A highly regarded international law firm is seeking an experienced Trusts & Estates Paralegal to join its established Private Client practice in Los Angeles. This opportunity is ideal for a detail-oriented legal professional with a strong background in estate planning, trust administration, probate matters, and related tax and real estate transactions.
The successful candidate will work closely with attorneys and other legal professionals on sophisticated matters involving high-net-worth individuals, families, and privately held assets. This position offers the opportunity to manage substantive assignments independently, collaborate with experienced practitioners, and further develop expertise in complex trusts and estates matters.
Key Responsibilities
- Assist attorneys with all phases of estate planning, probate proceedings, and trust administration.
- Coordinate the collection, valuation, transfer, and distribution of estate and trust assets.
- Prepare estate inventories, beneficiary correspondence, and supporting administration documents.
- Assist with federal estate and gift tax return preparation and related tax documentation.
- Research and address estate, gift, income, and property tax considerations in coordination with attorneys.
- Draft deeds, assignments, receipts, releases, and other documents related to asset transfers.
- Prepare probate petitions, court filings, and supporting legal documents.
- Assist with fiduciary accountings and maintain accurate records of estate and trust transactions.
- Review property records, title reports, and ownership documentation to identify potential issues.
- Draft and coordinate the execution and recording of deeds, affidavits, and other real estate instruments.
- Work with title companies, county recorders, and other third parties to facilitate property transfers.
- Assist with California property tax reassessment matters, including Proposition 13 considerations.
- Prepare change-of-ownership statements, reassessment exclusion applications, and related filings.
- Communicate with county assessor offices regarding property tax and ownership matters.
Business Entity & Nonprofit Matters
- Prepare organizational and formation documents for corporations, limited liability companies, and partnerships.
- Coordinate business filings and registrations with state agencies.
- Assist with corporate governance, annual compliance requirements, and entity maintenance.
- Draft resolutions, meeting minutes, and other organizational records.
- Maintain entity records, ownership information, and corporate documentation.
- Support the formation and ongoing compliance of nonprofit and tax-exempt organizations.
- Assist with entity reorganizations, ownership changes, and dissolutions.
Qualifications & Experience
- 3–7+ years of experience as a Trusts & Estates Paralegal, preferably within a law firm environment.
- Strong understanding of California estate planning, probate procedures, and trust administration.
- Experience preparing estate administration documents, coordinating asset transfers, and assisting with estate and gift tax filings.
- Familiarity with real estate transactions, property tax considerations, and business entity matters.
- Must meet the requirements of California Business and Professions Code § 6450.
- Bachelor's degree preferred.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly Word, Excel, and Outlook.
- Experience with legal document management platforms such as iManage or FileSite preferred.
- Familiarity with project management tools, including Asana, and Microsoft Visio is a plus.
- Excellent organizational, analytical, and written communication skills.
- Ability to manage competing deadlines and work independently while maintaining a high degree of accuracy.
- Professional demeanor and discretion when handling confidential client information.
Ideal Candidate
We are seeking a proactive, organized, and dependable professional who enjoys taking ownership of assignments and working in a collaborative legal environment.
The ideal candidate will demonstrate strong attention to detail, sound judgment, and the ability to anticipate the needs of attorneys and clients. A commitment to delivering high‑quality work and managing complex matters efficiently is essential.
- Competitive salary: $100,000–$125,000 annually, depending on qualifications and experience.
- Hybrid work arrangement offering a combination of remote and in‑office work.
- Opportunity to work on sophisticated estate planning and administration matters involving high-net-worth clients.
- Direct collaboration with experienced attorneys and legal professionals.
- Exposure to complex trusts, tax planning, real estate, and business entity matters.
- Professional development and opportunities to expand technical expertise within an established practice.