Position your practice area and support scope in the summary
Open with a short summary that states your setting—law firm, in-house legal team, government or legal-aid office—and the practice areas you support. Mention seniority cues such as trial-prep coordination, closing-checklist ownership, discovery volume or calendar management when they are accurate. Include your job title as it was held (paralegal, legal assistant, litigation support) and any state paralegal registration or certificate that the employer expects.
Mirror posting language only when it matches work you have done. Claiming e-discovery platform administration, PACER or state e-filing expertise, or contract-playbook drafting without examples invites hard screens. Point readers to the filings, binders, research memos or closings that prove the skills the job emphasizes. Never describe yourself as counsel, “handling cases independently” in a way that suggests practicing law, or taking positions in court.
Write bullets that show reliable legal-support work and outcomes
Strong paralegal bullets name the matter type, the task you owned and the result for the legal team: research completed, documents prepared, exhibits organized, filings accepted, deposition or closing logistics run on time, or a reduced revision cycle. Volume and turnaround can help when they are honest and do not reveal client secrets—pages reviewed, productions completed, deadlines met, checklists closed.
The fictional examples below illustrate wording only. They are not Make.CV performance claims and should not be copied as your own. Replace every figure with results you can support from matter records, and strip client names, docket strategies and any confidential facts. If a matter is sensitive, describe the document type and process without identifying the parties.
Show research tools, filing systems and credentials without clutter
Group skills into readable categories such as research and citators, drafting and document management, court or agency filing, discovery tools, and practice software. Prioritize platforms named in the posting when you have genuine experience. A short accurate list of Westlaw or Lexis, iManage or NetDocuments, Relativity or similar review tools, and e-filing systems beats a long inventory of every database you searched once.
Tie important tools back to experience bullets. Saying you manage discovery is more convincing when a bullet explains the review workflow, the quality checks and what was delivered on deadline. Place paralegal certificates, Notary commissions, e-filing credentials or relevant coursework where a scanner can find them quickly. Keep attorney-client work product out of public CVs and portfolios unless counsel has approved a sanitized example.
Choose a clean layout and review the export
Use a readable template with standard headings so practice areas, credentials, software and matter support stay easy to find. Keep dates consistent and leave room for quantified, non-confidential bullets. Browse Make.CV templates if you want to compare layouts before writing.
Build your CV in the free maker with live preview, then download a PDF with no watermark. Proofread court names, certificate titles and dates, and confirm the exported text remains selectable before you submit. Follow any firm or in-house application instructions in addition to the CV.
Frequently asked questions
Should a paralegal CV read like a lawyer or attorney CV?
No. A paralegal CV emphasizes legal support: research, filings, document preparation and case organization under attorney supervision. Do not imply that you advised clients, argued in court or practiced law. This guide stays in that support scope and is not a lawyer CV.
Where should certificates and court-filing credentials go?
Put current paralegal certificates, state registration if applicable, Notary commissions and e-filing credentials high on the page or in a dedicated Credentials section so hiring teams can find them quickly.
How do I describe confidential client or matter work?
Describe the practice area, document type, process and deadline outcome without naming clients, adverse parties or case strategy. Use generic matter categories when ethics rules or NDAs require it.
Can I quantify paralegal achievements?
Yes, when figures are accurate and non-confidential—such as filings completed, pages reviewed, productions delivered or turnaround times. Never invent metrics or share protected client information.