Trusts + Estates Attorney (West Michigan)

Warner Norcross + Judd; Grand Rapids (MI); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Warner Norcross + Judd LLP is seeking an experienced Attorney to join our Trusts + Estates Practice Group in West Michigan offices, including Grand Rapids, Holland, Kalamazoo, or Muskegon. You will develop comprehensive estate plans and advise on tax implications for high net worth clients.

Ideal candidates have 10+ years in estate planning, trust/estate settlement, and related tax matters, with strong communication and drafting skills. Michigan licensure in good standing is required.

Qualifications

• J.D. from an ABA-accredited law school.
• Licensed to practice in Michigan in good standing.
• 10+ years in estate planning, trust/estate settlement, and related tax/corporate matters.

Responsibilities

• Develop comprehensive estate plans tailored to clients.
• Advise on tax implications and strategies to minimize liabilities.
• Handle probate processes including court proceedings and asset distribution.
• Manage and administer trusts ensuring compliance with laws.
• Identify and pursue business development opportunities with prospective clients.

Skills

Estate planning

Tax law

Probate law

Trust law

Communication skills

Analytical thinking

Drafting documents

Discretion and professionalism

Education

Juris Doctor

Job description

Description

Warner Norcross + Judd LLP is seeking an experienced Attorney to join our Trusts + Estates Practice Group in one of our West Michigan offices (Grand Rapids, Holland, Kalamazoo, or Muskegon).

Responsibilities

• Developing comprehensive estate plans tailored to clients' specific needs and goals
• Advising 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
• Handling the probate process, including court proceedings, asset valuation, debt settlement, and distribution of assets
• Managing and administering trusts, ensuring they operate in compliance with applicable laws and the trust agreement
• Identifying and pursuing business development opportunities with prospective clients

Qualifications

• Strong foundation in estate planning, tax law, probate law, and trust law
• Experience helping high net worth families and individuals with their estate planning and management needs
• Excellent communication skills to explain complex legal concepts to clients in a clear and understandable manner
• Able to actively listen to clients' concerns and goals and then provide legal advice that aligns with their wishes
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills to assess complex financial and legal situations and devise appropriate solutions
• Precision in drafting legal documents to ensure they accurately reflect clients' intentions and comply with relevant laws
• Handles sensitive and confidential information with the utmost discretion and professionalism

About You

• Juris Doctor from an ABA accredited law school
• Licensed and in good standing to practice law in the state of Michigan
• 10+ years of experience in estate planning, trust and estate settlement, and related tax and corporate matters, preferably in a law firm setting

About Warner

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.

Our Culture

Warner's cultural motto is "Fun, Pride + Profit...in that Order". We believe that if you have fun at work, take pride in the accomplishments of you and your colleagues, that profit will naturally follow. 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 - A diverse group of 30 firm members serve on Warner's DEI Action Committee and contribute over 2000 collective hours annually to drive diversity, equity and inclusion through initiatives such as firm-wide town hall meetings, employee resource groups and hiring processes. Our DEIAC focuses on Warner's "one firm" approach that embraces everyone in the firm. We celebrate differences with the same energy we honor our commonalities. When all firm members feel safe being their authentic selves and all barriers to opportunity are eliminated, it's a better partnership for everyone.
• Balance - 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.