Legal resume example

Paralegal resume example

Paralegal hiring turns on reliability under volume: whether filings land on time, whether documents are accurate, and whether an attorney can hand you a matter without checking every step. This example replaces the usual list of duties with caseload figures, accuracy evidence, and the specific practice areas the candidate can actually work in.

Applying in the UK? Use the same evidence and structure as a paralegal CV example; adapt spelling and local terminology naturally.

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This is a sample resume.

Sofia Marchetti

Litigation Paralegal

Chicago, IL · sofia@email.com · linkedin.com/in/sofiamarchetti

Professional summary

Litigation paralegal with 6 years supporting commercial disputes from complaint through trial preparation. Manages document-heavy discovery, court filings, and case chronologies across concurrent matters.

Experience

Litigation Paralegal

Harlan Reyes LLP · Chicago, IL

2021 – Present

Managed discovery on 18 concurrent commercial matters, maintaining review platforms and privilege logs without a missed production deadline over three years.
Prepared trial binders, exhibit lists, and witness chronologies for four trials, which counsel credited with reducing preparation time in the final week before each.
Rebuilt the firm's court filing checklist after an e-filing rejection, and the practice group recorded no further rejections in the following twelve months.

Paralegal

Bellwether Legal Group · Chicago, IL

2019 – 2021

Drafted routine motions, subpoenas, and correspondence for attorney review across employment and contract disputes.
Coordinated document collection with client contacts at six companies, delivering complete sets that reduced follow-up requests during discovery.
Trained two incoming paralegals on the case management system and filing procedures, shortening their time to independent caseload.

Skills

Case management · E-discovery · Relativity · Legal drafting · Court e-filing · Privilege logs · Trial preparation · Legal research · Westlaw · Document review · Deposition support · Client communication

Education & credentials

BA in Political ScienceDePaul University · ABA-approved paralegal certificate

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How to adapt this paralegal example

Keep the structure. Replace the substance with your own scope, decisions, and results.

Lead with the matching practice area

A firm hiring for immigration will not read litigation experience closely. Move the most comparable practice area to the top of your experience and summary.

Name the platforms the firm uses

Relativity, Clio, iManage, and court e-filing systems are frequently screened for by name. List the ones you have genuinely worked in and leave the rest out.

Keep attorney work and your work separate

Say drafted for attorney review rather than implying you filed independently. Overstating authority is the fastest way to lose credibility in a legal interview.

Keyword starting points

Terms commonly relevant to paralegal roles

Use a keyword only when it reflects your experience and the job description. Exact wording helps discovery; evidence in a bullet makes it believable.

Check keyword coverage

paralegal
litigation support
e-discovery
legal research
case management
court filing
trial preparation
document review
Westlaw
Relativity
legal drafting
deposition

Questions

Paralegal resume FAQ

Does a paralegal resume need a certificate to be competitive?

Many firms prefer an ABA-approved certificate, but demonstrated caseload experience often carries equal weight. List whichever you have clearly rather than obscuring the gap.

How do I show confidential legal work on a resume?

Describe matter type, volume, and your role without naming clients or case specifics. Discretion is itself a professional signal in this field.

Should a paralegal resume be one page?

One page suits most paralegals under ten years of experience. Extend only when additional practice areas or trial experience genuinely change how a firm would assess you.

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