Paralegal - Trusts and Estates

Location: Albany and Rochester, NY (Hybrid remote opportunity)

About the Role

The Trusts & Estates Team at Harris Beach Murtha is in search of a Paralegal with a positive, flexible attitude to assist multiple attorneys. This role involves supporting a wide range of estate planning and administration matters.

Responsibilities

• Prepare and file probate documents, fiduciary accountings, and related court filings
• Assist with estate and trust administration, including asset tracking, funding, and beneficiary communications
• Draft and finalize estate planning documents, including wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and beneficiary designations, and assist in retitling assets in accordance with attorney direction
• Assemble and organize financial records for fiduciary accountings, estate tax returns, and audits
• Prepare, edit, and review fiduciary accountings, estate tax returns, fiduciary income tax returns, and settlement papers for both informal and formal settlement of estates and trusts
• Conduct legal research related to trusts, estates, tax regulations, and case law
• Communicate with clients to gather information, provide updates, and respond to inquiries
• Organize and maintain physical and electronic files to ensure accessibility and accuracy
• Support attorneys with case management and day-to-day administrative needs
• Perform additional duties as assigned

Requirements

• 1+ years of experience as a trusts and estates paralegal required, 3+ years preferred
• Experience preparing Surrogate’s Court filings, fiduciary accountings, and tax returns (including Forms 1041, 706, and related New York forms)
• Ability to assist with estate administration, including asset inventory, valuation, distribution, and probate documentation
• Strong organizational, analytical, and proofreading skills to ensure accuracy of legal documents
• Exceptional oral and written communication skills, with a client-focused approach
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook); experience with fiduciary income tax preparation and fiduciary accounting software a plus
• A Notary Public license (or willingness to obtain one after hire)
• Complete a minimum of 1,400 billable hours annually
• Exhibit well-developed interpersonal skills, particularly with clients (e.g., patience and empathy)
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment
• Belief in the firm’s core values: integrity, respect, accountability, ingenuity, teamwork, inclusion, and engagement
• Enjoy working with diverse personalities within various levels of the firm

Skills

• Preparing Surrogate’s Court filings and fiduciary accountings
• Drafting estate planning documents (wills, trusts, powers of attorney, beneficiary designations)
• Tax return preparation (Forms 1041, 706, and related New York forms)
• Estate and trust administration (asset inventory, valuation, distribution, probate documentation)
• Legal research related to trusts, estates, tax regulations, and case law
• Client communication and relationship management
• Microsoft Office proficiency (Word, Excel, Outlook)

Pay

• Albany: $33.34 - $43.59/hour (37.5 hours per week)
• Rochester: $32.26 - $42.19/hour (38.75 hours per week)

Schedule

Hybrid schedule (1 day remote)

About Harris Beach Murtha

Harris Beach Murtha formed in 2025 via the combination of Harris Beach PLLC and Murtha Cullina LLP. A forward-thinking and innovative partnership with the benefit of more than 250 years of combined history, Harris Beach Murtha’s New York roots reach back to 1856, and the firm has had ties to New England since 1936. Harris Beach and Murtha Cullina were separately among the country’s top law firms as ranked by The National Law Journal.

Harris Beach Murtha and its subsidiaries have a strong Northeast presence but a global reach. Clients include Fortune 100 corporations, privately held companies, emerging businesses, public sector entities, tax-exempt organizations, and individuals. The firm’s practice areas span appellate law, business litigation, commercial real estate, construction, corporate, environmental, energy, financial institutions, financial restructuring, government compliance and investigations, health care, immigration, intellectual property, labor and employment, mass torts, medical and life sciences, political law, product liability, public finance, tax, and trusts and estates.

The firm’s lawyers and consultants practice from offices throughout Connecticut (Bantam, Hartford, New Haven, Stamford), New York (Albany, Buffalo, Ithaca, New York City, Rochester, Saratoga Springs, Syracuse, Long Island, White Plains), as well as in Boston, Massachusetts, and Newark, New Jersey.