Estate & Trust Attorney

Responsibilities

• Represent clients in probate and trust litigation matters, including will contests, breach of fiduciary duty claims, and trust modifications
• Draft pleadings, motions, legal memoranda, and discovery requests/responses
• Conduct legal research and analyze complex factual and legal issues
• Participate in mediations, court hearings
• Collaborate with clients, experts, and opposing counsel to advance case strategy
• Maintain timely communication with clients and provide legal advice throughout the process
• Manage deadlines and case files with attention to detail and strategic thinking
• Litigation (Primary Focus): Handle all aspects of probate and trust litigation cases from inception through resolution, analyze wills, trusts, and estate planning documents to identify legal issues and claims, draft pleadings, petitions, motions, and discovery (including interrogatories, requests for production, etc.), appear in court for hearings, case management conferences, and trials, conduct legal research and develop litigation strategies, manage discovery, depositions, and settlement negotiations, advise clients on fiduciary duties, breaches, undue influence, and elder abuse claims
• Probate & Trust Oversight (As Needed): Oversee probate and trust administration handled by paralegals, review probate filings from petition through final distribution, ensure compliance with court procedures and deadlines, assist with resolving disputes arising during administration
• Client Management: Communicate directly with clients, beneficiaries, trustees, and opposing counsel, provide legal advice and case updates in a clear, compassionate, and strategic manner, gather and analyze financial and case-related documents

Qualifications

• Active member of the California State Bar
• Minimum 3+ years of probate or trust litigation experience (or strong litigation background)
• Experience handling court appearances independently
• Strong drafting, negotiation, and analytical skills
• Ability to manage multiple cases and deadlines

Compensation

$115,000 - $145,000/year

About Soto Law Group, APC

We are a collaborative team of professionals. We work hard, and we play together too! It's a friendly office where we trust each other and value a work-life balance. We support personal and career development and also have quarterly team-building events.

Your experience and/or desire to work in the areas of Estate Planning, Special Needs Planning, Trust Administration, and Probate will add value to our team. We leverage technology and are looking for someone comfortable with Microsoft Office and various legal programs. You will have a strong work ethic, be highly organized, and have exceptional client relationship skills.