Top 12 Litigation Paralegal Skills to Put on Your Resume

In a crowded legal market, a litigation paralegal’s resume needs sharp, signal-boosting skills: research muscle, airtight organization, and tech know-how that keeps matters moving. Put the right strengths forward and you become the steady hand behind high-pressure cases.

Litigation Paralegal Skills

1. LexisNexis
2. Westlaw
3. PACER
4. CaseMap
5. Time Matters
6. eDiscovery
7. TrialDirector
8. Document Drafting
9. Litigation Support
10. Bluebook Citation
11. Deposition Summarization
12. Court Filing

1. LexisNexis

LexisNexis provides a deep library of case law, statutes, treatises, and news—plus tools for tracking authority and building research trails—so you can prep matters with confidence and speed.

Why It's Important

It centralizes authoritative sources and analysis, helping you find controlling law faster, validate it, and apply it cleanly to the facts at hand.

How to Improve LexisNexis Skills

1. Refine searches: Use Boolean and segment searching, quotation marks, and truncation to tighten results.

2. Dial in filters: Jurisdiction, date, court level—apply them early to cut noise.

3. Save your work: Folders, tags, and saved searches keep research reusable and defensible.

4. Shepardize: Verify validity and treatment before you rely on a case. No shortcuts.

5. Train regularly: Explore new features, keyboard shortcuts, and alerting to stay quick.

6. Go mobile when needed: Light research on the app helps you stay responsive on the fly.

7. Lean on support: If you hit a wall, ask. Power users do.

Consistency plus smart validation turns research into leverage.

How to Display LexisNexis Skills on Your Resume

2. Westlaw

Westlaw offers an expansive database of primary and secondary sources, editorial enhancements, and validation tools built for fast, precise research.

Why It's Important

It’s a backbone for litigation prep—locating authorities, checking if they’re good law, and surfacing practical guidance that speeds drafting and strategy.

How to Improve Westlaw Skills

1. Master connectors: Terms-and-connectors queries, fields, and quotations sharpen relevance.

2. Validate with KeyCite: Confirm status and treatment before relying on any authority.

3. Use Practical Law: Checklists, how-tos, and model documents accelerate production work.

4. Tap AI-assisted tools: Use enhanced search and suggestions to surface hidden lines of authority.

5. Train and personalize: Webinars, alerts, saved folders—set up the system to match your matters.

The payoff is faster research with fewer dead ends.

How to Display Westlaw Skills on Your Resume

3. PACER

PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records) delivers federal dockets, filings, and case information—vital for tracking litigation in real time.

Why It's Important

It enables quick document retrieval, docket monitoring, and insight into case posture, deadlines, and opponent strategy.

How to Improve PACER Skills

1. Search with precision: Use docket numbers, party names, and court-specific queries to land on the right case fast.

2. Monitor updates: Watch for system notices and court-specific changes to fees or access.

3. Organize downloads: Standardize file names and folder structures so anyone can find what they need instantly.

4. Control costs: Use courthouse public terminals when possible and track the quarterly fee waiver threshold.

5. Protect privacy: Double-check redactions—SSNs, minors’ names, and other sensitive data must be masked.

6. Know the distinction: Use CM/ECF (or state e-filing portals) for e-filing; PACER is for access and retrieval.

Clean processes keep dockets accurate, current, and affordable.

How to Display PACER Skills on Your Resume

4. CaseMap

CaseMap helps you capture facts, issues, people, and documents, then connect the pieces so themes and gaps jump out early.

Why It's Important

It turns sprawling case data into a coherent, searchable structure—critical for strategy, motion practice, and trial prep.

How to Improve CaseMap Skills

1. Own the fundamentals: Facts tables, issues, object linking, reporting—make them second nature.

2. Template the routine: Build matter-specific templates to standardize inputs and reduce rework.

3. Integrate documents: Connect your DMS so exhibits and key files are a click away from relevant facts.

4. Search and filter: Tag aggressively and filter relentlessly to surface what matters fast.

5. Train the team: Short, targeted sessions ensure everyone enters data the same way.

6. Update consistently: Keep versions current so reports never mislead.

Disciplined data entry in CaseMap pays dividends when the pace heats up.

How to Display CaseMap Skills on Your Resume

5. Time Matters

Time Matters centralizes matters, contacts, documents, emails, and calendars—tying deadlines and work product to the same record.

Why It's Important

It reduces dropped balls. Automated workflows, reminders, and standardized files guard against missed dates and scattered data.

How to Improve Time Matters Skills

1. Customize matter layouts: Add fields you use constantly; hide what you don’t.

2. Automate drafting: Use document assembly for routine pleadings and letters to cut errors and time.

3. Rules-based calendaring: Apply court rules so dependent dates auto-calculate and update.

4. Tame email: File emails to matters from Outlook and keep threads linked to the record.

5. Capture time: Use timers and time-entry assistants so billable work doesn’t vanish.

6. Invest in training: Short bursts of team training multiply the system’s value.

Good configuration turns Time Matters into a quiet safety net.

How to Display TimeMatters Skills on Your Resume

6. eDiscovery

eDiscovery covers identifying, preserving, collecting, reviewing, and producing electronically stored information (ESI) that can sway a case.

Why It's Important

Most evidence lives in email, chat, cloud storage, and devices. Handling it defensibly—without waste—can shape outcomes.

How to Improve eDiscovery Skills

1. Keep current: Tools evolve fast; refresh workflows and knowledge often.

2. Search smart: Boolean logic, proximity, date scoping, and analytics reduce review volume.

3. Systematize: Naming conventions, custodial tracking, and data maps prevent chaos.

4. Collaborate securely: Use platforms that track roles, notes, and productions cleanly.

5. Know the rules: Understand proportionality, preservation duties, and privilege pitfalls.

6. Project manage: Budgets, timelines, QC checkpoints—treat reviews like formal projects.

7. Protect data: Apply encryption, access controls, and retention policies consistently.

Tight process plus the right tooling keeps review focused and defensible.

How to Display EDiscovery Skills on Your Resume

7. TrialDirector

TrialDirector lets you call up exhibits, impeach with video, annotate on the fly, and keep a clean presentation rhythm in the courtroom.

Why It's Important

Clear, quick exhibit handling supports the story you’re telling and minimizes dead air before the factfinder.

How to Improve TrialDirector Skills

1. Start with the basics: Importing, coding exhibits, callouts, side-by-side video—know them cold.

2. Practice with real sets: Build a mock trial database and rehearse hot-seat workflows.

3. Use checklists: Pretrial QC for file types, naming, page counts, and media codecs saves embarrassment.

4. Join user communities: Swap tips, troubleshoot, and learn edge cases from daily users.

5. Pursue certification or training: A structured path builds speed and confidence.

6. Debrief after court: What lagged? What hit? Tweak your layout and keystrokes accordingly.

Muscle memory matters when adrenaline is high.

How to Display TrialDirector Skills on Your Resume

8. Document Drafting

Drafting covers complaints, answers, discovery, motions, briefs, and supporting papers—clean, accurate, and compliant with court rules.

Why It's Important

Strong papers persuade. They also prevent rejections, sanctions, and costly do-overs.

How to Improve Document Drafting Skills

1. Clarify the goal: What relief, what rule, what record? Write to that target.

2. Write plainly: Cut fluff. Favor active voice. Define terms once and move.

3. Structure for skimming: Headings, point-first paragraphs, tight paragraphs.

4. Cite precisely: Follow Bluebook and local rules. Mirror the court’s preferences.

5. Use templates wisely: Standardize sections but tailor facts and arguments.

6. Proof methodically: Spelling, cites, record references, defined terms, exhibits—checklists help.

7. Keep learning: CLEs, writing groups, and attorney feedback sharpen the edge.

Good drafting blends accuracy with momentum.

How to Display Document Drafting Skills on Your Resume

9. Litigation Support

Litigation support knits together document management, database building, review workflows, research, exhibits, and trial logistics so cases stay tight end to end.

Why It's Important

It cuts waste, reduces error, and frees attorneys to focus on strategy and advocacy.

How to Improve Litigation Support Skills

1. Standardize tech stacks: Pick core tools for review, document control, and case analysis—and document the playbook.

2. Educate continuously: Track rule changes, software updates, and court preferences.

3. Communicate clearly: Status reports, risk flags, and dashboards keep teams aligned.

4. Manage time visibly: Use task boards or project tools to map dependencies and deadlines.

5. Audit quality: Spot-check productions, privilege logs, and citations before they leave the house.

Strong support turns moving parts into a coordinated case machine.

How to Display Litigation Support Skills on Your Resume

10. Bluebook Citation

The Bluebook sets the rules for citing cases, statutes, regulations, and secondary sources so legal writing stays consistent and credible.

Why It's Important

Accurate citations earn trust, guide the reader, and avoid confusion about the law’s source and weight.

How to Improve Bluebook Citation Skills

1. Know the core rules: Cases, statutes, signals, short forms, and tables—learn the patterns.

2. Stay current: Editions change; local rules can modify requirements.

3. Use tools carefully: Citation helpers are useful; always verify the output.

4. Be consistent: One style throughout. No drift.

5. Proof the details: Spacing, italics, pincites, abbreviations—tiny things matter.

6. Seek review: A second set of eyes catches sneaky errors.

7. Practice: Build quick-reference sheets for your most-used sources.

Clean citation work is a quiet signal of professionalism.

How to Display Bluebook Citation Skills on Your Resume

11. Deposition Summarization

Summarizing depositions means distilling hours of testimony into crisp, issue-driven notes and excerpts you can use in motions, mediation, or trial.

Why It's Important

It speeds attorney review, highlights inconsistencies, preserves admissions, and makes impeachment material easy to deploy.

How to Improve Deposition Summarization Skills

1. Absorb the case theory: Summaries should mirror the issues that actually matter.

2. Use a consistent template: Key topics, page:line cites, exhibits referenced, credibility notes.

3. Leverage tools: Consider software that supports transcript review, coding, and annotation.

4. Flag the gold: Admissions, contradictions, expert concessions—make them pop.

5. Cross-check: Compare with pleadings and discovery responses for alignment and gaps.

6. Sync with attorneys: Confirm what they want emphasized before you finalize.

Great summaries are brief, searchable, and battle-ready.

How to Display Deposition Summarization Skills on Your Resume

12. Court Filing

Court filing is the formal submission of pleadings and papers—electronically or in person—according to the court’s rules and schedules.

Why It's Important

It keeps the case alive and on track. Wrong format or late submission can derail strategy.

How to Improve Court Filing Skills

1. Track local rules: Maintain current guides for each court you file in—formatting, page limits, service, and signatures.

2. Organize documents: Apply uniform naming, bookmarks, and exhibit labels. PDFs should be text-searchable and properly combined.

3. Mind the details: Check captions, dates, certificate of service, and judge/magistrate assignments.

4. Master e-filing systems: Use CM/ECF and state portals confidently; test logins and payment methods ahead of time.

5. Proof before filing: Final read-through, cite check, and attachment audit prevent rejections.

6. Calendar aggressively: Backward-plan from deadlines with reminders and contingency windows.

7. Protect confidentiality: Redact per rule; verify privacy compliance every time.

8. Debrief and refine: After each filing, note hiccups and update your checklist.

Flawless filing is part discipline, part anticipation.

How to Display Court Filing Skills on Your Resume