Paralegal - Trusts and Estates

About the role

The Trusts & Estates Team at Harris Beach Murtha is seeking a Paralegal to support multiple attorneys. Key responsibilities include preparing Surrogate’s Court filings, fiduciary accountings, and tax returns; assisting with estate administration; drafting and finalizing estate planning documents; and performing additional duties as assigned.

Responsibilities

• Preparing Surrogate’s Court filings, fiduciary accountings, and tax returns (including Forms 1041, 706, and related New York forms)
• Aiding in estate administration, including asset inventory, valuation, distribution, and probate documentation
• Ensuring accuracy of legal documents through strong organizational, analytical, and proofreading skills
• Communicating with clients to gather information, provide updates, and respond to inquiries
• Managing and organizing financial records for fiduciary accountings, estate tax returns, and audits
• Conducting legal research related to trusts, estates, tax regulations, and case law
• Assembling and organizing financial records for fiduciary accountings, estate tax returns, fiduciary income tax returns, and settlement papers for both informal and formal settlements of estates and trusts
• Supporting attorneys with case management and day-to-day administrative needs

Requirements

• 1+ years of experience as a trusts and estates paralegal required, 3+ years of experience preferred
• The ability to assist with estate administration, including asset tracking, funding, and beneficiary communications
• 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)

Qualifications

• Exceptional oral and written communication skills, with a client-focused approach
• Well-developed interpersonal skills (exude patience and empathy)
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment
• Completion of a minimum 1400 billable hours annually
• Belief in the firm’s core values: integrity, respect, accountability, ingenuity, teamwork, inclusion and engagement
• Comfortable working a hybrid schedule (1 day remote)

Skills

• Microsoft Office proficiency (Word, Excel, Outlook)
• Experience with fiduciary income tax preparation and fiduciary accounting software
• Notary Public license (or willingness to obtain one after hire)

Benefits

• Harris Beach Murtha recognizes everyone has a right to be included. You will be successful in your career at the firm if you exhibit well-developed interpersonal skills (exude patience and empathy), particularly with clients.
• The firm is committed to an inclusive environment and welcomes applications from diverse candidates with varied backgrounds and skills, including military experience.
• Harris Beach Murtha is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Pay

• Albany: $33.34 - $43.59/hour
• Rochester: $32.26 - $42.19/hour

Schedule

• Albany: 37.5 hours per week
• Rochester: 38.75 hours per week

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 and industries served 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 in Bantam, Hartford, New Haven and Stamford; New York state in Albany, Buffalo, Ithaca, New York City, Rochester, Saratoga Springs, Syracuse, Long Island and White Plains, as well as in Boston, Massachusetts and Newark, New Jersey. The firm’s policy prohibiting unlawful discrimination applies to all aspects of employment, including hiring, placement, assignment of duties, training, promotion, compensation & benefits and termination. It is the policy of Harris Beach Murtha Cullina PLLC that all applicants and employees enjoy a positive, respectful and productive work environment, free from behavior, actions or language constituting unlawful harassment. Accordingly, harassment or discrimination of any kind based on an individual’s race or color, sex, age, religion, national origin, marital status, disability, military status, genetic predisposition, carrier status, sexual orientation, citizenship status, creed, domestic violence victim status or any other legally protected status is strictly prohibited. Harris Beach Murtha complies with the provisions of the Human Rights Law, all other State and Federal statutory and constitutional non-discrimination provisions including non-discrimination on the basis of prior criminal conviction and prior arrest.