Paralegal Resume Examples & Format
A paralegal supports lawyers by maintaining and organizing files, conducting legal research and drafting documents. A paralegal resume should prove skills such as legal research, legal writing and drafting, and contract and document review with numbers from your own work. Below are three samples, entry-level to senior, with summaries, bullets and skills.
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Paralegal resume examples by experience level
All three samples are illustrative: the people, employers and every figure are made up.
Entry-level sample
Emily Kincaid
Paralegal certificate · law firm internships · legal research and writing · case file organization
Denver, CO · (303) 555-0142 · emily.kincaid@example.com
Summary
- Paralegal certificate graduate with two law firm internships, looking for an entry-level paralegal job in litigation or contracts where I can research, draft and keep files in order.
Experience
- Legal Intern, a litigation firm, Denver, CO · Jan – Mar 2026 · Organized 60 case files and a document index; drafted 12 routine confirmation letters for attorney review; summarized 25 deposition transcripts.
- Legal Intern, a small business law practice, Denver, CO · 2025 · Prepared 20 contract summaries and tracked filing deadlines on a shared calendar.
Education
- Certificate in Paralegal Studies, Front Range Community College · 2026
- B.A. in Political Science, University of Colorado · 2025
Skills
- Legal research, legal writing, document drafting, file organization, deadline tracking, Microsoft Word and Excel, confidentiality
Mid-level sample
Raymond Gordon
Paralegal · 4 years · contracts and corporate filings · research · drafting
Houston, TX · (713) 555-0176 · raymond.gordon@example.com
Summary
- Paralegal with four years in corporate and real estate law, now at a mid-size firm, drafting routine agreements, preparing filings and keeping 40 active matters on schedule. Cut document turnaround by two days with a standard template library.
Work experience
- Paralegal, Bayou City Law Group, Houston, TX · 2023 – present · Support 3 attorneys on 40 active matters; draft 15 contracts and letters a month for attorney review; prepare and file corporate documents with state offices; track deadlines with zero missed filings in 2 years.
- Legal Assistant, a commercial real estate firm, Houston, TX · 2022 – 2023 · Organized closing binders for 18 transactions and ran title and lien document requests.
Education
- Associate degree in Paralegal Studies, Houston Community College · 2022
Skills
- Contract drafting, Westlaw and Lexis research, filing and e-filing, deadline calendaring, iManage document management, due diligence checklists, Microsoft Word and Excel
Senior sample
Susan Whitfield
Senior Paralegal · 12 years · complex litigation · trial support · team of 4
Boston, MA · (617) 555-0121 · susan.whitfield@example.com
Summary
- Senior litigation paralegal with twelve years in a full-service law firm, leading a team of 4 paralegals on cases with up to 80,000 documents. Prepared exhibits for 14 trials and kept every court deadline across 60 live matters.
Work experience
- Senior Paralegal, Beacon Hill Litigation Group, Boston, MA · 2018 – present · Lead 4 paralegals; manage document review of up to 80,000 documents per case; prepare trial exhibits and binders for 14 trials; calendar deadlines for 60 live matters with no missed filings.
- Paralegal, a regional law firm, Boston, MA · 2014 – 2018 · Drafted discovery responses, summarized records and managed 25 cases a year.
Education
- Certificate in Paralegal Studies, Bunker Hill Community College · 2014
- B.A. in English, Boston College · 2013
- Certified Paralegal (CP), NALA · 2017
Skills
- Relativity e-discovery review, Westlaw and Lexis, trial exhibit preparation, court deadline calendaring, team training and review
Related resume examples
- Legal Assistant resume
- Lawyer resume
- Research Assistant resume
- Executive Assistant resume
- Administrative Assistant resume
- Secretary resume
- Office Manager resume
- Office Clerk resume
What does a paralegal do?
In the US paralegals and legal assistants work primarily in offices, with the largest share, about 75%, in legal services, and they often work on teams with attorneys and other legal support staff. Most work full time. A paralegal resume should show the practice areas you have supported, the volume of files, research and filings you handled, and your accuracy on deadlines.
Paralegal duties to put on a resume
- Maintain and organize case files and documents.
- Investigate and gather the facts of a case.
- Research laws, regulations and legal articles relevant to a case.
- Draft correspondence and legal documents, such as confirmation letters and contracts.
- File exhibits, briefs, appeals and other legal documents with the appropriate court.
- Work with attorneys and other legal support staff on a team.
Best resume format for a paralegal
- Lead with your practice areas (litigation, contracts, real estate) and the software you know.
- Show volume and accuracy: matters supported, documents reviewed, deadlines met.
- Keep it to one page, or two with more than 10 years. Proofread every line: a paralegal's own resume is the first sample of their attention to detail.
The section order and what goes in each are on the how to write a resume guide; the resume format guide covers every format by type and country.
Summary examples by level
- Entry-level: Paralegal certificate graduate with two law firm internships, organizing 60 case files and summarizing 25 transcripts for attorney review.
- Mid-level: Paralegal with four years in a corporate law firm, supporting 3 attorneys on 40 active matters and drafting 15 contracts and letters a month.
- Senior: Senior litigation paralegal with twelve years in law firms, leading 4 paralegals and preparing exhibits for 14 trials.
Work experience bullet points
- Organized and indexed 60 case files, cutting document search time to under a minute.
- Drafted 15 contracts and letters a month for attorney review with few revisions.
- Summarized 25 deposition transcripts into one-page digests for the trial team.
- Tracked deadlines on 40 active matters and filed every document on time for 2 years.
- Prepared closing binders for 18 transactions ahead of each closing date.
- Managed document review of up to 80,000 documents per case with a team of 4.
- Researched statutes and case law for 30 attorney requests a quarter and delivered cited memos in 2 days.
- Built a template library that cut routine document turnaround by 2 days.
Key skills to list
Hard skills: Legal research, Legal writing and drafting, Contract and document review, Case file and document management, Deadline calendaring, E-filing with courts, Due diligence checklists, Exhibit and trial binder preparation, Legal research databases, Microsoft Word and Excel.
Soft skills: Attention to detail, Written and spoken communication, Research skills, Organization, Confidentiality, Meeting a filing deadline.
Education and certifications
- Paralegals and legal assistants typically need an associate's degree or a certificate in paralegal studies to enter the occupation (BLS). List your program, school and year.
- Certification is not required, but some employers prefer or require a paralegal certification program; certification typically requires passing an exam (BLS). List yours with the awarding body only if you hold it. Two widely recognized national credentials are the Certified Paralegal (CP) from NALA and the Registered Paralegal (RP) from NFPA, earned by passing its PACE exam.
- Programs include courses in legal research, legal writing and an introduction to law and the legal system (BLS); name the ones that match the job posting.
Sources
Checked on 5 October 2026.
What skills should a paralegal put on a resume?
Legal research, legal writing, drafting, file and document management, deadline tracking, confidentiality and Word and Excel. BLS lists being detail oriented, communication, research and organizational skills. Pick the ones the job posting names and show each with a number.
What is the difference between a paralegal and a legal assistant?
A paralegal does substantive legal support such as research and drafting, while a legal assistant leans toward office and filing support. BLS covers both titles together, so check the job posting and list the tasks you have done rather than relying on the title.