Senior Trust Counsel & Relationship Leader for HNW Clients

First American; Santa Ana (CA); On-site; USD 149,000 - 198,000; Full time

Job summary

First American is seeking an experienced Relationship Manager, Trust Counsel who serves as a trusted legal advisor on trust and estate matters, partnering with clients and fiduciaries to provide guidance on administration and regulatory compliance.

The role involves building relationships with trustees, beneficiaries, financial professionals, and wealth management teams, while ensuring fiduciary obligations and legal requirements are met across complex estates.

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor (JD) degree from an accredited law school.
• Active license to practice law in at least one U.S. jurisdiction.
• 7+ years of experience practicing trust and estate law, estate planning, probate, trust administration, estate settlement, fiduciary services, or a related legal field.
• Experience advising trustees, beneficiaries, executors, conservators, and other fiduciaries on trust and estate matters.
• Strong knowledge of trust administration, fiduciary principles, estate planning strategies, wealth transfer planning, and estate settlement processes.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a trusted legal advisor to high-net-worth individuals, families, fiduciaries, and internal business partners on trust and estate matters.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with clients, trustees, beneficiaries, financial advisors, tax professionals, and other key stakeholders.
• Provide legal guidance on trust administration, fiduciary responsibilities, estate settlement, wealth transfer strategies, and regulatory compliance.
• Review, interpret, and advise on trust agreements, wills, powers of attorney, estate planning documents, and related legal instruments.
• Counsel clients and fiduciaries regarding trust administration matters, beneficiary issues, account distributions, and fiduciary decision-making.
• Partner with internal business units to ensure trust services are delivered in accordance with fiduciary obligations, legal requirements, and organizational policies.
• Identify, assess, and mitigate legal, fiduciary, and regulatory risks associated with trust and estate activities.
• Support complex client situations by developing practical solutions that balance client objectives, fiduciary responsibilities, and legal risk.
• Collaborate with external attorneys, accountants, wealth advisors, and tax professionals to support client needs and long-term planning objectives.
• Monitor account activity to ensure compliance with established company policies, fiduciary standards, regulatory requirements, and completion of annual Reg. 9 reviews.
• Stay current on trust, estate, fiduciary, and wealth planning laws, regulations, and industry developments that may impact clients and trust operations.
• Maintain accurate records of client interactions, legal guidance, and account activity while ensuring confidentiality and data integrity.

Skills

Trust & estate law

Client relationship management

Regulatory compliance

Strategic planning

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Juris Doctor (JD)

Active bar license

Job description

First American is seeking an experienced Relationship Manager, Trust Counsel who serves as a trusted legal advisor on trust and estate matters, partnering with clients and fiduciaries to provide guidance on administration and regulatory compliance.

The role involves building relationships with trustees, beneficiaries, financial professionals, and wealth management teams, while ensuring fiduciary obligations and legal requirements are met across complex estates.