A growing and well-established law firm is seeking an experienced Paralegal with a focus on Trusts & Estates. This position offers the opportunity to work within a sophisticated practice supporting high-net-worth individuals, families, and privately held businesses on a range of domestic and international estate planning and administration matters.
This is a newly created role driven by continued practice growth and provides meaningful, hands-on involvement in complex legal work.
Key Responsibilities
- Assist attorneys in the preparation of estate planning documents, including wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and healthcare directives
- Draft and review probate and estate administration filings
- Conduct legal research related to estate law, tax considerations, and trust regulations
- Maintain and organize confidential client records and case files
- Communicate with clients, financial institutions, and court personnel
- Coordinate the preparation of estate asset inventories and valuations
- Support estate and gift tax planning and compliance
- Prepare and file probate court documents
- Prepare trust accountings
- Assist with domestic and international gift and estate tax return preparation
- Obtain Taxpayer Identification Numbers (TINs)
Qualifications
- Minimum 3+ years of experience as a Trusts & Estates Paralegal in a law firm environment
- Strong knowledge of New York State estate planning laws and procedures
- Experience preparing probate petitions for Surrogate's Court matters, including multi-jurisdictional estates
- Solid understanding of estate administration, including asset transfers, creditor claims, and beneficiary distributions
- Experience with trust administration, including contribution notices and life insurance trusts
- Ability to prepare estate and trust accountings and related documentation
- Experience forming business entities (e.g., LLCs) and drafting operating agreements
- Familiarity with preparation of U.S. estate and gift tax returns
- Proficiency in legal research tools and databases
- Experience with tax and accounting software (e.g., FAS/FPS, GEMS, or similar platforms)
- Strong skills in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams)
Skills & Competencies
- Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail
- Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment
- Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to work collaboratively across teams
- High level of professionalism, discretion, and reliability
- Commitment to delivering high-quality work and exceptional client service
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
This is an excellent opportunity for a motivated paralegal to join a collaborative team and contribute to a growing Trusts & Estates practice handling sophisticated and rewarding work.