Probate/Estate Planning Legal Assistant

Key Responsibilities

• Draft and prepare estate planning documents including wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and advance directives
• Aid in the preparation and filing of probate documents and court filings
• Maintain frequent communication with clients, financial institutions, and court personnel in a professional and courteous manner
• Answer and route phone calls for attorneys
• Manage attorney calendars, deadlines, and key milestones related to court filings, trust funding, and estate matters
• Cook signing meetings, notary services, and document execution
• Review and analyze financial documents, beneficiary designations, and asset information
• Maintain and organize physical and electronic client files in accordance with firm procedures
• Aid attorneys with research, correspondence, and preparation of IRS and state tax forms related to estates and trusts (e.g., Forms 706 and 709)
• Provide general administrative and legal support as needed

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of experience as a legal secretary, with at least 3 years in estate planning strongly preferred
• Strong working knowledge of estate planning documents, probate processes, and trust administration
• Familiarity with court, state, and county filing systems and probate procedures
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook)
• Experience with document management systems such as iManage and legal billing software
• Exceptional organizational skills and attention to detail
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines efficiently
• High level of discretion and confidentiality when handling sensitive client information