Trusts & Estates Associate Attorney

Overview

An established trusts and estates law firm is seeking an experienced associate attorney to manage probate, trust administration, and estate administration cases from intake through closing. The role also includes handling an estate planning caseload.

This is a remote position requiring active admission to the California State Bar. Occasional travel to Chico, California, is necessary for court hearings or in-person matters, with most hearings conducted remotely unless otherwise ordered. Travel expenses are covered by the firm.

Responsibilities

• Manage probate cases from petition to final distribution, including client intake, fee planning, petition drafting, court appearances across Northern California counties (Glenn, Butte, Tehama, Yuba, Sutter, Shasta, Plumas, Lassen, Modoc, and statewide as needed), notices, inventory and appraisal coordination, creditor claims, accountings, and final distribution
• Administer routine and complex trusts, providing trustee guidance, beneficiary notices, asset inventory and valuation, sub-trust funding for A/B and A/B/C structures, ongoing accountings, distributions, and final closure
• Handle estate administration matters that fall between probate and trust administration, such as small-estate affidavits, spousal property petitions, summary procedures, and other matters requiring attorney judgment
• Manage estate planning matters approximately 25-35% of the time, including design meetings, attorney review, and signing meetings, supported by the legal team
• Coordinate with CPA and finance partners on complex tax allocation, basis decisions, and sub-trust splits
• Communicate clearly and empathetically with clients during emotionally significant moments, providing steady professionalism
• Track time contemporaneously and prepare detailed, task-based time entries reflecting the substance of work for each client

Qualifications

• Active California State Bar license in good standing
• Juris Doctor (J.D.) from a California-accredited or ABA-accredited law school
• Minimum of three years of substantive trusts and estates experience, with depth in at least two of the following: estate planning, trust administration, and probate, plus meaningful exposure to the third
• Working knowledge of California Probate Code, California Revenue and Taxation Code, California Rules of Court, and California Code of Civil Procedure as they apply to probate and trust administration, including Proposition 19 and Medi-Cal recovery
• Excellent client communication skills, able to explain complex legal concepts in plain language with empathy
• Proficiency with modern legal software such as MyCase, WealthCounsel, Clio Draft, DecisionVault, Lawmatics, Microsoft 365, CEB, and LexisNexis
• Bilingual English and Spanish is strongly preferred but not required

Compensation & Benefits

• Base salary range: $130,000 to $160,000 annually, depending on experience
• Production bonus
• Full benefits package
• Sustainable 1,500-hour annual billable target
• Remote-first work environment with occasional travel
• Flexible time off (2 to 4 weeks per year)
• Professional development budget

Location

Remote position with occasional travel to Chico, California, for court appearances and in-person matters as needed. Travel expenses are paid by the employer.