TRUSTS & ESTATES / ELDER LAW LEGAL ASSISTANT

MaineGuide; Portland (ME); On-site; USD 36,000 - 50,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

401(k)

Dental insurance

Employee assistance program

Flexible spending account

Health savings account

Life insurance

Paid time off

Profit sharing

Job summary

Drummond & Drummond, LLP in Portland, ME seeks an experienced full-time Legal Assistant to support our trusts and estates practice, including estate planning, elder law, estate and trust administration, guardianships and conservatorships, and probate litigation. You will work closely with clients and families, managing multiple matters from intake to completion.

This role requires meticulous attention to detail, strong organizational skills, and the ability to communicate clearly with clients,

Qualifications

• Prior legal assistant or paralegal experience in trusts and estates, probate, or elder law strongly preferred.
• Familiarity with Maine probate procedures and forms a plus; New Hampshire probate experience also a plus.
• Notary public commission, or willingness to obtain one.
• Exceptional attention to detail and accuracy, including careful tracking of court and statutory deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Conduct new client intakes and schedule client meetings, conferences, and document signings
• Prepare estate planning documents, including powers of attorney and advance health care directives, and assist attorneys with wills, trusts, and related instruments
• Coordinate estate plan signings, including arranging witnesses and finalizing documents; serve as notary as needed
• Maintain the firm's original estate planning documents for clients
• Prepare probate applications, petitions, and supporting documents for filing with probate courts
• Send required notices to interested parties in estate, guardianship, conservatorship, and probate litigation matters
• Assist with estate and trust administration, including preparation, service and filing of required documents, assisting personal representatives with forms and deadlines, discharging estate tax liens, recording documents at the registries of deeds, distributions and accounting to beneficiaries, Crummey notices and insurance.
• Assist with guardianship and conservatorship petitions, appointments and annual reports to the court, respond to requests from protected persons and their families, and pay bills and maintain financial records for clients under conservatorship
• Handle daily telephone and email communication with clients, beneficiaries, fiduciaries, and other parties
• Prepare and send monthly billing statements, track client follow-up tasks, maintain files, and process daily mail
• Provide general administrative support to other attorneys and staff as needed

Skills

Paralegal experience

Trusts & Estates knowledge

Notary public

Tools

Microsoft Office

Legal/document management systems

Job description

Job Overview

Drummond & Drummond, LLP is seeking an experienced full-time Legal Assistant to support our trusts and estates practice, including estate planning, elder law, estate and trust administration, guardianships and conservatorships, and probate litigation. This role is ideal for a detail-oriented professional who enjoys working directly with clients and families, can keep many matters moving at once, and takes pride in seeing each one through from intake to completion.

Responsibilities

• Conduct new client intakes and schedule client meetings, conferences, and document signings
• Prepare estate planning documents, including powers of attorney and advance health care directives, and assist attorneys with wills, trusts, and related instruments
• Coordinate estate plan signings, including arranging witnesses and finalizing documents; serve as notary as needed
• Maintain the firm's original estate planning documents for clients
• Prepare probate applications, petitions, and supporting documents for filing with probate courts
• Send required notices to interested parties in estate, guardianship, conservatorship, and probate litigation matters
• Assist with estate and trust administration, including preparation, service and filing of required documents, assisting personal representatives with forms and deadlines, discharging estate tax liens, recording documents at the registries of deeds, distributions and accounting to beneficiaries, Crummey notices and insurance.
• Assist with guardianship and conservatorship petitions, appointments and annual reports to the court, respond to requests from protected persons and their families, and pay bills and maintain financial records for clients under conservatorship
• Handle daily telephone and email communication with clients, beneficiaries, fiduciaries, and other parties
• Prepare and send monthly billing statements, track client follow-up tasks, maintain files, and process daily mail
• Provide general administrative support to other attorneys and staff as needed

Qualifications

• Prior legal assistant or paralegal experience in trusts and estates, probate, or elder law strongly preferred
• Familiarity with Maine probate procedures and forms a plus; New Hampshire probate experience also a plus
• Notary public commission, or willingness to obtain one
• Exceptional attention to detail and accuracy, including careful tracking of court and statutory deadlines
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage many open matters simultaneously
• Patience, compassion, and discretion in working with clients and families facing illness, incapacity, or the loss of a loved one
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and legal/document management systems
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team, and to interact professionally with clients, attorneys, court staff, and colleagues

What We Offer

• Competitive salary commensurate with experience
• Comprehensive benefits package (health, retirement, paid time off, etc.)
• Supportive and collegial work environment
• Opportunities for professional growth and skill development
• A firm culture that values both excellence and work-life balance

Pay: $26.00 - $36.00 per hour

Expected hours: 37.5 per week

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Profit sharing

Work Location: In person