Estate & Trust Litigation Paralegal – Client-Facing

Bressler, Amery & Ross, P.C.; New Jersey; On-site; Full time

Job description

BRESSLER AMERY & ROSS, P.C. is searching for a Paralegal to join our Private Client Litigation team in our Florham Park office. As a Private Client Litigation Paralegal, you will support experienced lawyers in all aspects of trust and estate litigation, estate administration, corporate divorce/partnership litigation, and disputes involving private individuals and wealth transfers from inception through termination. This role is client facing and requires the ability to effectively communicate and work directly with clients. This position will work with other talented individuals who share a passion for doing great work in the best interest of our clients.

What You Would Do:

• Establish close rapport with clients, fiduciaries, beneficiaries, and family members to foster positive and cooperative working relationships in both contested and non-contested matters
• Assist attorneys, as needed, with drafting litigation and non-litigation documents, including pleadings, certifications, motions, discovery responses, settlement agreements, fiduciary documents, and correspondence
• Collect, analyze, and organize financial and legal records, including tax returns, trust agreements, wills, deeds, account statements, stock powers, business records, medical records, and financial statements in connection with estate, trust, guardianship, fiduciary, and related disputes
• Assist with fact development, document management, and chronology creation for contested probate, trust, fiduciary, undue influence, capacity, financial exploitation, accounting, and related private client matters
• Draft documents necessary to qualify fiduciaries, including executors, administrators, trustees, and guardians, and support attorneys in fiduciary administration matters that arise during litigation
• Coordinate service, publication, and required notices in probate, guardianship, and estate-related proceedings
• Analyze estate and trust administration issues that intersect with litigation, including post-mortem planning opportunities, disclaimer strategies, fiduciary decision-making, and disputed distributions
• Compile, review, and organize materials necessary for estate, inheritance, gift, fiduciary income, and related tax filings, audits, and valuation disputes
• Assist in the preparation and review of inventories, accountings, asset schedules, cash flow analyses, tracing analyses, and damages calculations for use in litigation, settlement negotiations, mediation, or trial
• Prepare and organize exhibits, discovery materials, subpoenas, deposition summaries, privilege logs, and trial or arbitration binders
• Coordinate with forensic accountants, valuation professionals, tax advisors, medical professionals, and other experts in connection with litigation and administration matters
• Assist with fiduciary accountings, settlement agreements, receipts and releases, and implementation of settlement terms, including trust funding and distributions
• Support attorneys in mediation, settlement negotiations, and trial preparation, including hearing and court filings, calendaring, and case management
• Coordinate with courts, surrogate offices, clients, opposing counsel, and outside professionals to obtain and analyze due diligence materials in preparation for filings and case strategy
• Maintain organized case files and manage deadlines across multiple active matters in a fast-paced private client litigation practice
• Special projects and duties, as assigned

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities & Education

• 3-5 years of litigation experience preferred; background in Trust & Estates is a must.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Strong analytical skills.
• Familiarity with document management systems is desirable.
• Highly proficient in MS Office Suite.

Salary range: $70,000 to $90,000. The salary range does not guarantee, obligate, nor set expectations of an applicant’s salary in the event of hire. Actual compensation will depend upon a number of factors, including but not limited to, the candidate’s years of experience, qualifications and skill set.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Disabled/Veteran