Trusts & Estates Associate Attorney

Donahue Fitzgerald LLP; Oakland (CA); On-site; USD 165,000 - 195,000; Full time

Job summary

Donahue Fitzgerald LLP in Oakland seeks an associate attorney for its Trusts & Estates practice. The role emphasizes complex estate planning, trust administration, and tax-aware strategies in a high-paced environment.

The firm supports a partnership path, strong collaboration, and a balanced workload. The ideal candidate has 5+ years of relevant experience, top law school credentials, and admission to the California Bar.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of estate planning and trust administration experience, with a background in tax preferred.
• Experience drafting and implementing complex estate planning strategies (GST, SLATs, GRATs, IDGTs, Charitable Trusts).
• Must be admitted and in good standing of the California Bar.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with clients and colleagues to strategize and implement estate plans.
• Manage probate trust administration matters and assist with related motions or litigation as needed.
• Maintain high-quality client service and clear written and verbal communication.

Skills

Estate planning

Trust administration

Client communication

Detail‑oriented

Problem solving

Education

Juris Doctor from top law school

Tools

MS Office

NetDocuments

Co-Counsel

Co-Pilot

Job description

Donahue Fitzgerald is a highly respected and growing law firm with a strong commitment to providing exceptional legal services to our clients. Our Trusts and Estates practice is a cornerstone of our firm, recognized for its sophisticated handling of complex and high-stakes disputes. We pride ourselves on a collaborative environment, professional development opportunities, and a commitment to work-life balance. We represent a diverse client base, including high-net-worth individuals, fiduciaries, and charitable organizations, in all aspects of trust and estate controversies.

We seek an associate attorney for our Trusts & Estates practice group in our Oakland office. In this time of significant planning opportunities for clients, the Trusts & Estates group has seen demand for its services increase exponentially. The position is well‑suited for someone who enjoys being busy and wants to work for a firm with an established path to partnership.

We believe in rewarding hard work. Our attorneys have a minimum billable hour requirement of 1,610 hours per year. For those who meet or exceed this goal, our tiered bonus program provides a clear path to increase your earnings significantly.

The annual base salary for this position is $165,000 to $195,000. Depending on billable hours, total compensation can range up to $207,000 for those at the lower end of the salary range, or up to $245,000 at the higher end.

Knowledge, Skills And Experience

• 5+ years of estate planning and trust administration experience, with a background in tax preferred.
• Experience drafting and implementing complex estate planning strategies such as GST legacy trusts, SLATs, GRATs, IDGTs, and Charitable Trusts.
• Experience handling probate trust administration matters, including preparing and filing motions and some litigation preferred.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to interface with clients regularly.
• Must be detail-oriented.
• Ability to problem solve and work with a variety of personalities and work styles.
• Must be a self-starter with superior organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple assignments within a fast-pace environment.
• Proficient with MS Office Suite and a Document Management System desired.
• Experience with AI tools including Co-Counsel, Co-Pilot and NetDocuments.
• Must work in the office for five days during the first 90 days of employment, followed by a hybrid schedule of three days in-office.

The ideal candidate will also have strong academic credentials from a top law school. Must be admitted and a member in good standing of the California Bar.

This is an exciting opportunity to join a well-established firm that offers interesting work, a collaborative working environment, opportunities to support pro bono activities and competitive benefits.

The salary range for this position applies to California. The salary range reflects a variety of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions, including but not limited to experience, education, licensure and/or certifications, geographic location, market demands, and other business and organizational needs. It is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the range for a position. A reasonable estimate of the current range for this position is $165,000-$195,000.

DF LLP is an Equal Opportunity Employer