Senior Trusts & Estates Tax Paralegal

Husch Blackwell; Chattanooga (TN); On-site; Confidential; Full time

Job summary

Husch Blackwell LLP in the United States is seeking a Senior Trusts & Estates Tax Professional to support estate administration and tax matters across offices. The role involves assisting attorneys in administering estates, funding post-death trusts, preparing documents, and managing cases.

The ideal candidate brings 8+ years of experience, a two-year degree (BA or Paralegal preferred), and strong communication and organizational skills.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of progressive experience in Trusts & Estates, including complex administration.
• Two-year degree required; BA or Paralegal Certificate preferred.
• Excellent communication, analytical, and organizational skills.
• Ability to manage multiple deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and tax/trust accounting software.

Responsibilities

• Assist attorneys with estate administration and post-death trust funding.
• Prepare estate and fiduciary tax returns and maintain trust records.
• Support probate filings and client case management.
• Maintain close contact with clients and financial advisors.
• Adopt and learn AI tools for legal tasks; ensure attention to detail.

Skills

8+ years experience

Estate administration

Fiduciary tax matters

Communication skills

Time management

Client case management

Microsoft Office proficiency

AI familiarity

Education

Two-year degree

Bachelor’s degree or ABA paralegal certificate

Tools

Microsoft Office

Document management systems

Tax software

Job description

Husch Blackwell LLP is a full-service litigation and business law firm with multiple locations across the United States, serving clients with domestic and international operations. At Husch Blackwell we believe that diverse, equitable and inclusive teams lead to better outcomes. Husch Blackwell is committed to retaining, recruiting, developing, and promoting talented lawyers and business professionals with diverse backgrounds and experiences. We foster an engaged, diverse, and inclusive team culture of accountability and purpose that makes our Firm and our communities better. Our firm is committed to attracting and retaining professionals who value each other and the service we provide by embracing Teamwork, Collaboration, Client Service, and Innovation. If you are a motivated professional looking for a long-term fit where you can grow in a role, and will be valued and empowered, then we invite you to apply to our Senior Trusts & Estates Tax Professional position. This position is open in any of our offices, but location in either St. Louis, Missouri or Phoenix, Arizona is preferred.

SCOPE OF RESPONSIBILITIES

Responsible for a full range of estate administration matters by providing assistance to the Firm’s attorneys in administering estates, funding post-death irrevocable trusts, preparing documents, preparing probate and filing estate-related tax returns, and client case management.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

• Prepare various tax returns including Estate Tax Returns and Fiduciary Income Tax Returns.
• Maintain financial records of trusts; perform trust accounting; audit accounts.
• Maintain G/L accounts, reconcile broker statements, prepare payables and bank deposits.
• Obtain and reconcile 1099 and K-1statements.
• Irrevocable trust funding and administration (post death).
• Probate administration, including drafting of probate pleadings.
• Maintain close personal contact with clients and financial advisors.
• Meet annual billable hour requirement of 1600 hours.
• Learn/develop technical proficiency in database use and management; internet/electronic research; and project folder/electronic file maintenance.
• Independently organize and manage files or delegate similar tasks to appropriate business professional and supervise same.
• Familiarity and experience with adopting legal AI and ability to learn and implement new AI preferred.
• Sustain attention to detail and quality of work.
• Other duties as assigned.

CORE REQUIREMENTS

• Ability to deliver superior service to all internal and external customers and to communicate effectively.
• Ability to interact in a professional and courteous manner with clients and employees at all times; professional appearance required.
• Ability to successfully perform position requirements with excellent organizational, time-management and prioritization skills required.
• Ability to work collaboratively within a team; ability and willingness to adapt to changing business demands.
• Ability to produce acceptable amount of work efficiently and accurately; ability to produce quality final work product.

POSITION-SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS

• 8 + years of progressively responsible experience in Trusts & Estates, including complex estate and trust administration, as well as estate and fiduciary tax matters.
• Two-year degree required. Bachelor’s degree or Paralegal Certificate from ABA approved program preferred; significant, substantive related experience may be considered in lieu of formal education.
• Excellent communication, analytical, and organizational skills.
• Proven success working in a fast-paced, continually changing environment.
• Ability to prioritize; excellent time management.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications.
• Familiarity with tax and trust accounting software.
• Experience with document database programs and/or software.
• Significant client case management experience.
• Exceptional attention to detail.
• Ability to interact effectively and professionally and provide exceptional service, internally and externally, at all times.
• Highly organized, able to prioritize workflow and manage projects.
• Ability to perform effectively with little or no supervision and within established time limits and on-going deadlines.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

• State of California: $86,000 - $139,000
• State of Colorado: $75,000 - $119,000
• State of Illinois: $64,000 - $125,000
• State of Maryland: $73,000 - $107,000
• State Massachusetts: $85,000 - $130,000
• State of Minnesota: $75,000 - $111,000
• Jersey City, NJ: $78,000 - $114,000
• State of New York: $66,000 - $125,000
• State of Washington: $88,000 - $134,000
• Washington, DC: $94,000 - $138,000

The above is intended to describe the general content of and requirements for the performance of this job. It is not to be construed as an exhaustive statement of essential functions, responsibilities, or requirements. The Firm will provide reasonable accommodations as necessary to allow an individual with a disability to apply for and/or perform the essential functions of a position. Please reach out to our HR team to request an accommodation.

EOE/Minority/Female/Disabled/Vet. Principal Applicants Only.