RESUME MISTAKES
Stop Paralegal Resume Mistakes From Holding You Back
Identify and correct the most common errors to get noticed by law firms and corporate legal departments.
How This Page Helps
This guide helps paralegals spot and correct resume mistakes that reduce interview chances, ensuring ATS compatibility and recruiter appeal.
Identify the five most common paralegal resume errors
Learn concrete fixes with before‑and‑after examples
Get ATS‑friendly keyword and formatting tips
Download a printable checklist to audit your own resume
Common Mistakes That Kill Your Chances
Each mistake includes why it hurts, how to fix it, and before/after examples
Vague Job TitleMEDIUM
Why it hurts
- Recruiters can’t quickly see your specialization
- ATS may miss role‑specific keywords
- Reduces perceived seniority
How to fix
- Replace generic titles with specific ones (e.g., "Litigation Paralegal" or "Corporate Paralegal – Contracts")
- Add the practice area or department in parentheses if needed
- Align the title with the posting’s language
❌ Before
Paralegal, XYZ Law Firm
✓ After
Litigation Paralegal – Civil Litigation, XYZ Law Firm
ATS Tip
Use exact phrase from the job ad such as "Litigation Paralegal"
Detection Rules
title contains only 'Paralegal' without qualifier
Resumly Tip
Specific titles boost both recruiter scan speed and keyword match.
Listing Duties Instead of AchievementsHIGH
Why it hurts
- Doesn’t demonstrate impact
- Makes you blend with dozens of other candidates
- ATS prefers action‑oriented verbs
How to fix
- Start each bullet with a strong verb (e.g., drafted, coordinated)
- Quantify results (e.g., reduced document turnaround by 30%)
- Show outcomes like cost savings or case wins
❌ Before
- Prepared legal documents - Managed case files
✓ After
- Drafted and filed 150+ pleadings per month, achieving a 98% on‑time filing rate - Streamlined case file organization, cutting retrieval time by 25%
ATS Tip
Begin bullets with verbs that match keywords such as "drafted" or "managed"
Detection Rules
bullets start with verbs like 'responsible for', 'assisted with'
Resumly Tip
Achievement‑focused bullets turn duties into measurable value.
Omitting Legal Software KeywordsHIGH
Why it hurts
- ATS scans for tools like LexisNexis, Westlaw, Clio, and Relativity
- Hiring managers look for tech‑savvy candidates
- Missing tools signals outdated skill set
How to fix
- Create a dedicated "Key Skills" section listing software names
- Mention tools within achievement bullets (e.g., "used LexisNexis to conduct 200+ case law searches")
- Keep the list current to the job description
❌ Before
Key Skills: Microsoft Office, Research
✓ After
Key Skills: LexisNexis, Westlaw, Clio, Relativity, Microsoft Office Suite
ATS Tip
Exact product names are required; avoid abbreviations like "Legal DB"
Detection Rules
skills section lacks any of ['LexisNexis','Westlaw','Clio','Relativity']
Resumly Tip
Software keywords are a quick win for ATS relevance.
Ignoring Job‑Specific KeywordsHIGH
Why it hurts
- ATS filters out resumes lacking core terms
- Recruiters skim for buzzwords like "case management" or "e‑discovery"
- Reduces chance of passing the initial screen
How to fix
- Copy 5–7 key phrases from the posting - Integrate them naturally into summary, skills, and bullet points - Use both singular and plural forms
❌ Before
Experienced paralegal with strong organizational abilities.
✓ After
Experienced Litigation Paralegal skilled in case management, e‑discovery, and legal research using Westlaw and LexisNexis.
ATS Tip
Match exact phrasing; "case management" beats "managing cases" for keyword match
Detection Rules
summary does not contain any of ['case management','e-discovery','legal research']
Resumly Tip
Keyword alignment is the single biggest factor for ATS pass rates.
Inconsistent Formatting and DatesMEDIUM
Why it hurts
- ATS may misread sections or skip information
- Recruiters view sloppy layout as lack of attention to detail—a red flag for legal roles
- Can cause parsing errors that hide your experience
How to fix
- Use a single font (e.g., Calibri 11pt) throughout - Align dates to the right in MM/YYYY format - Ensure uniform bullet style and spacing
❌ Before
June 2019 – March 2021 Jan 2021 – Present
✓ After
06/2019 – 03/2021 01/2021 – Present
ATS Tip
MM/YYYY is universally recognized by ATS parsers
Detection Rules
date formats vary between 'Month Year' and 'MM/YYYY'
Resumly Tip
Consistent formatting prevents parsing errors and showcases professionalism.
Formatting Guidelines
File Types: PDF, DOCX
Sections: Contact Information, Professional Summary, Key Skills, Professional Experience, Education, Certifications, Professional Affiliations
Naming: FirstName_LastName_Paralegal_Resume
Consistency
Length: 1‑2 pages (max 2 pages for experienced paralegals)
Date Format: MM/YYYY
Location Format: City, State
Resume Quality Checklist
- Use a specific job title
- Add a concise professional summary with 3‑4 keyword phrases
- List key legal software in a dedicated skills section
- Write achievement‑focused bullet points with metrics
- Include at least 5 industry‑relevant keywords
- Format dates as MM/YYYY and align them right
- Maintain one font and consistent heading style
- Proofread for spelling and grammar errors
- Save as PDF with a clean file name
- Run the resume through an ATS simulator before sending
ATS Alignment Guide
Common ATS Systems: Taleo, iCIMS, Workday, Greenhouse, Lever
Keyword Strategy: Include terms like 'case management', 'legal research', 'document drafting', 'e-discovery', 'Litigation support'
Heading Format: Use standard headings such as 'Professional Experience' and 'Key Skills'
Quick Fix Workshop
Paste your current resume text below
- Standardize headings
- Add action verbs
- Insert relevant legal software keywords
- Convert dates to MM/YYYY
- Optimize bullet length (max 2 lines)
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