Trusts & Estates Associate Attorney

Overview

A law firm specializing in trusts, estates, and business law is seeking a dedicated Trusts & Estates Associate Attorney. This role involves managing probate, trust, and estate administration cases from start to finish, as well as handling estate planning matters. The position offers a sustainable workload with a 1,500-hour billable target and a competitive salary range of $130,000 to $160,000, plus bonuses and a comprehensive benefits package. The firm operates with a remote-first approach and provides flexible time off and opportunities for professional development.

Responsibilities

• Manage probate matters from petition through final distribution, including client intake, fee planning, petition drafting, court appearances throughout Northern California (Glenn, Butte, Tehama, Yuba, Sutter, Shasta, Plumas, Lassen, Modoc counties, and statewide as needed), notices, inventory and appraisal coordination with the probate referee, creditor claims, accountings, and final distribution
• Administer routine and complex trusts, including initial 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 matters requiring attorney judgment to correctly characterize the case initially
• Manage estate planning matters (approximately 25 to 35 percent of time), including design meetings, attorney review, and signing meetings, supported by the legal team
• Coordinate with CPA and finance partners on complex matters involving tax allocation, basis decisions, and sub-trust splits
• Communicate with clients during emotionally significant moments with clarity, empathy, and professionalism, helping clients feel calmer and more in control
• Track time contemporaneously and write task-based, value-conveying 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
• Three or more years of substantive trusts and estates experience, with depth in at least two of the following: estate planning, trust administration, and probate, and meaningful exposure to the third
• Working knowledge of the 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 interpersonal skills with clients during emotionally significant moments, with the ability to explain complex legal concepts in plain language
• Technologically fluent and comfortable using modern legal software such as MyCase, WealthCounsel, Clio Draft, DecisionVault, Lawmatics, Microsoft 365, CEB, and LexisNexis
• Bilingual in English and Spanish is strongly preferred but not required

Compensation & Benefits

• Salary range: $130,000 to $160,000 annually
• Bonuses
• Comprehensive benefits package
• Sustainable 1,500-hour billable target
• Remote-first work environment
• Flexible time off (two to four weeks per year)
• Professional development budget

Location

This position involves court appearances throughout Northern California counties including Glenn, Butte, Tehama, Yuba, Sutter, Shasta, Plumas, Lassen, and Modoc, with some statewide appearances as needed. The role supports remote work with flexibility.