Estate Planning & Estate Tax Attorney

Hire Counsel; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 135,000 - 165,000; Full time

Job summary

Hire Counsel in Burr Ridge, IL seeks an experienced Estate Planning Attorney (5–10 yrs) for its Estate Planning, Tax, and Probate Practice Group. The role involves drafting wills and trusts, advising on tax strategies, and leading client relationships. Flexibility for hybrid in-office presence two to three days per week is required.

Salary is circa $150,000, depending on experience. Benefits information is available from the employer.

Qualifications

• JD from an accredited law school and IL license required.
• Five to ten years in estate planning or related practice.
• Experience with high-net-worth clients and complex estate tax planning.
• Strong drafting and communication skills; client relationship management.

Responsibilities

• Meet with clients to assess estate planning goals and concerns.
• Develop personalized estate plans to optimize asset protection and tax minimization.
• Advise on trust administration, probate avoidance, and gifting strategies.
• Draft and review wills, revocable/irrevocable trusts, powers of attorney, and healthcare directives.
• Oversee documents like GRATs, ILITs, SLATs; prepare related tax returns.
• Mentor junior attorneys and staff; coordinate with accountants and advisors.
• Support business development and client relationship growth.

Skills

Estate planning

Drafting

Communication

Client relations

Mentoring

Tax planning

Education

Juris Doctor (JD)

Active Illinois license

LLM in Taxation or Estate Planning

Job description

We are working with a boutique full services law firm in Burr Ridge, Illinois, a Chicago suburb, seeking an experienced Estate Planning Attorney (5 – 10 yrs.) for its Estate Planning, Tax, and Probate Practice Group. The attorney hired will provide comprehensive legal advice and solutions for high-net-worth individuals, families, and businesses, having significant estate tax issues, regarding their estate planning needs. This role involves drafting and overseeing the execution of wills, trusts, and other legal documents; advising clients concerning tax strategies (preferably including estate tax strategies); preparing various trusts involved in estate tax planning and gifting, preparing federal estate and gift tax returns, and ensuring compliance with applicable state and federal laws. The attorney will also lead client relationships and mentor junior staff. Willingness to contribute to business development is a definite plus. The position is hybrid, requiring an in-office presence two (2) to three (3) days per week. Salary for the position is circa $150,000, depending upon experience. Benefits information is available from the employer.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Meet with clients to assess their estate planning goals and concerns.
• Develop personalized estate plans to achieve asset protection, tax minimization, and legacy planning.
• Advise on trust administration, probate avoidance, and philanthropic endeavors.

Document Preparation & Review

• Draft, review, and finalize wills, revocable and irrevocable trusts (including life insurance trusts), powers of attorney, and healthcare directives.
• Oversee complex documents such as GRATs, ILITs, SLATs, and family limited partnerships.
• Advise clients on estate, gift, and generation-skipping transfer tax implications.
• Collaborate with accountants and financial advisors to optimize tax strategies.
• Prepare various trusts involved in estate tax planning and gifting.
• Prepare federal estate and gift tax returns.
• Supervise and mentor junior attorneys, paralegals, and support staff.
• Provide training and updates on changes in estate planning laws and regulations.

Client Relationship Management

• Build and maintain long-term relationships with clients.
• Serve as a trusted advisor by offering ongoing legal guidance as family or financial situations evolve.
• Represent clients in collaboration with litigation teams on estate disputes.

Business Development (preferred plus)

• Participate in networking events, speaking engagements, and seminars to grow the firm’s client base.
• Develop marketing materials and contribute to articles or thought leadership in the field.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education & Licensing

• Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school.
• Active license to practice law in Illinois.

Experience

• Five to ten (5-10) years in estate planning or related legal practice.
• Proven experience working with high-net-worth clients and handling complex estate planning and estate tax planning cases.
• Deep understanding of federal and state tax laws related to estates and gifts.
• Excellent drafting and communication skills.
• Strong interpersonal and client relationship management skills.
• Ability to manage multiple high-stakes cases efficiently.

Preferred Qualifications

• LLM in Taxation or Estate Planning.
• Practice Concentration in Estate Planning, Trust, and Probate Law

OTHER DETAILS

• Attorney Experience Level: 5-10 years
• Presence Expectations: The position is hybrid, requiring two (2) to three (3) days per week in office.
• Benefits: Employer to furnish information