17 Probate Paralegal Interview Questions and Answers

Probate is the legal process of administering the estate of a deceased person. If you’re interested in becoming a probate paralegal, you’ll need to have excellent research, writing, and communication skills. You’ll also need to be able to work independently and have a strong attention to detail.

Probate paralegals typically work for law firms, but they may also work for banks, accounting firms, or government agencies. No matter where you apply, you’ll likely need to go through a job interview. To help you prepare, we’ve put together a list of sample probate paralegal interview questions and answers.

Are you familiar with the probate process?

The interviewer may ask this question to gauge your knowledge of the process and how you would handle it. If you are unfamiliar with the process, consider asking for a brief overview before answering.

Example: “I am familiar with the probate process, although I have never worked in that capacity. My previous employer handled all aspects of the process, so I was able to focus on other tasks. However, if hired, I would be happy to learn more about the process and take on any responsibilities necessary.”

What are the most important skills for a probate paralegal?

This question can help the interviewer determine if you have the skills necessary to succeed in this role. Use your answer to highlight your knowledge of probate law and paralegal duties.

Example: “Probate is a complex legal process, so it’s important for me to be organized and detail-oriented. I also need strong communication skills because I work with attorneys and clients who may not understand the legal system. Finally, I find that patience is an essential skill for working in probate because there are often long wait times between court dates.”

How would you organize a large volume of documents?

The interviewer may ask this question to assess your organizational skills and ability to prioritize tasks. Use examples from previous work experience or school projects that highlight your attention to detail, time management skills and ability to meet deadlines.

Example: “In my last role as a probate paralegal, I organized thousands of documents each month for the attorneys on my team. To keep track of all the information in these documents, I used Microsoft Excel spreadsheets to create databases with columns for case numbers, client names, attorney names and other relevant details. This helped me find specific documents quickly when needed.”

What is the most challenging case you’ve worked on?

This question can help interviewers understand how you handle challenges and what your thought process is when working on a case. When answering this question, it can be helpful to explain the steps you took to overcome the challenge and what you learned from the experience.

Example: “The most challenging case I’ve worked on was for an elderly client who had lost his wife of 50 years. He wanted to keep her things exactly as they were in their home, but he also wanted to sell the house. We had to work with several different family members to get them all on the same page about selling the house and dividing up the belongings. It was difficult because everyone was grieving and emotions were high. In the end, we got everything settled and the client was happy.”

Provide an example of a time when you had to negotiate with a difficult party.

Interviewers may ask this question to assess your interpersonal skills and ability to work with challenging clients. In your answer, try to highlight how you used your communication skills to resolve the situation successfully.

Example: “In my previous role as a probate paralegal, I worked with many different parties who had varying opinions on what should happen to an estate. One time, I was working with a client whose family members disagreed about where they wanted their deceased relative’s assets to go. The disagreement was so severe that some of them threatened to contest the will in court. To diffuse the situation, I met with each party individually to discuss their concerns. After listening to all sides, we were able to come up with a compromise that everyone agreed upon.”

If you had to give a presentation about one of your cases, what would be your main points?

This question is a way for the interviewer to assess your communication skills and how you would present information. Your answer should include an example of a presentation you have given in the past, along with what you focused on during that presentation.

Example: “In my last position as a probate paralegal, I had to give a presentation about one of our cases at a local law firm conference. My main points were the client’s wishes regarding their estate, the legal documents we used to carry out those wishes and the timeline of events throughout the case. This helped me showcase my communication skills and gave others insight into the work we do.”

What would you do if you discovered an error in one of the documents you’d prepared?

This question can help interviewers assess your attention to detail and problem-solving skills. In your answer, describe a time when you discovered an error in one of the documents you prepared and how you fixed it.

Example: “When I was working as a paralegal at my previous firm, I noticed that I had forgotten to include a client’s signature on a document I prepared for court. I immediately contacted my supervisor, who told me to fix the mistake before submitting the document to the judge. I quickly rewrote the document with the client’s signature and resubmitted it to the judge. The judge approved the amended document without any issues.”

How well do you work under pressure?

Probate paralegals often work under tight deadlines. Employers ask this question to make sure you can handle the pressure of working on several cases at once and still meet your clients’ needs. In your answer, explain how you manage stress and stay productive when you have a lot of work to do in a short amount of time.

Example: “I thrive under pressure because I know that it’s an opportunity for me to prove myself. When I’m working on multiple cases at once, I prioritize my tasks so I can get the most important ones done first. This helps me feel more organized and less stressed about all the work I have to do.”

Do you have any experience working with estate planners?

This question can help the interviewer determine if you have any experience working with a specific type of paralegal. If you do, they may ask you more questions about your experiences to learn more about how you performed in that role. If you don’t have experience working with estate planners, you can answer honestly and explain why you would be interested in learning more about this position.

Example: “I haven’t worked specifically with estate planners before, but I am very interested in learning more about what it takes to work with them. I think my skills as a paralegal could make me an excellent addition to their team.”

When working with clients, how do you handle sensitive information?

The interviewer may ask this question to assess your ability to handle confidential information. Use examples from past experiences where you handled sensitive information with care and discretion.

Example: “I have worked with many clients who were grieving the loss of a loved one, so I am used to handling private information. In my previous role as a probate paralegal, I often had to work with family members who wanted to know more about their deceased relative’s assets. To ensure that I was protecting client privacy, I always spoke in general terms when discussing financial details. This helped me avoid sharing any specific information that could identify the client.”

We want to improve our customer service. Describe a strategy you would use to improve client satisfaction.

Interviewers may ask this question to learn how you can improve their company’s customer service. Use your answer to highlight your communication and problem-solving skills.

Example: “I would first meet with the client to understand what they’re looking for in our services. I’d then work with my supervisor to create a plan that addresses any concerns or questions the client has. For example, if the client is unhappy with the amount of time it takes to complete a task, I would work with my team to find ways to speed up the process. This strategy helps me ensure clients are happy with our services while also helping my employer improve its customer service.”

Describe your experience with using legal software.

The interviewer may ask this question to learn about your experience with using legal software and how you use it. This can help them determine if you have the necessary skills to complete tasks in their office. When answering, consider mentioning which software you’ve used before and what you liked or disliked about each program.

Example: “I’ve worked as a paralegal for five years now, and I’ve used many different types of legal software during that time. My favorite is CaseMap because it’s so easy to use and has all the features I need to do my job well. However, I also like Time Matters because it’s very user-friendly and has some great reporting tools.”

What makes you stand out from other candidates?

Employers ask this question to learn more about your qualifications and how you can contribute to their company. When answering, it’s important to highlight a skill or experience that makes you unique from other candidates. You may also want to mention something that relates to the job description.

Example: “I have five years of experience as a probate paralegal, which is more than most applicants for this position. I am also certified in legal research and writing, so I know what it takes to complete assignments on time. In my previous role, I was responsible for managing the entire process of estate administration, including filing documents with the court and communicating with heirs. This responsibility taught me valuable skills that I would like to use again.”

Which areas of law do you hope to work in?

This question can help an interviewer determine if you have a passion for the field of law and whether or not probate paralegal work is a good fit. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention specific areas of law that interest you and how your experience as a paralegal has helped you develop skills in those areas.

Example: “I’ve always been interested in family law, especially when it comes to helping families resolve disputes. I love working with clients who are going through difficult times, and my experience as a probate paralegal has given me valuable insight into the process of resolving legal issues within families.”

What do you think is the most important role of a paralegal?

This question is a great way for the interviewer to assess your understanding of paralegal work. Your answer should show that you understand what paralegals do and how they can help attorneys with their cases.

Example: “I think the most important role of a paralegal is to provide support to an attorney. Paralegals are experts in legal research, so I would use my skills to find information about a case that may be useful to my supervisor. In addition, I would make sure all documents were organized and ready for review by my supervisor or client.”

How often do you update your legal knowledge?

Employers want to know that you are committed to your career and continually learning more about the law. They may ask this question to see if you have a plan for keeping up with changes in the legal system. In your answer, explain how you stay on top of new laws and regulations. Share any methods you use to learn about these updates or subscribe to newsletters or other resources.

Example: “I am always looking for ways to improve my skills as a paralegal. I recently signed up for an online course through the American Bar Association’s continuing education program. This class is all about recent developments in probate law. It has been really interesting so far, and I’m excited to finish it.”

There is a new law that impacts your current case. What would you do?

This question is a great way to test your knowledge of the law and how you would apply it. When answering this question, make sure that you are clear about what the new law is and how it impacts your case.

Example: “In my last position, I worked on a probate case where there was a new law passed regarding wills. The new law stated that if someone had a will but then later made another one, they no longer needed to change their old will. However, in our case, the client did not have a new will after making his first one. So we had to go back through all of his assets and property to see which ones he still owned so that we could update his will.”