California Trust & Estate Attorney

Overview

This role involves serving as a California-licensed Trust & Estate Attorney for a boutique trust and estate practice on a fully remote, engagement/contract basis. Hours are flexible and can be structured part-time or full-time based on candidate preference, with reasonable availability during West Coast business hours preferred.

The practice handles trust and estate matters across both litigation and transactional work, including fiduciary-related disputes, closely held family asset issues, and estate planning and trust administration.

Responsibilities

• Handle trust and estate matters depending on background and interest, including:
  • Trust and estate litigation, such as will and trust contests, breach of fiduciary duty claims, accounting disputes, trustee/beneficiary conflicts, and related probate and civil disputes
  • Transactional work, such as estate planning, trust drafting, and trust administration/probate
• For litigation-focused work:
  • Draft and argue motions, pleadings, and briefs
  • Manage written discovery
  • Support depositions, mediations, and trial preparation
• For transactional-focused work:
  • Draft and review estate planning documents
  • Advise on trust administration
  • Guide clients and fiduciaries through probate matters
• Develop case strategy and craft practical, client-centered solutions that account for legal rights, family dynamics, and fiduciary obligations
• Run matters with a high degree of autonomy, taking direction when useful while independently managing a docket
• Communicate professionally with beneficiaries, trustees, fiduciaries, and family members involved in sensitive, high-stakes matters
• Maintain strong responsiveness and organization while working fully remote on a flexible schedule

Requirements

• California-licensed attorney with 3–4+ years of trust & estate experience (litigation, transactional, or a combination)
• Strong legal research, writing, and drafting skills, with the ability to run matters independently
• Comfortable working directly with clients in sensitive family- and wealth-related matters
• Organized and proactive caseload management in a remote environment
• Reasonably available during West Coast business hours; open to part-time or full-time depending on fit
• Licensed to practice law in California and in good standing
• J.D. from an accredited law school
• Outstanding references

Compensation & Benefits

• Pay: Annualized pay for this position ranges from $200,000 - $250,000 when calculated on a full-time basis. Pay for contract engagements is based on multiple factors including work experience, qualifications, credentials, location, market supply/demand, and the candidate’s preference. Each candidate’s pay rate affects the client bill rate and can impact competitiveness for the position.
• Benefits:
  • In addition to salary, eligible employees are W2 employees and are eligible for full benefits when working in roles for 20 hours per week, including a Qualified 401k plan
  • Benefits-eligible employees receive complimentary Group Life, LTD and AD&D and professional liability insurance
  • Attorneys also receive a CLE and Professional Expense stipend

Location

• Remote (anywhere in US)

Position Details

• Type of Role: Engagement
• Schedule: Part-Time (with flexibility to structure as part-time or full-time)

Confidentiality

The employer will not propose the candidate to prospective clients without prior consent. Candidates selected for further consideration will be contacted.