Solicitor (Wills & Estates)

Benedict Ferguson & Marshall; Caledonia, Hamilton; On-site; CAD 140,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Group health benefits when available

Law Society fees & LAWPRO premiums

Funded continuing education (STEP/TEP)

Job summary

Benedict Ferguson & Marshall is seeking a wills and estates solicitor with about five years at the bar to join our Ontario-wide practice. You will design comprehensive estate plans for high‑net‑worth families, working with a close team of clerks and legal staff in our Caledonia and Hamilton offices.

We value real trust planning experience and the ability to mentor colleagues while building a professional profile in the community. Excellent compensation reflects experience.

Qualifications

• Licensed to practice law by the Law Society of Ontario in good standing.
• About 5 years of practice focused on wills, trusts and estates.
• Strong command of Ontario estates law (S Succession Law Reform Act, Substitute Decisions Act, Estates Act) and estate administration tax.
• Experience with high-net-worth clients and coordinating with their advisors.

Responsibilities

• Draft wills, powers of attorney and related documents as part of a dedicated team.
• Provide estate and trust planning guidance to clients and their families.
• Liaise with clients’ accountants and other advisors; travel between Caledonia and Hamilton offices.
• Mentor junior clerks and contribute to the development of the planning practice.

Skills

Ontario law knowledge

Wills & trusts

Client advisory

Mentoring

Education

Licensed to practice law in Ontario

STEP/TEP designation (pursuing)

Job description

At Benedict Ferguson & Marshall, an estate plan starts with a family's story. Before we talk about trusts or tax, we want to know what matters most to the people in front of us: a business they spent forty years building, a child who will need care for life, a cottage they hope stays in the family. Then we design the plan that protects it.

We are looking for a wills and estates solicitor with about five years at the bar who plans the same way.

You’ll Need:

• Licensed to practice law by the Law Society of Ontario, in good standing;
• About 5 years’ of practice focused on wills, trusts and estates
• Working command of Ontario estates law, including the Succession Law Reform Act, the Substitute Decisions Act and Estates Act, and of estate administration tax
• Real trust-planning experience, not just simple wills
• Comfort working with high-net-worth clients and the advisors around them
• Able to travel regularly between our Caledonia and Hamilton offices

You’ll stand out if you:

• Have done business succession and estate-freeze work alongside accountants.
• Hold or are working toward a TEP designation (STEP)
• Enjoy teaching: seminars, webinars, radio, podcasts or community talks.
• Want to build a profile and a following, not just a docket.
• Bring some clients or referral relationships with you. Welcome, not required.

How we lead

We believe the best way to care for clients is to care for the people who serve them. You won't carry your files alone. A strong, dedicated team of clerks and assistants drafts the wills and powers of attorney, manages the files and handles client follow-up that keep a planning practice running, and your colleagues in both offices are close by whenever you want a second opinion.

Our job as partners is to help you do your best work: real mentoring, a caseload you can do well, support for your professional growth, and room to build your own name in the community. When our team thrives, our clients feel it.

Pay and what comes with it

The salary range for this role is $140,000 to $170,000 per year. Pay is commensurate with experience; a lawyer with five years of practice will start at $150,000. Movement within the range reflects experience, trust-planning depth and the client relationships you build.

• Salaried, not commission. Your income doesn't swing with the month's files.
• Strong, dedicated support staff and experienced colleagues behind every file.
• Group health benefits when available. Participation is optional and not a condition of employment.
• Law Society annual fees and LAWPRO premiums paid by the firm.
• Funded continuing education, including STEP and TEP coursework

Applications are confidential

We will tell everyone we interview whether a hiring decision has been made, within 14 days of their last interview.

We do not use artificial intelligence to screen applicants.

This posting is for an existing vacancy.

Benedict Ferguson & Marshall welcomes applications from all qualified candidates.

Accommodation is available on request at any stage of the hiring process.