Trust and Estate Planning Attorney

Carolina Estate Planning; Winston-Salem (NC); On-site; USD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Carolina Estate Planning in Winston-Salem, NC seeks an estate planning attorney to join a growing firm delivering rigorous estate plans that protect families and create lasting legacies. You will work directly with firm owners, handle sophisticated client matters, own client relationships from initial consultation through final delivery, and guide families through complex decisions with empathy, precision, and professional integrity.

Requirements include a J.D.

Qualifications

• Active North Carolina Bar license in good standing.
• J.D. from an accredited law school.
• 5+ years of estate planning, probate, and trust administration experience.
• Exceptional communication skills, especially in high-stakes, emotionally sensitive situations.
• Ability to lead and manage in a fast-paced, service-oriented environment.

Responsibilities

• Own the client relationships from first consultation through final delivery, guiding families through important legal decisions.
• Consulting with prospective clients and leading them through our estate planning process.
• Providing expert legal counsel and delivering superior estate planning and asset protection work products.
• Researching, designing, and executing complex, customized estate plans—wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and more.
• Educating clients on retirement strategies, charitable giving, and insurance options.
• Guiding clients through the probate process with clear, actionable advice.
• Representing clients in uncontested guardianship and probate hearings.
• Maintaining detailed, organized client records for seamless service and compliance.
• Attending court proceedings as needed.
• Prepare wills, trusts, and power of attorney documents.

Skills

Exceptional communication

Client relationship management

Empathy for clients

Estate planning knowledge

Research and drafting

Education

Active North Carolina Bar license

J.D. from an accredited law school

LL.M. in Taxation or Estate Planning (preferred)

Job description

This isn't a seat-warmer role. We're looking for an estate planning attorney who brings exceptional legal skill, genuine client empathy, and the drive to do their best work — every single day.

At Carolina Estate Planning, we've built a firm where talented attorneys can focus on what they do best: delivering rigorous, thoughtful estate plans that protect families and create lasting legacies. You'll work directly with firm owners, handle sophisticated client matters, and play a meaningful role in a firm that’s growing fast and doing it right.

If you hold yourself to a high standard, thrive in a fast-paced environment, and believe that great legal work can genuinely change people's lives, we built this role for you.

Compensation: Base salary: $110,000 – $140,000, commensurate with experience. Incentive compensation: Performance-based bonus structure.

Compensation: $110,000 – $140,000 yearly DOE + Performance-based Bonus

Qualifications

• What You Bring
• Required:
• Active North Carolina Bar license in good standing
• J.D. from an accredited law school
• 5+ years of estate planning, probate, and trust administration experience
• Proven ability to lead and manage in a fast-paced, service-oriented environment
• Exceptional communication skills — especially in high-stakes, emotionally sensitive situations
• Strong working knowledge of complex trust planning, probate, and trust administration
• Preferred:
• LL.M. in Taxation or Estate Planning & Probate Board Certified Specialist designation
• Experience with WealthDocx Estate Planning or ElderDocx Elder Law software
• Active involvement with the American Bar Association (ABA)
• Who Thrives Here
• Our core values aren't aspirational — they're operational. The right candidate will recognize themselves in all of them:
• Integrity — You hold yourself to the highest ethical standards, always.
• Impact & Influence — You want your work to matter beyond the billable hour.
• Initiative — You anticipate problems and solve them before they accelerate.
• Everyone Gets Helped — You believe great legal work ripples outward, and you show up fully for every person you encounter.
• 100% Accountability — You own your outcomes, no excuses.
• Growth Mindset — You're committed to continuous improvement, and you push those around you to grow, too.
• Rigor — You know that in estate planning, the difference between good and exceptional lives in the details.
• Active member of the ABA (American Bar Association)
• Working knowledge of title insurance, wills, trusts, property management, and residential and commercial real estate law, including litigation
• Bachelor’s degree with a legal background and J.D. degree are required
• Great communication skills, particularly in stressful and emotional situations
• At least 1-2 years of working in a law firm on on estate planning and probate law issues is necessary

Responsibilities

• What You'll Do
• You'll own the client relationships from first consultation through final delivery, guiding families through some of the most important legal decisions of their lives. Day-to-day, that means:
• Consulting with prospective clients and leading them through our proprietary estate planning process
• Providing expert legal counsel and delivering superior estate planning and asset protection work products
• Researching, designing, and executing complex, customized estate plans — wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and more
• Educating clients on retirement strategies, charitable giving, and insurance options
• Guiding clients through the probate process with clear, actionable advice that cuts through complexity
• Representing clients in uncontested guardianship and probate hearings
• Maintaining detailed, organized client records that ensure seamless service and full compliance
• Attending court proceedings as needed
• Educate clients about options for retirement, donating to charity, and purchasing insurance
• Attend court proceedings as needed to represent clients
• Advocate on behalf of clients by understanding their needs, effectively analyzing the situation, and forming a strategy for a plan of action
• Discuss plans with clients for distributing clients’ assets
• Prepare wills, trusts, and power of attorney documents