Legal Resume Examples
A legal resume should show your credentials and your practice first: bar admissions or paralegal certification, practice areas, and the courts or matter types you know. Then give each role specifics, such as the cases you supported, the motions or briefs you drafted, document volumes and software like Clio, Relativity or Westlaw. Junior candidates lead with law school or paralegal training; experienced ones lead with matters and results.
Free to build. First PDF or Word download free.
Sample resume
Entry-level legal assistant resume example
For a paralegal certificate graduate with a litigation internship and office administration experience.
Leah Goldberg
Legal Assistant · Litigation
Professional Summary
Legal assistant with an ABA-approved paralegal certificate and a summer internship at a litigation firm. Organized with calendars and deadlines, careful with court filings, and trained on Clio, Westlaw and federal e-filing, after three years of office administration.
Work Experience
Foggy Bottom Litigation Group
Washington, DCIndexed and Bates-stamped 12,000 pages of discovery documents for two commercial cases.
Prepared exhibit binders and cite-checked a summary judgment brief.
Filed motions through the federal court's CM/ECF system under an attorney's supervision.
Anacostia Community Services
Washington, DCManaged calendars for three directors and scheduled 30+ meetings a week.
Kept client files and grant records organized and confidential.
Drafted routine letters and tracked contract renewal dates.
Education
Potomac Valley Community College
Washington, DCDistrict State University
Washington, DCSkills
Legal: Legal research, Document review, Court e-filing (CM/ECF), Calendaring and docketing, Exhibit preparation
Tools: Clio, Westlaw, Microsoft Office
Leah Goldberg
Legal Assistant · Litigation
Washington, DC · (202) 555-0166 · leah.goldberg@email.com
Legal assistant with an ABA-approved paralegal certificate and a summer internship at a litigation firm. Organized with calendars and deadlines, careful with court filings, and trained on Clio, Westlaw and federal e-filing, after three years of office administration.
Read the full resume
Work Experience
Paralegal Intern
Foggy Bottom Litigation Group · Washington, DC
Jun 2026 – Aug 2026
Indexed and Bates-stamped 12,000 pages of discovery documents for two commercial cases.
Prepared exhibit binders and cite-checked a summary judgment brief.
Filed motions through the federal court's CM/ECF system under an attorney's supervision.
Office Administrator
Anacostia Community Services · Washington, DC
Aug 2023 – May 2026
Managed calendars for three directors and scheduled 30+ meetings a week.
Kept client files and grant records organized and confidential.
Drafted routine letters and tracked contract renewal dates.
Education
Paralegal Studies Certificate (ABA-approved)
Potomac Valley Community College · Washington, DC
Sep 2025 – May 2026
Bachelor of Arts, Political Science
District State University · Washington, DC
Aug 2019 – May 2023
Skills
- Legal: Legal research, Document review, Court e-filing (CM/ECF), Calendaring and docketing, Exhibit preparation
- Tools: Clio, Westlaw, Microsoft Office
Sample resume
Experienced litigation paralegal resume example
For a certified paralegal who runs discovery and trial preparation for a litigation team.
Professional Summary
Litigation paralegal with nine years in commercial and employment litigation. Manage discovery for cases with up to 2 million documents in Relativity, prepare trial exhibits and witness binders, and run the docket for a four-attorney team. NALA Certified Paralegal.
Work Experience
Senior Litigation Paralegal
Casco Bay Law Partners, Portland, ME
Run discovery for commercial cases with up to 2 million documents, managing review batches and productions in Relativity.
Prepared exhibits, witness binders and courtroom technology for four trials, including a two-week jury trial.
Keep the court and discovery docket for four attorneys, with no missed deadlines.
Draft subpoenas, discovery responses and privilege logs for attorney review.
Paralegal
Pine State Employment Law, Portland, ME
Prepared EEOC position statements and drafted discovery for employment cases.
Summarized deposition transcripts and medical records for attorneys.
Ran client intake and conflict checks in Clio.
Education
Paralegal Certificate
Casco Bay Community College, Portland, ME
Bachelor of Arts, English
Down East University, Orono, ME
Skills
Certifications
Certified Paralegal (CP)
NALA, the Paralegal Association
Thomas Reid
Senior Litigation Paralegal
Portland, ME · (207) 555-0138 · thomas.reid@email.com
Litigation paralegal with nine years in commercial and employment litigation. Manage discovery for cases with up to 2 million documents in Relativity, prepare trial exhibits and witness binders, and run the docket for a four-attorney team. NALA Certified Paralegal.
Read the full resume
Work Experience
Senior Litigation Paralegal
Casco Bay Law Partners · Portland, ME
Apr 2020 – Present
Run discovery for commercial cases with up to 2 million documents, managing review batches and productions in Relativity.
Prepared exhibits, witness binders and courtroom technology for four trials, including a two-week jury trial.
Keep the court and discovery docket for four attorneys, with no missed deadlines.
Draft subpoenas, discovery responses and privilege logs for attorney review.
Paralegal
Pine State Employment Law · Portland, ME
Mar 2017 – Mar 2020
Prepared EEOC position statements and drafted discovery for employment cases.
Summarized deposition transcripts and medical records for attorneys.
Ran client intake and conflict checks in Clio.
Education
Paralegal Certificate
Casco Bay Community College · Portland, ME
Jun 2016 – Feb 2017
Bachelor of Arts, English
Down East University · Orono, ME
Sep 2012 – May 2016
Skills
- Litigation: Discovery management, Trial preparation, Privilege logs, Deposition summaries, Docketing
- Tools: Relativity, Clio, Westlaw, Adobe Acrobat
Certifications
Certified Paralegal (CP)
NALA, the Paralegal Association
Mar 2019
Sample resume
Associate attorney resume example
For a litigation associate a few years out of law school, with bar admissions, motion practice and depositions.
Benjamin Shaw
Associate Attorney · Commercial Litigation
Professional Summary
Commercial litigation associate with four years at a mid-size firm. Draft motions and briefs, take and defend depositions, and manage discovery in contract and business tort disputes in state and federal court.
Work Experience
Lowe Halvorsen LLP
Chicago, ILDraft motions to dismiss, summary judgment briefs and discovery motions in contract and business tort cases.
Took or defended 22 depositions and second-chaired a five-day bench trial.
Manage discovery and two paralegals on cases with up to 500,000 documents.
Won dismissal of three claims in a $4M breach of contract suit on a motion I drafted.
Lowe Halvorsen LLP
Chicago, ILWrote research memos on contract interpretation and personal jurisdiction.
Drafted a section of an appellate brief the partner adopted.
Attended depositions and a mediation.
Education
Lakeshore School of Law
Chicago, ILLaw review staff editor; moot court semifinalist.
Prairie State University
Normal, ILCertifications
Supreme Court of Illinois
U.S. District Court
Skills
Practice: Commercial litigation, Motion practice, Depositions, Discovery strategy
Tools: Westlaw, Relativity, iManage
Benjamin Shaw
Associate Attorney · Commercial Litigation
Chicago, IL · (312) 555-0194 · benjamin.shaw@email.com · linkedin.com/in/benjaminshawlaw
Commercial litigation associate with four years at a mid-size firm. Draft motions and briefs, take and defend depositions, and manage discovery in contract and business tort disputes in state and federal court.
Read the full resume
Work Experience
Associate Attorney
Lowe Halvorsen LLP · Chicago, IL
Sep 2022 – Present
Draft motions to dismiss, summary judgment briefs and discovery motions in contract and business tort cases.
Took or defended 22 depositions and second-chaired a five-day bench trial.
Manage discovery and two paralegals on cases with up to 500,000 documents.
Won dismissal of three claims in a $4M breach of contract suit on a motion I drafted.
Summer Associate
Lowe Halvorsen LLP · Chicago, IL
May 2021 – Aug 2021
Wrote research memos on contract interpretation and personal jurisdiction.
Drafted a section of an appellate brief the partner adopted.
Attended depositions and a mediation.
Education
Juris Doctor
Lakeshore School of Law · Chicago, IL
Aug 2019 – May 2022
Law review staff editor; moot court semifinalist.
Bachelor of Arts, History
Prairie State University · Normal, IL
Aug 2015 – May 2019
Certifications
Admitted to the Illinois Bar
Supreme Court of Illinois
Nov 2022
Admitted, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
U.S. District Court
Feb 2023
Skills
- Practice: Commercial litigation, Motion practice, Depositions, Discovery strategy
- Tools: Westlaw, Relativity, iManage
The people and employers in these samples are fictional. The licenses, tools and duties are the real ones employers ask for, so replace every detail with your own.
How to write a legal resume
- 1
Include bar admissions and jurisdictions
- 2
List practice areas and specializations
- 3
Highlight notable cases or transactions
- 4
Include publications and speaking engagements
- 5
Emphasize billable hours or case outcomes where appropriate
Weak and strong legal bullet points
A duty says what the job was. A strong bullet says what you did, how much of it, and what changed.
The numbers in these examples are illustrative, not real results. Use your own, and only ones you can explain in an interview.
Handled various legal matters for clients
Managed portfolio of 45+ corporate clients, handling contract negotiations valued at $12M+ annually
Did legal research and wrote memos
Authored 30+ legal memoranda on complex regulatory issues, with 3 cited in published court opinions
Worked on litigation cases
Second-chaired 8 trials with 75% favorable verdict rate, including $2.4M judgment for plaintiff
More legal bullets to adapt
Each one follows action, task and result. Swap in your own numbers: an employer may ask about any of them.
The numbers in these examples are illustrative, not real results. Use your own, and only ones you can explain in an interview.
Closed 25+ M&A transactions totaling $500M+, managing due diligence teams of 5-8 associates
Achieved dismissal in 12 of 15 motions to dismiss, saving clients estimated $3M+ in litigation costs
Originated $800K in new business through thought leadership articles and conference speaking
Led immigration clinic serving 50+ asylum seekers, recognized with State Bar Pro Bono Award
Keywords employers use for legal roles
- Bar Admitted
- Litigation
- Corporate Law
- Due Diligence
- Legal Research
- Contract Negotiation
- Compliance
Templates for legal resumes
Single-column designs that applicant tracking systems read in order.
Legal resume questions
How do I write a legal resume with no experience?
Law students should lead with education, journals, moot court, clinics and summer positions, describing the research and writing they did. Paralegal and legal assistant candidates should lead with a paralegal certificate and any internship, then office skills such as calendaring, document management and Microsoft Office. Name the legal research and practice tools you have used.
Should I include law school activities?
For junior associates, yes. Include law review, moot court, and clinics. Senior attorneys should remove them unless they're notable (e.g., Law Review Editor-in-Chief).
How do I list multiple bar admissions?
Create a 'Bar Admissions' section listing each state, year admitted, and status. Keep it concise: 'New York (2019), California (2020), SDNY (2019)'.
Should I mention billable hours?
Only if impressive and relevant. '2,200+ billable hours consistently' shows dedication. But focus more on outcomes and client impact than hours worked.
Build your legal resume
Start from a template, paste in what fits from these samples, and change every detail to your own.
Free to build. First PDF or Word download free.