Paralegal

Paralegal Resume Keywords and Skills (Hard Skills)

Here are the keywords and skills that appear most frequently on recent Paralegal job postings. In other words, these are the most sought after skills by recruiters and hiring managers. So try to include them on your resume where possible.

Remember that every job is different. Instead of including all these keywords on your resume, identify the keywords most relevant to the job you're applying to and include those. Use the free Targeted Resume tool to help with this.

  • Legal Research
  • Legal Writing
  • Legal Advice
  • Litigation
  • Civil Litigation
  • Legal Document Preparation
  • Paralegals
  • Westlaw
  • Trials
  • Pleadings
  • Litigation Support
  • Document Review
  • Personal Injury Law
  • Commercial Litigation
  • Corporate Law
  • LexisNexis
  • Family Law
  • Mediation
  • Document Drafting
  • Appeals
  • Labor and Employment Law
  • Criminal Law
  • Alternative Dispute Resolution
  •   Show full list

  Where on my resume do I add these buzzwords?

Add keywords directly into your resume's work experiences, education or projects. Alternatively, you can also include a Skills section where you can list your technical skills in order of your proficiency.

Only include these technical skills or keywords into your resume if you actually have experience with them.

Compare Your Resume To These Paralegal Skills (ATS Scan)

Paste your resume below and our AI will identify which keywords are missing from your resume from the list above (and what you need to include). Including the right keywords will help you get past Applicant Tracking Systems (i.e. resume screeners) which may scan your resume for keywords to see if you're a match for the job.

How do I add skills to a Paralegal resume?

1
Review the job posting closely.

Go through the Paralegal posting you're applying to, and identify hard skills the company is looking for. For example, skills like Legal Document Preparation, Civil Litigation and Westlaw are possible skills. These are skills you should try to include on your resume.

2
Add industry skills like Legal Writing and Litigation.

Add other common skills from your industry - such as Paralegals, Legal Advice and Legal Research - into your resume if they're relevant.

3
Add skills into your work experience.

Incorporate skills - like Trials, Commercial Litigation and Appeals - into your work experience too. This shows hiring managers that you have practical experience with these tools, techniques and skills.

4
Show your conflict resolution skill set.

It's important to show hiring managers your ability to resolve conflict, whether that's in your previous Paralegal roles or other experiences.

5
Use the exact job title.

Try to add the exact job title, Paralegal, somewhere into your resume to get past resume screeners. See the infographic for how to do this.

Word Cloud for Paralegal Skills & Keywords

The following word cloud highlights the most popular keywords that appear on Paralegal job descriptions. The bigger the word, the more frequently it shows up on employer's job postings. If you have experience with these keywords, include them on your resume.

Top Paralegal Skills and Keywords to Include On Your Resume

Paralegal Soft Skills

Here are common soft skills that appear on Paralegal job postings. Unlike hard skills, which refer to tools, software or techniques, soft skills focus on character traits and interpersonal skills. Instead of listing these phrases on your resume, try to show them through your bullet points like in the examples below.

  • Teamwork

Tip: Do not list these words or phrases on your resume, and instead focus on the hard skills we described above.

Resume Skills and Keywords from Related Jobs

We also found variations and further specializations to your job title. Browse through the related job titles to find additional keywords that you can include into your resume.

Get your Resume Instantly Checked, For Free

Upload your resume and we'll spot the issues in it before an actual Paralegal recruiter sees it. For free.

Paralegal Resume Templates

Here are examples of proven resumes in related jobs and industries, approved by experienced hiring managers. Use them as inspiration when you're writing your own resume. You can even download and edit the resume template in Google Docs.

Resume Example
Professional


Resume Example
Highlights (Free)


Resume Example
Modern Two-Column


Resume Example
Clean Modern


Resume Example
Entry-Level (Free)


Resume Example
Concise


Frequently Asked Questions

What skills should you put on a Paralegal resume?

Some effective Paralegal skills you can add to your resume include:

  • Legal Research
  • Legal Writing
  • Legal Advice
  • Litigation
  • Civil Litigation
  • Legal Document Preparation
  • Paralegals
  • Westlaw

How do resume skills compare between a Bankruptcy Paralegal and a Real Estate Paralegal?

Popular skills we often see on resumes for Bankruptcy Paralegal positions include:

  • Bankruptcy Law
  • Legal Advice
  • Legal Research
  • Chapter 13 Bankruptcy
  • PACER
  • Legal Writing
  • Litigation
  • Paralegals

In comparison, skills we see on Real Estate Paralegal resumes include:

  • Real Estate Transactions
  • Real Estate
  • Commercial Real Estate
  • Title Insurance
  • Closings
  • Foreclosures
  • Investment Properties
  • Corporate Law

What are good resume skills to include for different Paralegal roles and job titles?

Depending on the specific role you apply to, you may need to emphasize different skill sets. Here are a few examples:

  • Bankruptcy Paralegal: Bankruptcy Law, Legal Advice, Legal Research, Chapter 13 Bankruptcy and PACER
  • Paralegal Assistant: Legal Writing, Legal Document Preparation, CACS, Westlaw and Litigation
  • Intellectual Property Paralegal: Intellectual Property, Patent Prosecution, Trademarks, Patent Law and Prosecution
  • Litigation Paralegal: Civil Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Dispute Resolution, Document Drafting and Paralegals
  • Real Estate Paralegal: Real Estate Transactions, Real Estate, Commercial Real Estate, Title Insurance and Closings

Target your Resume to a Job Description

While the keywords above are a good indication of what skills you need on your resume, you should try to find additional keywords that are specific to the job. To do this, use the free Targeted Resume tool. It analyzes the job you are applying to and finds the most important keywords you need on your resume.

It is personalized to your resume, and is the best way to ensure your resume will pass the automated resume filters.

Start targeting your resume

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