Paralegal ATS Keywords
Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) scan resumes for specific keywords before a human ever sees your application. For Paralegal positions in legal, including the right keywords can be the difference between getting an interview and being filtered out. This guide provides the essential keywords to include in your resume.
- Role
- Paralegal
- Industry
- Legal
- Experience Level
- Entry Level
- Key Skills
- legal research, document preparation, support
Essential Keywords
High-priority keywords that should appear in your resume for Paralegal positions.
Additional Keywords
Secondary keywords to strengthen your resume and cover edge cases.
Power Action Verbs
Use these action verbs to describe your accomplishments in Legal.
ATS Optimization Tips
Include the exact job title in your resume header or summary "Paralegal"
Use both spelled-out terms and acronyms (e.g., "Search Engine Optimization (SEO)")
Place the most important keywords in your professional summary and skills section
Mirror the exact phrasing from the job description when possible
Include keywords in context within your work experience bullet points
Use standard section headings: "Experience," "Education," "Skills"
Save your resume as a .docx file for best ATS compatibility
Avoid tables, graphics, and unusual formatting that ATS may not parse
Complete Your Paralegal Application
Paralegal ATS Keywords FAQs
Common questions about ATS optimization
An Applicant Tracking System (ATS) is software that scans and filters resumes before they reach human recruiters. For Paralegal positions in legal, 75%+ of resumes are rejected by ATS before a human sees them. Including the right keywords like legal research, document preparation, support increases your chances of passing the initial screening.