How to use this list
These are keywords that often appear in paralegal job listings. They are not a checklist to copy. Paste the actual job ad into the free score checker to see which words that employer uses, then add a keyword to your resume only if it is true for you and you can talk about it in an interview.
Paralegals can't give legal advice in most places. Describe your tasks as support work unless your licence (e.g. Ontario) allows more.
Hard skills
- Legal research
- Document drafting
- Case management
- E-discovery
- Filing and court deadlines
- Client intake
- Contract review support
- Trial preparation
- Legal citation
- Records management
Tools and software
- Westlaw
- LexisNexis
- Clio
- Relativity
- iManage
- Microsoft Word
- Adobe Acrobat
Certifications and licences
- US: NALA Certified Paralegal (CP) or NFPA PACE Registered Paralegal; a paralegal certificate from an ABA-approved program, if completed
- UK: CILEx qualifications; NALP (National Association of Licensed Paralegals) qualifications
- Canada: licensed paralegal in Ontario (Law Society of Ontario); other provinces don't license paralegals in the same way
Soft skills
- Discretion
- Organization
- Writing
- Attention to detail
- Deadline management
Soft skills land better as evidence inside a bullet ("trained 4 new hires") than as a bare list.
Using keywords honestly
- Start from your real experience. Keep a full Master CV with everything you have done.
- Mirror the ad's wording for the same thing. If you built "dashboards" and the ad says "data visualization", you can use their term because it describes your real work.
- Put proof next to the keyword. A skill inside a bullet with a result is stronger than a skill in a list.
- Leave gaps as gaps. If you have never used a tool, don't list it. Mention you're learning it only if you really are.
- Avoid stuffing and hidden text. Repeating keywords or hiding white text can get a resume rejected by the people who read it.
Prepared discovery binders and tracked court deadlines for 30 active litigation files in Clio.
This is an example of the structure (action, tool or skill, result), not a line to copy. Your bullet must use your own work and your own numbers.
Sources and more reading
- O*NET: Paralegals and Legal Assistants (23-2011.00) (US Department of Labor task and skill data)
- How to tailor a resume without making anything up
- Keywords for other job titles
FAQ
What keywords should a paralegal resume include?
Use the keywords from the specific job ad that are true for you. Common ones for paralegal roles include Legal research, Document drafting, Case management, Westlaw, LexisNexis, Clio. Check a real listing with a free score checker to see which ones that employer uses.
Should I add a keyword I do not have?
No. Only add a keyword if it is true and you can discuss it in an interview. If it is a gap, leave it out or say you are learning it, if you really are.
How many keywords should I use?
There is no magic number. Cover the required skills you really have, in context, and keep the resume readable for a person.
Check your resume against a real job
Paste your resume and a job listing. Get a 0 to 100 fit score, matched and missing keywords, and section checks. Free, no signup, runs in your browser, no AI.
Open the free score checker