What should a paralegal put on their CV?

Focus on three areas: (1) Legal tools with exact names (Relativity, Westlaw, LexisNexis, Clio, not 'legal software'), (2) Quantified achievements ('drafted 30+ motions monthly with 99% court acceptance rate', not 'prepared legal documents'), and (3) Case support metrics ('managed e-discovery for 8 complex cases, reducing attorney review time by 20%', not 'helped with cases'). In 2026, ATS systems scan for specific keywords like E-Discovery, Pleadings, Deposition, Case Management, and Billable Hours. Missing even 2-3 of these can drop your score below the threshold. Not sure which keywords you are missing? Scan your CV with our free tool to find out.

How do I write a paralegal CV with no legal experience?

Use this formula for internship or administrative experience: [Action Verb] + [Legal Task] + [Volume/Scale] + [Quantifiable Result]. Example: 'Filed 150+ legal documents weekly, maintaining 100% compliance with court deadlines and zero rejected filings.' Even without a paralegal title, showcasing document management, research, filing accuracy, and organizational skills with specific metrics proves you can support a legal team.

What are the best ATS keywords for a paralegal CV in 2026?

The most impactful keywords fall into five categories: Tools (Relativity, Westlaw, LexisNexis, Clio, PracticePanther), Litigation (E-Discovery, Pleadings, Motions, Deposition, Trial Preparation), Process (Case Management, Chain of Custody, Litigation Hold, Discovery Process), Skills (Legal Research, Billable Hours, Timekeeping, Court Filings), and Certifications (Certified Paralegal, APC, Notary Public). Over 97% of law firms use ATS to filter resumes. Upload your CV to see exactly which keywords you are missing.

How long should a paralegal CV be?

One page if you have under 10 years of experience. Two pages maximum for lead paralegal managers or paralegal supervisors with 10+ years. ATS systems parse the entire document regardless of length, but hiring managers spend an average of 6 seconds on initial screening. Front-load your strongest keywords, case volumes, and filing accuracy metrics on page one. Every line must earn its space.

Should I include my paralegal certification on my CV?

Yes, always. The Certified Paralegal (CP) from NALA and the Advanced Paralegal Certification (APC) are the most recognized credentials and are frequently used as ATS filter criteria. List the full credential name, issuing body, and year earned (e.g., 'Certified Paralegal (CP), NALA (2022)'). If you are also a Notary Public, include that as well. These certifications signal professional competency and are often preferred or required in job postings.

What is the difference between a paralegal resume and CV?

In the US, a 'resume' is a 1-2 page summary of relevant experience tailored per job application. In the UK, Europe, and Australia, a 'CV' (Curriculum Vitae) serves the same purpose but may include more detail. Both are parsed by ATS the same way. The keywords, formatting rules, and optimization strategies are identical. The main difference is regional terminology. Regardless of which you use, the same ATS keywords (E-Discovery, Relativity, Westlaw, Case Management) determine whether your application passes the automated filter.

Can a paralegal make $100,000?

This depends on your specific experience level and target role. The most effective approach is to tailor your CV to each job description using relevant keywords and quantified achievements. Our free scanner analyzes your CV against real job requirements.

What are four things that a paralegal cannot do?

This depends on your specific experience level and target role. The most effective approach is to tailor your CV to each job description using relevant keywords and quantified achievements. Our free scanner analyzes your CV against real job requirements.

97% of tech companies use ATS

Paralegal CV
Example (2026)

Most paralegal CVs score below 38% on ATS systems. See exactly why yours might be failing. 75% never reach a recruiter.

Free foreverFull analysisWorks with your existing CV

What ATS systems actually see

Toggle between a typical paralegal CV and an optimized version. Notice what changes.

Generic descriptions and soft skills make this resume hard to scan and easy to ignore.

✗ Generic soft skills that every applicant claims. ATS cannot match 'Organized' to any paralegal job requirement.

✗ 'Did whatever the lawyer needed' shows no specialization. Recruiters need to see specific legal skills and output volume.

✗ 'Worked hard' and 'tried to help' are not metrics. Show filing volume, compliance rates, and client scope.

✗ 'Very good at multitasking' is selfassessment without evidence. Show process improvements and measurable outcomes.

✗ 'Helped attorneys prepare' is passive. Show your direct contribution and its impact on trial readiness.

✗ Hobbies waste space on a paralegal resume. Use it for certifications, pro bono work, or professional memberships instead.

Samantha Cruz

Paralegal

Philadelphia, PA · samantha.cruz@email.com · linkedin.com/in/samanthacruz

Professional Summary

Hardworking paralegal with strong organizational skills and attention to detail. Excellent at multitasking and managing multiple cases at once. Looking for a position at a law firm where I can use my legal skills to support attorneys.

Core Skills

OrganizedDetail-OrientedMicrosoft OfficeMultitaskerFast LearnerTeam Player

Professional Experience

Morrison & Caldwell LLP

May 2021 - Present

Paralegal

Responsible for handling all the paperwork for the attorney and keeping cases organized.
Did whatever the lawyer needed, including research and filing documents.
Helped keep the law office organized and managed files.

Graystone Legal Associates

Aug 2019 - Apr 2021

Legal Assistant

Worked hard on legal cases and tried to help attorneys meet deadlines.
Did research using legal databases to help with cases.
Very good at managing my time and multi-tasking across different cases.

City District Attorney's Office

Jan 2019 - Jul 2019

Legal Intern

Filed legal documents at the courthouse and organized case files.
Helped attorneys prepare for trials by organizing exhibits.
Tracked billable hours for the attorneys in the office.

Education

Temple University

Paralegal studies certificate

2015 - 2019

Certifications & Awards

Paralegal cert
Notary
Employee of the Month (2022)

Languages

English (Native) • Spanish (Fluent)

Interests & Hobbies

True crime podcasts
Volunteering at legal aid
Yoga
Cooking

✗ Zero matchable keywords. 'Strong organizational skills' and 'attention to detail' appear on 90% of rejected paralegal resumes. ATS finds nothing to score.

✗ 'Handling all the paperwork' is the #1 antipattern on paralegal resumes. Zero metrics, no tools named.

✗ 'Helped keep organized' is expected, not exceptional. Show case volume, witness coordination, and accuracy.

✗ 'Did research using legal databases' has no volume, no tools named, no outcome. ATS needs specifics.

✗ 'Filed documents at the courthouse' gives no volume or accuracy rate. Quantify everything.

✗ 'Tracked billable hours' is expected. Show accuracy rate, team size, and efficiency gains.

✗ Vague duties like "Responsible for", soft skills like "Hard Worker", and buzzwords like "synergistic" — no keywords for recruiters to find. This resume gets buried.

Wondering if YOUR CV has these same problems?

Keywords ATS Systems Scan For

These are the exact terms recruiters and ATS systems filter by for paralegal roles. Missing even 2-3 can drop your score below the threshold.

E-Discovery (Relativity)

Pleadings & Motions Drafting

Legal Research (Westlaw/LexisNexis)

Case Management Software

Deposition Coordination

Trial Preparation

Billable Hours & Timekeeping

Chain of Custody

Discovery Process

Court Filing Compliance

Litigation Hold

Document Indexing

Multi-Jurisdictional Filings

How many of these are on your CV?

Examples by Experience Level

Select your level. See the exact verbs, bullets, and metrics that ATS systems reward at each stage.

Action Verbs

DraftedPreparedFiledResearchedCoordinatedOrganizedManagedTrackedDocumentedProcessed

Metrics to Include

Document Acceptance Rate (%)
Partner Time Savings (Hrs)
Document Volume (#)
Case Milestone Tracking Accuracy
Billing Accuracy (%)
Research Project Completion Time

Example CV Bullets

Ship independently

Drafted 30+ motions and pleadings monthly with a 99% acceptance rate by the court, reducing partner revision time by 10 hours per month.

Coordinated the deposition schedule and logistics for 4 major cases, resulting in a 100% attendance rate for all 50+ witnesses and zero scheduling conflicts.

Researched complex case law (Westlaw/LexisNexis) for 15 high-stakes memoranda, reducing attorney research burden by 50%.

Are your bullets this specific?

Phrases That Get Paralegals Rejected

Listing languages isn't enough. Context matters. "JavaScript" is good; "Built REST APIs with Node.js" is hired.

Responsible for handling all the paperwork for the attorney.

Describes a job, not an achievement. Every paralegal handles paperwork. ATS sees zero differentiating keywords.

Managed pre-trial discovery for 8 complex litigation cases, reducing attorney review time by 20% through standardized e-discovery protocols in Relativity.

Helped keep the law office organized.

'Helped keep organized' shows no specialization or scale. Recruiters need case volume and accuracy metrics.

Coordinated deposition logistics for 6 major cases, scheduling 40+ witnesses across multiple jurisdictions with 100% attendance and zero conflicts.

Very good at managing my time and multi-tasking.

Self-assessment without evidence. ATS cannot verify 'very good.' Show case volumes and filing accuracy.

Managed 50+ concurrent case files with 100% deadline compliance, drafting 30+ motions monthly with a 99% court acceptance rate.

Did whatever the lawyer needed.

Shows no specialization. Recruiters need to see specific legal skills: e-discovery, motions drafting, deposition coordination.

Drafted motions, managed e-discovery in Relativity, and coordinated depositions for 40+ witnesses, reducing partner revision time by 12 hours per month.

Worked hard on legal cases.

'Worked hard' is not a metric. Show case complexity, filing volume, and outcome contributions.

Researched complex case law using Westlaw for 15 high-stakes memoranda, reducing attorney research burden by 50% and contributing to 4 favorable settlements.

Good at legal research and writing.

Unverifiable claim with no tools, volume, or outcomes named. ATS needs Westlaw, LexisNexis, and memo counts.

Conducted legal research using Westlaw and LexisNexis for 20+ regulatory matters, delivering summarized memos that reduced partner prep time by 20%.

Recognize any of these on your CV?

Certifications That Boost Your ATS Score

Include the full name AND the acronym. ATS systems may scan for either.

Certified Paralegal (CP)

Advanced Paralegal Certification (APC)

Notary Public

Certified E-Discovery Specialist (CEDS)

ABA-Approved Paralegal Certificate

Frequently Asked Questions

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