Senior Trust & Estate Litigation Attorney

1872 CONSULTING; Irvine (CA); On-site; USD 200,000 - 250,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible work arrangements

AI-enabled tools

Top Workplace culture

Job summary

1872 CONSULTING is seeking a Senior Trust & Estate Litigation Attorney in Orange County, CA. The role requires independent ownership of contested trust, estate, and probate matters with a substantial docket and direct client relationships.

The position emphasizes courtroom work, with a 1,600-hour annual target and a base salary up to $250,000 plus benefits. Flexible work arrangements are available, and the firm is known for its Top Workplace recognition.

Qualifications

• 8–15 years of litigation experience in contested trust, estate, or fiduciary matters.
• Active California Bar license in good standing and first-chair ownership of complex matters.
• Excellent research, writing, advocacy, and client communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Independently manage contested trust, estate, and probate litigation through trial.
• Take and defend depositions, draft motions, and direct discovery strategy.
• Represent clients in mediations and settlement negotiations.
• Prepare cases for trial in probate and civil courts.
• Advise clients on strategy, risk, and posture.

Skills

Litigation experience

First-chair ownership

Client relationship management

Strong research and writing

Tools

California Bar license

Job description

Senior Trust & Estate Litigation Attorney

Orange County, California | 8–15 years

Approximately 1,600 billable hours

$200K-$250K Base

Company Summary

We are a Southern California litigation boutique whose core practice is contested trust, estate, and inheritance disputes, alongside business litigation. Our clients include corporations, nonprofit organizations, executives, prominent individuals, and family-owned businesses in high-stakes matters. We have been recognized as one of Orange County's Top Workplaces.

Position Summary

We are seeking a senior attorney with 8–15 years of litigation experience to independently own contested trust, estate, and probate matters from inception through resolution. The docket centers on trust and will contests, breach of fiduciary duty claims, trustee removal, contested accountings, financial elder abuse, undue influence and capacity disputes, and Probate Code section 850 petitions. This is a courtroom practice — not an estate planning or trust administration role — with approximately 1,600 annual billable hours and direct client relationships.

Responsibilities

• Independently manage contested trust, estate, and probate litigation from filing through trial


• Take and defend depositions


• Draft and argue substantive law and motion


• Direct written and document discovery strategy


• Represent clients in mediations and settlement negotiations


• Prepare cases for trial in California probate and civil departments


• Advise clients directly on strategy, risk, and case posture

Requirements

• 8–15 years of litigation experience, with substantial contested trust, estate, probate, or fiduciary litigation


• Active California Bar license in good standing


• Demonstrated first-chair ownership of contested matters without day-to-day supervision


• Deposition, motion, discovery, mediation, and trial preparation experience in adversarial proceedings


• Excellent research, writing, advocacy, and client communication skills


• Sound strategic judgment with emotionally charged, high-stakes family and fiduciary disputes

What We Offer

• Base salary up to $250,000, plus competitive benefits


• Approximately 1,600 annual billable hours


• Flexible work arrangements


• A sophisticated, genuinely contested docket with meaningful client relationships


• Modern technology and AI-enabled tools that reduce administrative burden


• A culture recognized as one of Orange County's Top Workplaces