Trust & Estate Attorney

David Marshall Datz, P.C.; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

David Marshall Datz, P.C. seeks a Trust & Estate Attorney with 5+ years of experience to join our Boston and Provincetown offices. You will counsel families on estate planning, trust administration, and wealth transfer, collaborating with wealth management advisors to align legal and financial planning.

You will lead the practice, develop client relationships, and work with WealthCounsel to enhance workflows, drafting tailored documents and guiding clients through execution.

Qualifications

• J.D. degree and MA bar in good standing.
• 5+ years estate planning experience with high net worth clients.
• Hands-on WealthCounsel experience.
• Experience with tax planning and business succession.
• Knowledge of Massachusetts real estate conveyancing.
• Strong drafting skills and attention to detail.
• Experience collaborating with wealth management professionals.
• Proficiency in MS Office and Google Workspace.

Responsibilities

• Develop and formalize the practice's goals and processes, then lead the practice in carrying them out.
• Set financial goals for the practice and develop a maintenance plan for existing client plans.
• Maintain and update matter processes in the firm's systems, including billing and marketing.
• Cultivate existing estate planning clients, develop new ones, and convert real estate clients into estate planning clients.
• Work with WealthCounsel, Inc., to cultivate and enhance the practice.
• Conduct initial consultations to assess each client's needs, family circumstances, and goals.
• Review client questionnaires and financial documents.
• Draft tailored estate plans, including trusts, wills, powers of attorney, health care proxies, and related documents, using WealthCounsel drafting tools.
• Present documents to clients and guide them through review and execution.
• Advise on asset protection, tax planning, business succession, charitable giving, and transfer of property, including real estate held in trust.
• Review existing plans and recommend updates after life events or changes in the law.
• Manage your caseload and work with clients, accountants, and financial advisors as a coordinated team.
• Meet with current and prospective clients, be available for consultations, and attend client seminars and meetings.
• Develop referral relationships with financial advisors, accountants, and other professionals.
• Respond to client emails and voicemails promptly and keep files accurate and up to date.
• Own each file from initial engagement through signing and any recording of documents at a Registry of Deeds, as set out in the engagement letter.
• Perform other duties as assigned and adhere to the firm Handbook.

Skills

Estate planning

Trust administration

Tax planning

Business succession

Drafting

Client relations

Education

J.D. degree

Massachusetts Bar license

LL.M. in Taxation or Estate Planning

Tools

WealthCounsel software

Job description

Location: Boston and Provincetown, MA Job type: Full-time Experience: 5+ years

Compensation: Commission with Draw, depending on experience, current book of business.

Please note that this is a commission based position and the listed salary range reflects total estimated earning potential. Your actual compensation will consist of a commensurate competitive draw with a commission structure based on your sales performance.

About the Role

David Marshall Datz P.C. is seeking a Trust & Estate Attorney with 5+ years of experience and working knowledge of WealthCounsel software to join our Boston and Provincetown offices. You will counsel families on estate planning, trust administration, and the transfer of wealth, working closely with wealth management advisors to coordinate legal and financial planning.

About the Firm

At David Marshall Datz, we combine decades of legal expertise with a deep commitment to community, inclusion, and personalized service. With welcoming offices in Boston’s South End andProvincetown, our boutique firm proudly serves a diverse range of clients across Massachusetts—from first-time homebuyers to seasoned real estate investors—offering thoughtful guidance in residential and commercial real estate law and estate planning.

What You'll Do

• Work with our current estate planning attorney to develop and formalize the practice's goals and processes, then lead the practice in carrying them out
• Set financial goals for the practice and develop a maintenance plan for existing client plans
• Maintain and update matter processes in the firm's systems, including billing and marketing
• Cultivate existing estate planning clients, develop new ones, and convert real estate clients into estate planning clients
• Work with WealthCounsel, Inc., of which the firm is a member, to cultivate and enhance the practice
• Conduct initial consultations to assess each client's needs, family circumstances, and goals
• Review client questionnaires and financial documents
• Draft tailored estate plans, including trusts, wills, powers of attorney, health care proxies, and related documents, using WealthCounsel drafting tools
• Present documents to clients and guide them through review and execution
• Advise on asset protection, tax planning, business succession, charitable giving, and transfer of property, including real estate held in trust
• Review existing plans and recommend updates after life events or changes in the law

Trust and estate administration

• Advise executors, trustees, and beneficiaries on their legal rights and fiduciary duties
• Guide clients through the administration of complex estates and trusts, including court filings, creditor notices, inventories, accountings, and distributions
• Prepare and review fiduciary income tax and estate tax filings in coordination with accountants
• Assist with guardianship and conservatorship matters as needed

Client and practice management

• Manage your caseload and work with clients, accountants, and financial advisors as a coordinated team
• Meet with current and prospective clients, be available for consultations, and attend client seminars and meetings
• Develop referral relationships with financial advisors, accountants, and other professionals
• Respond to client emails and voicemails promptly and keep files accurate and up to date
• Own each file from initial engagement through signing and any recording of documents at a Registry of Deeds, as set out in the engagement letter
• Perform other duties as assigned and adhere to the firm Handbook

What You Bring

Required

• J.D. and licensed member in good standing with the Massachusetts Board of Bar Overseers
• 5+ years of estate planning experience, including high net worth clients and the administration of complex estates
• Hands-on experience using WealthCounsel software
• Experience with tax planning and business succession
• Knowledge of Massachusetts real estate conveyancing
• Strong drafting skills and attention to detail
• Experience collaborating with wealth management and financial planning professionals
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and Google Workspace; comfort with social media for practice development

Preferred

• LL.M. in Taxation or Estate Planning, or equivalent experience
• Massachusetts Bar Association membership, or membership in a trusts and estates bar section
• A flexible self-starter who enjoys being part of a team while growing their own practice
• Empathetic, people-oriented, and committed to exceptional client service, especially when clients are navigating sensitive family and end-of-life matters
• Highly organized, able to multi-task, and willing to participate in firm initiatives
• A genuine passion for helping families protect and pass on what matters to them