Legal & Compliance· Free keyword tool
Paralegal Resume Keywords
These paralegal resume keywords cover the legal research, case management, and ATS terms law firm hiring systems scan for — the language that proves you can support attorneys, manage cases, and keep complex matters on track.
59 keywords across 6 categories — toggle, select, and copy directly into your resume.
Hard Skills(12)Role-specific technical abilities
Tools & Tech(12)Software and platforms you operate
Soft Skills(8)How you work with people
Certifications(5)Credentials recruiters scan for
Action Verbs(12)Strong openers for bullet points
ATS Key Terms(10)Phrases parsers weight most
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Build My Resume Free →What Paralegal ATS keywords matter most?
Applicant tracking systems parsing Paralegalresumes weigh hard skills and tool proficiency most heavily — exact terms, not synonyms. The terms below appear most frequently in Paralegal job postings and carry the most weight with automated screening algorithms.
Top hard skills
- Legal Research
- Legal Drafting
- Case Management
- Document Review
- Contract Review
- Discovery Management
- Trial Preparation
- Deposition Summaries
Top tools & technologies
- Westlaw
- LexisNexis
- Clio
- MyCase
- iManage
- Relativity
- Microsoft Office
- DocuSign
Key certifications ATS scans for: Certified Paralegal (CP) – NALA, Registered Paralegal (RP) – NFPA, Advanced Paralegal Certification – NALA.
Paralegalresume keywords — frequently asked questions
- What keywords should a paralegal put on a resume?
- Lead with legal research tools (Westlaw, LexisNexis), your practice area (litigation, corporate, family law, real estate), case management software (Clio, iManage), and key functions — discovery, drafting, trial prep.
- Is Westlaw or LexisNexis more important to list?
- List both — they are the two dominant legal research platforms and both are regularly scanned in ATS. Westlaw is slightly more common in firm environments; both are equally valuable.
- Should I list my paralegal certification?
- Yes — the CP (NALA) and RP (NFPA) are the most widely recognized credentials. An ABA-approved certificate from an accredited program is also a strong ATS match.
- What is e-discovery and should I list it?
- E-discovery is the process of identifying, collecting, and reviewing electronically stored information for litigation. Relativity and Concordance are the key platform keywords. It is a high-demand specialty.
- How do I quantify paralegal experience?
- "Managed a docket of 90+ active litigation matters," "Prepared 200+ court filings with zero missed deadlines," or "Reviewed 15,000 documents in a complex commercial dispute discovery review."
- How many keywords should a paralegal resume include?
- Use 12–16 across legal skills, software, and practice-area terms, prioritizing the specific area of law and court system the posting targets.
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Keywords sourced from O*NET occupational data and current job postings. No keywords are invented.
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