Attorney

Lerch, Early & Brewer; Bethesda (MD); On-site; USD 160,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health and dental insurance

401(k) plan

Paid holidays and vacation

Job summary

Lerch, Early & Brewer, a leading law firm in Bethesda, Maryland, is seeking an experienced associate attorney to join their Estates and Trusts practice. The role requires at least five years of estate, wealth, and gift tax planning experience, along with trust and estate administration skills.

The ideal candidate will draft complex estate planning documents and work with clients to implement strategies. A competitive salary between $160,000 - $190,000 per year is offered, along with performance-based bonuses.

Qualifications

• Minimum of five years of experience in estate planning and trust administration.
• Licensed in Maryland, District of Columbia, or Virginia.
• Strong knowledge of advanced estate planning and tax techniques.

Responsibilities

• Draft and implement sophisticated estate planning strategies.
• Handle estate and trust administration in relevant jurisdictions.
• Collaborate with CPAs and wealth advisors for coordinated planning.

Skills

Complex tax research skills

Client relationship management

Attention to detail

Education

LL.M in Taxation or current enrollment

Job description

Lerch, Early & Brewer, a full-service Bethesda law firm, seeks an experienced associate attorney to work in our Estates and Trusts practice.

Job Requirements

The firm particularly seeks an attorney with a minimum of five years of experience in estate, wealth, and gift tax planning, and trust and estate administration. You would work alongside experienced and highly skilled senior attorneys in a range of matters, including:

Drafting and implementation of sophisticated estate planning strategies, including

• Foundational estate planning documents;
• Business succession planning;
• Asset protection planning;
• Complex estate and wealth transfer strategies including Generation‑Skipping Trusts, IDGTs, GRATs, and Charitable Trusts;
• Gift tax returns; and
• Collaboration with CPAs and wealth advisors to ensure coordinated planning across disciplines.

Estate and trust administration in Maryland, the District of Columbia, and Virginia, to include

• Fiduciary accountings; and
• Federal and State Estate Tax Returns.

Qualified candidates should have excellent academic credentials, prior work experience in the above‑described areas, superb attention to detail in drafting and client communication, the ability to perform complex tax research projects regarding income tax and estate and gift tax, and demonstrated client relationship skills. Ideal candidates will have a strong working knowledge of advanced estate planning and tax techniques and have obtained an LL.M in Taxation or be actively enrolled in an LL.M program. In addition, candidates must demonstrate high standards of professional excellence, a commitment to outstanding client satisfaction, the ability to work well with others, and a strong work ethic. Candidates must be licensed in at least one or more of Maryland, District of Columbia, or Virginia, and if not barred in Maryland, must be willing to become licensed in Maryland.

Lerch, Early & Brewer offers excellent benefits, including health and dental insurance, paid holidays, vacation, sick leave, and 401(k). The firm is conveniently located near the Bethesda Metro.

The salary range for this position is $160,000 - $190,000 per year (based on experience), with potential for generous annual and monthly performance‑based bonuses.

We are an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and we hire attorneys and staff with a wide variety of backgrounds and capabilities.

Help Us Learn About You

The best applicants provide a cover letter that explains their interest in a career as an Estate Planning/Probate Attorney and in working at Lerch, Early & Brewer. We’d love to learn more about you, so please share any information you think sets you apart from other candidates.

Application Instructions

All applicants should apply via LinkedIn or send an updated resume and cover letter to [e-mail]. Please indicate in your cover letter that you are applying for the Estate Planning/Estate Administration Attorney position.