Trusts + Estates Associate

Warner Norcross + Judd; Grand Rapids (MI); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

401k plan

Remote work flexibility

Job summary

Warner Norcross + Judd LLP is seeking an Associate Attorney to join our Trusts + Estates Practice Group in West Michigan. The ideal candidate has 2–5 years of estate planning, trust and estate settlement experience, and related tax and corporate matters. Licensed or able to become licensed in Michigan with strong research, writing, and communication skills.

Preferred candidates may hold an LL.M. in Taxation and have experience with high-net-worth planning, CRUTs, SLATs, GRATs, and related

Qualifications

• Strong foundation in estate planning, tax, probate and trust law.
• Excellent research and writing skills; ability to explain complex concepts clearly.
• Licensed or able to obtain Michigan license in good standing.
• Ability to build a book of business and manage client relationships.
• Discretion handling sensitive information with professionalism.

Responsibilities

• Develop comprehensive estate plans tailored to clients' needs and goals.
• Advise clients on tax implications and strategies to minimize liabilities (gift and estate tax planning).
• Handle probate processes, including court proceedings, valuation, debt settlement, and asset distribution.
• Manage and administer trusts, ensuring compliance with laws and trust agreements.

Skills

Estate planning

Tax law

Probate law

Trust law

Research & writing

Client communication

Client counseling

Education

Juris Doctor from ABA-accredited law school

Job description

About the Position

Warner Norcross + Judd LLP is seeking an

Description

About the Position

Warner Norcross + Judd LLP is seeking an Associate Attorney to join our Trusts + Estates Practice Group in West Michigan. This position may be based in Holland, Grand Rapids, or Kalamazoo. The ideal candidate will have two to five years of experience in estate planning, trust and estate settlement, and related tax and corporate matters. Candidates must have excellent research, writing, and communication skills and be licensed (or willing and able to become licensed) and in good standing to practice law in the state of Michigan.

About The Opportunity

Responsibilities:

• Develop comprehensive estate plans tailored to clients' specific needs and goals
• Advise clients regarding the tax implications of estate planning and the ability to minimize tax liabilities for clients through strategies like gift and estate tax planning
• Handle the probate process, including court proceedings, asset valuation, debt settlement, and distribution of assets
• Manage and administer trusts, ensuring they operate in compliance with applicable laws and the trust agreement

Required Qualifications:

• Strong foundation in estate planning, tax law, probate law, and trust law
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to explain complex legal concepts in a clear and understandable manner
• Ability to actively listen to client concerns and goals and provide practical legal advice aligned with their objectives
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills to assess complex financial and legal situations and develop appropriate solutions
• Precision in drafting legal documents that accurately reflect client intentions and comply with applicable laws
• Ability to handle sensitive and confidential information with the utmost discretion and professionalism

Preferred Qualifications:

• LL.M. in Taxation (or related field) is preferred but not required
• Experience advising high-net-worth individuals and families on estate planning and wealth transfer strategies
• Experience with sophisticated estate and gift tax planning techniques, including CRUTs, SLATs, GRATs, FLPs, QPRTs, IDGTs, and ILITs
• Experience with succession planning, fiduciary accounting, will and trust contests, family settlement agreements, and tax preparation

About You

• Juris Doctor from an ABA accredited law school
• Licensed or willing to become licensed and in good standing to practice law in the state of Michigan
• 2-5 years of experience in estate planning, trust and estate settlement, and related tax and corporate matters, preferably in a law firm setting
• Strong interest in building a book of business
• Ability to meet the physical requirements of the position, including prolonged periods of sitting and/or standing, and the ability to lift up to 25 pounds as needed

About WNJ

By providing discerning and proactive legal advice, Warner Norcross + Judd builds a better partnership with its clients. Warner is a full-service corporate law firm with 230+ attorneys practicing in nine offices throughout Michigan: Bloomfield Hills, Detroit, Grand Rapids, Holland, Kalamazoo, Lansing, Macomb, Midland and Muskegon.

To learn more, visit www.wnj.com, or connect with us on LinkedIn or Facebook.

About Our Benefits

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance plans
• Firm-provided life insurance and disability coverage
• 401k with employer contribution or match depending on plan design
• Firm holidays
• Remote work flexibility
• Wellness program
• Employee assistance program
• Professional development opportunities

About Our Culture

Warner’s cultural motto is “Fun, Pride + Profit...in that Order". We build A Better Partnership through:

• Teamwork – Warner’s lockstep compensation model encourages teamwork and distinguishes us from our competitors. Partner and associate salaries are set based upon seniority, not total hours worked, encouraging client legal projects to be routed to the most knowledgeable person in the firm. Our team approach to compensation yields better legal representation for our clients and lays the foundation for a fun culture without internal financial competition. We have a team atmosphere where people like working together and supporting each other.
• Diversity – At Warner, we take an “all in” approach to DEI – engaging people at all levels of the firm to lead and participate on DEI committees and initiatives. This ensures a broad base of support from team members truly invested in leading the charge. It’s because of their time and efforts we are as successful as we are – and that success radiates throughout the whole firm. Our DEI work has become not only the right thing to do, but more importantly, what our people want to do.
• Careers – Our culture of balanced personal and professional lifestyle allows us to maintain a 94% attorney retention rate. Attorneys throughout Michigan, the region and beyond are choosing Warner as their forever home – and because of our dedicated focus on living balanced lives, our attorneys’ families are fully supporting these important decisions.
• Community – Warner’s time-honored community engagement initiatives include financial contributions to 150+ nonprofits, scholarships and paid time off for all firm members to engage in community initiatives that are meaningful to them.

Closing Statement

Warner hires top talent at every point in our organization. We are seeking dedicated professionals with diverse backgrounds who strive to support the firm and its goals. Our collegial culture attracts people with diverse skills and backgrounds who are dedicated to teamwork and client service.