Senior Associate

Ambrecht & Martinez, LLP; Santa Barbara (CA); Hybrid; USD 185,000 - 205,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Incentives

Retirement plan

PTO & holidays

Licensing support

Hybrid work

Other firm benefits

Job summary

Ambrecht & Martinez, LLP in Santa Barbara, CA seeks a Senior Associate Attorney to join its trusts, estates and tax practice. You will work with partners and clients on sophisticated estate planning, tax, and business-succession matters.

This hybrid, in-office role offers significant client responsibility, mentorship opportunities, and a path to leadership within a growing private-client practice. CA bar admission and 5+ years of relevant experience are preferred.

Qualifications

• Requires JD from an accredited law school.
• California bar admission strongly preferred; licensed to practice in California.
• Approximately 5+ years of relevant trusts and estates experience; senior-level proficiency.

Responsibilities

• Advising families with estates, trusts, and related tax considerations.
• Drafting and reviewing revocable/irrevocable trusts, wills, powers of attorney, and related planning instruments.
• Analyzing estate, gift, and generation-skipping transfer tax implications.
• Managing client matters from strategy through implementation.
• Mentoring junior attorneys and staff; collaborating with partners and outside advisors.

Skills

Estate planning

Trusts & estates

Tax planning

Legal writing

Client communication

Mentoring

Education

Juris Doctor (JD)

LL.M. in Taxation

California Bar admission

Job description

Position: Full-Time

Base Salary: $185,000–$205,000 + Benefits + Performance Incentives

Company Description

Senior Associate Attorney – Trusts, Estates & Tax

Ambrecht & Martinez, LLP is a boutique law firm based in Santa Barbara, California, advising families with substantial estates, trustees, and business owners on sophisticated estate planning, tax planning, trust administration, and business succession matters.

Our practice is focused on helping families thoughtfully preserve, manage, and transfer wealth across generations. We provide highly personalized counsel involving complex estate structures, tax-efficient wealth transfer strategies, closely held businesses, real estate, fiduciary matters, and multigenerational planning.

We are committed to sophisticated legal work, exceptional client service, and a collaborative professional environment. Our clients value discretion, responsiveness, technical excellence, and thoughtful long-term counsel.

Role Description

Ambrecht & Martinez is seeking an experienced Senior Associate Attorney to join our growing trusts and estates practice in Santa Barbara.

The Senior Associate will work directly with the firm's partners and clients on sophisticated estate planning, tax, trust, and business succession matters. This position is designed for an attorney who has developed meaningful experience in trusts and estates and is capable of assuming substantial responsibility for client matters while continuing to grow within a sophisticated private-client practice.

Responsibilities

• Advising families with substantial estates, trustees, and business owners on estate, tax, trust, and succession planning matters.


• Designing, drafting, and reviewing sophisticated estate planning documents, including revocable and irrevocable trusts, wills, powers of attorney, and related planning instruments.


• Analyzing estate, gift, generation-skipping transfer, and income tax considerations associated with planning strategies.


• Assisting with advanced wealth transfer, business succession, charitable planning, and asset protection strategies.


• Managing client matters from initial strategy through implementation.


• Preparing legal memoranda, client correspondence, planning summaries, and related documentation.


• Working directly with clients to explain complex legal and tax concepts clearly and practically.


• Collaborating with partners on sophisticated planning matters and complex client situations.


• Coordinating with clients' CPAs, financial advisors, insurance professionals, and other outside advisors.


• Maintaining current knowledge of developments in federal and California estate, trust, and tax law.


• Supporting and mentoring junior attorneys and professional staff where appropriate.


• Contributing to the continued growth and development of the firm's private-client practice.

This is a full-time hybrid/in-office position based in Santa Barbara, California. Regular in-office presence is expected to support client meetings, collaboration with partners and staff, and the firm's high-touch approach to client service. Some remote-work flexibility may be available based on the needs of the firm, client responsibilities, and the attorney's experience and performance.

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school.


• Admission in good standing to a U.S. state bar; California admission strongly preferred.


• Approximately 5+ years of relevant trusts and estates experience, although exceptional candidates with somewhat different experience levels will be considered.


• Strong substantive experience in estate planning, trusts, and related tax matters.


• Demonstrated ability to draft and review sophisticated estate planning documents.


• Strong understanding of federal estate, gift, and generation-skipping transfer tax principles.


• Experience advising high-net-worth clients, business owners, trustees, or multigenerational families strongly preferred.


• Excellent legal research, analytical, drafting, and writing skills.


• Ability to communicate sophisticated legal and tax concepts clearly and confidently to clients.


• Strong judgment, professionalism, discretion, and attention to detail.


• Ability to independently manage multiple sophisticated matters and competing deadlines.


• Collaborative approach to working with partners, attorneys, professional staff, and clients' outside advisors.

An LL.M. in Taxation, Certified Specialist designation in Estate Planning, Trust & Probate Law, or significant advanced estate and tax planning experience is highly valued but not required.

Compensation & Benefits

Ambrecht & Martinez offers a competitive compensation package designed to recognize experience, professional contribution, and performance.

Base Salary: $185,000–$205,000 annually, depending on experience, qualifications, and demonstrated ability to independently manage sophisticated client matters.

In addition to base compensation, the position includes:

• Performance-based incentive compensation


• Retirement benefits


• Paid time off and firm holidays


• Professional licensing and continuing education support


• Hybrid-work flexibility


• Additional firm-sponsored benefits

Our compensation structure provides opportunities for increased total compensation based on individual contribution, productivity, client service, and the overall success of the firm.

Why Ambrecht & Martinez

This position offers an experienced trusts and estates attorney the opportunity to perform sophisticated private-client work within a collaborative boutique environment.

The Senior Associate will have meaningful client responsibility, direct access to the firm's partners, exposure to complex planning matters, and an opportunity to play an important role in the continued growth of Ambrecht & Martinez.

We are looking for an attorney who values technical excellence, thoughtful planning, long-term client relationships, and the opportunity to build a meaningful career within a growing Santa Barbara trusts and estates practice.