Private Client Paralegal – Tax Specialist

ALA Gateway; Chicago, Northern (IL, KY); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical Insurance

Vision Insurance

Life Insurance & ADD policies

Short & Long Term Disability Insurance

401(k) Profit Sharing plans

Parking/Transportation Stipend

Paid Holidays

Paid Vacation Time

Annual Discretionary Bonus

Employee Wellness Program

Job summary

Thompson Coburn LLP is seeking a Private Client Paralegal – Tax Specialist for its St. Louis office. This full-time, non-exempt role supports sophisticated wealth transfer and estate planning matters, including Forms 706, 709, and 1041, under supervision.

The ideal candidate has five years in estate/gift tax prep; degree with paralegal certificate preferred. After training, a hybrid-remote schedule is available.

Qualifications

• Paralegal with five years of estate, gift, and fiduciary tax prep experience.
• Bachelor’s or Associate degree required; paralegal certificate preferred.
• Strong English communication and professional demeanor.

Responsibilities

• Prepares federal estate tax returns (Form 706) with supporting schedules.
• Prepares federal gift tax returns (Form 709) including split gifts.
• Prepares fiduciary income tax returns (Form 1041) and related state filings.
• Assists with trust and estate administration documents and probate pleadings.
• Coordinates with banks, brokers, and other advisors on tax matters.

Skills

Professionalism

MS Office

Adobe

English fluency

Organization

Time management

Problem solving

Communication

Education

Associate degree

Bachelor’s degree

Paralegal certificate preferred

Tools

Microsoft Office

Adobe

Job description

The Gateway Chapter’s Career Center provides information on employment opportunities for legal management professionals and other legal positions in the St. Louis metropolitan area. Positions available in the St. Louis area, along with a brief description, are listed below. To look at job postings outside of St. Louis, visit https://jobs.alanet.org/

Private Client Paralegal – Tax Specialist

Job Posting
Sep. 20, 2026

Thompson Coburn, a large full-service law firm with offices in eight (8) cities across the U.S., is in search of a full-time non-exempt Private Client Paralegal to join its St. Louis office. With over 450 attorneys and experience in 50 areas of law, Thompson Coburn is regularly recognized for providing clients with outstanding value and service. Driven by our core values of integrity, innovation and diversity, we collaborate and work in a welcoming, fast-paced, and inclusive environment.

Bring your estate, gift, and fiduciary tax expertise to a nationally recognized Private Client practice. Thompson Coburn is seeking a Private Client Paralegal – Tax Specialist with significant experience preparing Forms 706, 709, and 1041 to support sophisticated wealth transfer and estate planning matters. Under the supervision of the Senior Manager of Practice Support Services, this role blends advanced tax compliance work with trust and estate administration in a collaborative, high-performing legal environment. After an initial period of training, this position is eligible for a hybrid-remote work schedule.

Key Responsibilities:

• Prepares federal estate tax returns (Form 706), including compilation of asset information, review of valuations, portability elections, deductions, and supporting schedules.
• Prepares federal gift tax returns (Form 709), including split-gift elections and lifetime exemption tracking.
• Prepares fiduciary income tax returns (Form 1041) and related state filings in coordination with supervising attorneys.
• Reviews prior tax returns and financial documentation to support attorneys in estate planning strategy and generation-skipping transfer tax analysis.
• Gathers and analyzes financial records necessary for tax compliance, coordinating with clients, financial institutions, appraisers, and other advisors.
• Maintains organized tax workpapers and supporting documentation consistent with Firm standards and regulatory requirements.
• Assists with trust and estate administration matters, including drafting routine probate pleadings, inventories, accountings, and related documentation as appropriate.
• Coordinates trust funding and asset transfers, including communication with banks, brokers, insurance companies, and other third parties.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required:

• Must possess a high level of professionalism and interpersonal skills so as to be able to work well with client, client advisors and employees at all levels within the organization and maintain all information in the strictest of confidence. Required to use tact and diplomacy when dealing with others.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office software, including Outlook, Word and Excel.
• Must have strong technical skills including Adobe and the ability to quickly learn new technology.
• Must have the ability to read, write and communicate in fluent English; ability to analyze complex documents and compose documents in the appropriate business style using correct grammar and spelling; ability to communicate clearly using proper grammar and diction over the telephone.
• Must be detail-oriented and have excellent organizational skills; ability to balance multiple projects, work independently and have strong time management skills, as well as prioritize workload.
• Must be a dynamic and creative thinker, and adept at solving problems.
• Must have ability to reason and apply common-sense understanding to situations encountered.
• Ability to process routine daily functions while being able to resolve sensitive issues and complex assignments utilizing above-average critical thinking skills.
• Must be proactive communicating issues relating to assignment expectations and the ability to meet deadlines or expectations.
• Ability to work overtime or travel as needed.

Experience and Education Qualifications:

• Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree required.
• Paralegal certificate preferred.
• Minimum of five (5) years of experience in estate, gift, and fiduciary income tax preparation, including substantial experience preparing Forms 706, 709, and 1041 required.
• Experience in a law firm, accounting firm, or other professional services environment strongly preferred.

Thompson Coburn LLP is a large, full service, multi-state firm with offices in Birmingham, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, New York, St. Louis, Southern Illinois, and Washington D.C. At Thompson Coburn, our behavior and the expectations we have of ourselves are guided by the values that we hold in the highest regard: integrity, a passion for excellence, a focus on serving the client, a value of diversity, innovation, creativity, trust, and loyalty. Within the Firm, we value each other as people and colleagues. In addition to the exceptional working environment and a competitive salary, Thompson Coburn provides the following benefit options to qualifying employees:

• Medical Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• Life Insurance & ADD policies
• Short & Long Term Disability Insurance
• 401(k) Profit Sharing plans
• Parking/Transportation Stipend
• Section 125 Plan (Pre-tax premiums and medical reimbursement)
• Paid Holidays
• Paid Vacation Time
• Annual Discretionary Bonus
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Employee Wellness Program
• Tuition Reimbursement
• College Savings Plan Deductions (529 Plans)

The Gateway Chapter of the Association of Legal Administrators is a separate legal entity from the Association of Legal Administrators (ALA). ALA licenses the use of its name, mark, logos and other protected properties to chapters that are in good standing. ALA disclaims all liability or responsibility whatsoever for the actions, representations and liabilities of the Gateway Chapter, specifically including those of any nature whatsoever arising from or out of the content of other features related to the Gateway Chapter website. In no event shall ALA be deemed the guarantor of the Gateway Chapter.