Estate planning attorney Resume: Free Example (2026)

Start with a concise professional summary that captures your years of experience, core practice areas, and client outcomes. Use two to three sentences to state your role, a key specialization such as wills, trusts, or probate administration, and a measurable outcome like reduced estate disputes or increased client retention when possible.

Avoid vague statements and focus on concrete skills that match the job posting and the firm's needs.

List positions in reverse chronological order and use short, results-oriented bullet points for each role. Begin each bullet with a strong action verb and include specific duties such as drafting wills and trusts, advising high net worth clients, administering estates, and representing clients in probate court.

Quantify your impact where you can by adding numbers, for example the number of estates administered, percentage reduction in probate time, or size of trust portfolios you managed.

Use bullets that show both technical skill and client impact while keeping language direct and professional. Here are sample bullets you can adapt to your experience.

• •Drafted and reviewed complex wills and revocable trust documents for 120+ clients, ensuring compliance with state law and client objectives.
• •Managed probate administration for estates valued at up to $8M, coordinating with fiduciaries, courts, and financial institutions to conclude matters efficiently.
• •Advised clients on tax-minimization strategies and facilitated intergenerational wealth transfers that reduced estate tax exposure through properly structured trusts.

Include a skills section with a mix of hard legal skills and client-facing abilities to pass both ATS scans and human reviewers. List jurisdiction-specific credentials, estate planning software you use, and areas like trust drafting, probate litigation, elder law, and tax planning.

Mirror keywords from the job description so your resume aligns with required qualifications.

Place your J.D. and law school information after your experience for mid-career applicants, or before experience for recent graduates. Add your bar admissions, continuing legal education, and relevant certifications such as Certified Estate Planner or IRA/401(k) planning credentials.

State licenses clearly including year admitted and jurisdictions to make vetting straightforward.

Keep your resume to one page if you have under 10 years of practice and to two pages if you have more extensive experience. Use a clean, professional font and 0.5 to 0.75 inch margins to maximize readable space while avoiding crowding.

Use consistent date formatting and clear section headers so a hiring manager or recruiter can scan your background quickly.

Before applying, read the job posting and highlight three skills or experiences the employer prioritizes, such as trust administration or elder law. Then adapt your top bullets and professional summary to emphasize those priorities while keeping the rest of the resume truthful and concise.

For in-house or bank trust roles, add any experience with fiduciary institutions and compliance procedures.

Write a short cover letter that references one or two achievements from your resume and explains why you fit the specific role and firm culture. Prepare a concise list of representative matters or a redacted portfolio you can share during interviews, and ensure you can obtain client references or work product if requested.

These materials reinforce claims on your resume and give interviewers concrete examples to discuss.

1. Header with name, contact information, and bar admissions.
2. Professional summary tailored to the role and including primary keywords.
3. Experience in reverse chronological order with bullets showing outcomes.
4. Skills and relevant software.
5. Education and certifications.
6. Optional: publications, speaking engagements, or pro bono matters if directly relevant.

Avoid graphics, images, and unusual section titles that can confuse screening systems or slow a reviewer. Use standard headings such as Experience, Education, and Skills, and include plain text for dates and jurisdiction names.

Proofread carefully for legal terminology and consistency because small errors can undermine perceived attention to detail.