Probate / Estate Planning Paralegal

Ascendion; Riverside (CA); On-site; USD 75,000 - 105,000; Full time

Job summary

Ascendion is seeking a highly motivated Probate / Estate Planning Paralegal for a Riverside, California-based law firm. This full-time position focuses on probate, trusts, conservatorships, guardianships, and related litigation support.

You will draft filings, manage calendars, coordinate with clients and vendors, and assist attorneys in all phases of probate-related matters. Strong California probate knowledge and organizational skills required.

Qualifications

• 2+ years as a California probate legal assistant or paralegal.
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent qualification acceptable.
• Strong organizational and communication skills.
• Experience with probate code, civil procedures.

Responsibilities

• Oversee probate, trust, estate administration from initiation to conclusion.
• Prepare, draft, file, and serve pleadings and accounts.
• Coordinate with vendors, court staff, and clients.
• Assist probate litigation attorneys in planning and discovery.

Skills

California probate

Conservatorships

Guardianships

Estate administration

Civil litigation

Organizational skills

Communication skills

Basic accounting

Education

California Probate Legal Assistant/Paralegal experience

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Tools

Word

WordPerfect

Adobe

Excel

Job description

My client is an AV rated Riverside, California-based Trust and Estates law firm that is looking for a highly motivated, organized, experienced full-time Probate / Estate Planning Paralegal

Responsibilities

Probate, Trust, Estate, Conservatorship, and Guardianship Administration: Oversee and manage the probate process from initiation to conclusion including prepare or draft, circulate, efile and serve necessary pleadings, declarations, supplements, proposed orders, inventory and appraisal, and probate code accountings; log and maintain case calendar deadline dates; legal research and report on case Probate Notes; work with case-relevant vendors for publication, bonding, probate referees, fiduciary bank accounts, realty insurers, realtors, court staff, court reporters, and the like; monitor and respond to estate creditor claims; ensure compliance with legal requirements, deadline observation and calendaring; communicate with clients.

Conservatorship, Guardianship and Elder Abuse Administration: Oversee and manage the case process from initiation to conclusion including prepare or draft, circulate, efile and serve necessary pleadings, declarations, supplements, proposed orders, post-appointment pleadings, inventory and appraisals, and probate code accountings; work with case-relevant vendors for bonding, fiduciary bank accounts, doctors, probate referees, realty insurers, realtors, court staff, court reporters, and the like; ensure compliance with legal requirements, deadline observation and calendaring; communicate with clients.

Probate, Trust & Estate Trial Litigation Support: Work closely with probate litigation attorneys to develop and manage probate, trust, estate, conservatorship, elder abuse, and guardianship litigation cases; draft relevant petitions, objections, declarations, proposed orders, discovery pleadings and client discovery responses; draft, circulate, efile and serve pretrial motions, points and authorities, declarations, exhibit and witness lists, statement of undisputed facts; matters for judicial notice; conduct legal research and writing as assigned; draft legal memoranda as needed; contact prospective lay and expert witnesses to arrange trial testimony time; coordinate and schedule trial calendars.

Litigation Case Screening: Conduct prospective client probate, trust, estate, Conservatorship, guardianship litigation case interviews; prepare prospective client intake summary; set and calendar appointments with attorneys.

Client Communication: Maintain regular communication with clients; update clients on the progress of their cases and promptly address client inquiries and concerns.

Legal Research: Conduct legal research on various probate, trusts and estate issues, civil litigation laws and trial procedures; stay up to date on changes in subject relevant California laws, regulations and procedures.

Billing and Collections: Maintain digital client records in law firm's software program. Oversee, manage and administer monthly client billings, from pre-bill review and revision to bill posting and distribution to clients; track outstanding account balances, trust retainer balances, and payments received; communicate with clients for payment and trust retainer replenishment.

Qualifications

Strong familiarity and experience working with California probate, trusts, conservatorships, guardianships and estate administration, civil litigation and procedures, Rules of Court and possess exceptional organizational, communication and basic accounting skills. The candidate must be responsible to assist our probate litigation attorneys in all stages of probate-related litigation matters. The candidate must be a self-starter who is comfortable drafting motions, discovery, legal correspondence, conducting research, scheduling, maintaining case files, and completing other case administration and management requests as needed.

Education: 2+ years as a California Probate Legal Assistant or Paralegal or an acceptable combination of a Bachelor's degree, equivalent relevant degree and/or education from an accredited institution, legal training and/or law-related work experience.

Organization: Strong organizational skills; ability to work with minimal supervision; attentiveness to details; ability to efficiently manage multiple tasks.

Communication: Excellent written and verbal communication skills; ability to interact professionally with probate litigation staff, clients, court staff and colleagues.

Knowledge: Proficient working knowledge and understanding of California probate, trust, estate, conservatorship, guardianship and elder abuse statutes and case law including the California Probate Code, Civil Code, Code of Civil Procedure, Rules of Court, and Local Rules of Court.

Software: Familiarity with Word, Word Perfect, Adobe, Excel and other relevant software and case management tools.

Salary and Other Compensation

The annual salary for this position is between $75k - 105k base. Factors which may affect pay within this range include geography/market, skills, education, experience, and other qualifications of the successful candidate.