Probate Paralegal Resume Example & Writing Guide
Use this Probate Paralegal resume example and guide to improve your career and write a powerful resume that will separate you from the competition.
Probate paralegals help attorneys with the administrative aspects of estate planning work. They’re often tasked with helping families resolve disputes over an inheritance, administering estates, and preparing documents like wills, trusts, and power of attorney forms.
If you’re interested in a career that combines legal work with helping people, then becoming a probate paralegal might be right up your alley. Here are some tips and an example resume to help you write a compelling application that will impress hiring managers.
How to Write a Probate Paralegal Resume
Here’s how to write a probate paralegal resume of your own.
Write Compelling Bullet Points
Bullet points are the most effective way to showcase your experience and qualifications. And the best way to do that is by using specific examples and numbers.
For example, rather than saying you “provided legal support for estate planning cases,” you could say that you “assisted in drafting estate plans for 15+ clients, including wills, trusts, and powers of attorney.”
The second bullet point is much more specific and provides a clear sense of the scope of your work. And that will make a much stronger impression on recruiters and hiring managers.
Identify and Include Relevant Keywords
When you apply for a probate paralegal role, your resume is likely to go through an applicant tracking system (ATS). This system will scan your resume for certain keywords related to the position. If your resume doesn’t have enough of the right keywords, your application might not even make it to a human recruiter.
The best way to make sure that your resume includes the right keywords is to carefully read through each job posting and take note of the terms that are used most frequently. Then, use those same words throughout your resume and in your cover letter. Here are some common probate keywords to get you started:
- Probate
- Legal Advice
- Litigation
- Legal Research
- Legal Writing
- Legal Document Preparation
- Corporate Law
- Paralegals
- Westlaw
- Appeals
- Civil Litigation
- Document Review
- Legal Compliance
- Document Drafting
- Estate Planning
- Mediation
- Litigation Support
- Bankruptcy Law
- Corporate Governance
- Commercial Litigation
- Family Law
- Document Review Services
- Conveyancing
- Wills
- Trials
- Alternative Dispute Resolution
- Personal Injury Law
- Time Management
- Witness Preparation
- Public Speaking
Showcase Your Technical Skills
As a probate paralegal, you will need to be proficient in the use of technology in order to effectively manage your caseload. Probate paralegals typically use case management software to keep track of deadlines, filings, and correspondence. They also need to be proficient in the use of legal research databases, like LexisNexis and Westlaw, in order to find relevant case law and statutes.
In addition to your technical skills, employers will also be looking for evidence of your interpersonal skills, like your ability to communicate effectively with clients and other members of the legal team. So be sure to highlight your communication skills on your resume as well.