for 5 jury trials including witness preparation, exhibit management, courtroom technology setup, and real-time trial assistance

✓ ATS-Friendly Elements

  • Paralegal keywords: "litigation support," "legal research," "case management," "document discovery," "trial preparation," "legal drafting"
  • Legal research tools: "Westlaw," "LexisNexis," "legal databases," "case law research," "statutory analysis"
  • E-discovery and technology: "Relativity," "document review," "privilege review," "production management," "e-discovery platforms"
  • Case management: "Clio," "case files," "court deadlines," "filing management," "docket monitoring"
  • Quantifiable metrics: 50+ cases, 30+ motions, 10,000+ documents, 5 trials, 95% approval rate, 100% deadline compliance
  • Certification: "Certified Paralegal (CP)" or "NALA certification" adds credibility and shows professional commitment

✓ Human-Readable Design

  • Entry-level appropriate metrics: case load (50+ active files), research volume (30+ motions), document scale (10,000+), trial support (5 trials)
  • Shows progression from Legal Assistant/Intern to Paralegal demonstrating career growth
  • Balance of research skills (Westlaw, LexisNexis, legal analysis) and practical support (filing, scheduling, client communication)
  • Concrete examples of legal work: motion research, discovery coordination, trial preparation, contract review
  • Skills section organized by legal support, research tools, and soft skills
  • Summary emphasizes both technical proficiency and practical legal support experience

💡 Key Takeaways

  • At paralegal level, emphasize volume and accuracy: cases managed, motions researched, documents processed, deadlines met
  • Quantify everything: case files (50+), research projects (30+), documents reviewed (10,000+), trials supported (5), attorney approval rate (95%)
  • Show technical proficiency: Westlaw, LexisNexis, Relativity, Clio—these tools are critical ATS keywords for paralegal roles
  • Highlight case types and practice areas: commercial litigation, employment law, corporate transactions, IP—shows breadth of experience
  • Certification matters: Certified Paralegal (CP) from NALA significantly enhances credibility and separates you from legal assistants

📈 Career Progression in Legal

See how Legal roles evolve across career stages, from legal support to general counsel.

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