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Paralegal guide · 2026
A paralegal resume needs to showcase your legal knowledge, document preparation skills, and attention to detail. Use our free templates and writing guide to build a resume that stands out to law firms.
01 · Resume example
A complete, ready-to-use paralegal resume written from real job requirements. Tailor the details to your own experience.
Paralegal
jennifer.adams@email.com | (555) 012-3456 | Philadelphia, PA
Certified Paralegal with 5+ years of experience supporting attorneys in litigation, corporate law, and real estate. Skilled in legal research, document preparation, case management, and e-discovery. Managed caseloads of 50+ active matters.
2019 - Present · Paralegal, Wilson & Associates Law, Philadelphia
2017 - 2019 · Junior Paralegal, LegalHelp Corp, Cherry Hill
2015 - 2017, Associate Degree in Paralegal Studies, Community College of Philadelphia; 2017, Certified Paralegal (CP)
Hard skills: Legal Research (Westlaw, LexisNexis), Document Preparation, E-Discovery, Case Management, Pleadings, Discovery, Contracts, Legal Writing, Bluebook, Trial Preparation, Document Management Systems, Microsoft Office
Soft skills: Attention to Detail, Organizational Skills, Communication, Confidentiality, Time Management, Analytical Thinking, Teamwork
Certified Paralegal with 5+ years of experience supporting attorneys in litigation, corporate law, and real estate. Skilled in legal research, document preparation, case management, and e-discovery. Managed caseloads of 50+ active matters.
2019 - Present · Paralegal, Wilson & Associates Law, Philadelphia
2017 - 2019 · Junior Paralegal, LegalHelp Corp, Cherry Hill
Paralegal
jennifer.adams@email.com | (555) 012-3456 | Philadelphia, PA
Certified Paralegal with 5+ years of experience supporting attorneys in litigation, corporate law, and real estate. Skilled in legal research, document preparation, case management, and e-discovery. Managed caseloads of 50+ active matters.
2019 - Present · Paralegal, Wilson & Associates Law, Philadelphia
2017 - 2019 · Junior Paralegal, LegalHelp Corp, Cherry Hill
2015 - 2017, Associate Degree in Paralegal Studies, Community College of Philadelphia; 2017, Certified Paralegal (CP)
Legal Research (Westlaw, LexisNexis), Document Preparation, E-Discovery, Case Management, Pleadings, Discovery, Contracts, Legal Writing, Bluebook, Trial Preparation, Document Management Systems, Microsoft Office · Attention to Detail, Organizational Skills, Communication, Confidentiality, Time Management, Analytical Thinking, Teamwork
03 · Copy-paste resume
A ready-to-use resume that matches what hiring managers and ATS screeners actually look for.
Certified Paralegal with 5+ years supporting attorneys in litigation and corporate law. Managed 50+ active cases, prepared legal documents with 100% accuracy, and conducted e-discovery for 100K+ documents.
Hard skills: Legal Research (Westlaw, LexisNexis) · Document Preparation · E-Discovery · Case Management · Pleadings · Discovery · Contracts · Legal Writing · Bluebook · Trial Preparation · Document Management Systems Soft skills: Attention to Detail · Organizational Skills · Communication · Confidentiality · Time Management · Analytical Thinking
• Supported 3 attorneys in litigation and corporate law, managing 50+ active cases. • Prepared legal documents including pleadings, discovery requests, and contracts with 100% accuracy. • Conducted legal research using Westlaw and LexisNexis, producing memoranda informing case strategy. • Managed e-discovery for 5 major cases, reviewing 100K+ documents. • Organized case files and coordinated scheduling for depositions, hearings, and meetings.
• Associate degree or certificate in Paralegal Studies from an ABA-approved program • Certification: Certified Paralegal (CP) or Registered Paralegal (RP) — highly recommended • Tip: include your specific practice areas (litigation, corporate, real estate, family law) and any specialized certifications.
These bullets are based on real paralegal job requirements — the duties, skills, and what employers actually screen for. Paste them into a free WPS ATS-friendly resume template, then adjust the numbers to match your own results.
04 · How to write
Paralegal hiring managers screen for proof you can deliver results.
Open with your certification, years of experience, and practice areas. Example: Certified Paralegal (CP) with 5+ years supporting attorneys in litigation and corporate law, managing 50+ active cases.
Organize into: Research (Westlaw, LexisNexis, legal writing), Document Preparation (pleadings, discovery, contracts, briefs), Technology (e-discovery, document management systems, case management), Practice Areas (litigation, corporate, real estate).
For each role: Managed 50+ active cases, prepared documents with 100% accuracy, reviewed 100K+ documents in e-discovery, supported 3 attorneys, coordinated scheduling for multiple depositions and hearings.
List CP or RP certification prominently. Include paralegal certificate from an ABA-approved program. Mention CLE courses and specialized training in specific practice areas.
Keep it to one page unless you have 10+ years of experience. A clean, ATS-friendly layout in a free WPS template makes every section easy to scan.
05 · Common mistakes
Most paralegal candidates make the same avoidable resume mistakes.
Certification (CP, RP) is often preferred or required by employers. If your certification isn't prominently displayed, your application may be overlooked. Include certification number and date.
Don't just list legal research, document preparation, case management. Add context: Conducted legal research using Westlaw that informed case strategy, prepared pleadings and discovery requests with 100% accuracy.
Employers want to know your experience in specific practice areas (litigation, corporate, real estate, family law). If your resume doesn't mention practice areas, it's harder for hiring managers to assess fit.
Modern paralegals need technology skills. If your resume doesn't mention e-discovery platforms, document management systems, or legal software, it signals a gap in technology proficiency.
Replace Seeking a paralegal position with a professional summary: Certified Paralegal with 5+ years supporting litigation and corporate law, managing 50+ active cases with 100% document accuracy.
Paralegals interact with clients, opposing counsel, and court personnel. If your resume doesn't mention communication, client interaction, or professional conduct, it misses an important aspect of the role.
06 · Why WPS
07 · Solution
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08 · FAQ
Quick answers for aspiring paralegals and career changers evaluating the role.
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