A well-established California law firm is seeking a Trust & Estate Attorney to join its expanding estate planning and private client services practice. The firm advises closely held businesses, high-net-worth individuals, families, and real estate investors on complex estate planning, trust and probate administration, tax matters, and business transactions. Attorneys serve as long-term advisors, partnering closely with clients and their professional teams.

The ideal candidate will have at least 2 years of relevant experience and a strong foundation in estate and income tax planning, trust and probate administration, and working with high-net-worth individuals and families.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and implement comprehensive estate plans, including wills, revocable and irrevocable trusts, powers of attorney, and advance healthcare directives
• Advise clients on sophisticated estate, gift, and generation-skipping transfer (GST) tax strategies, including lifetime gifting and wealth transfer techniques
• Represent fiduciaries, trustees, executors, and beneficiaries in all aspects of trust and probate administration, including post-death planning and distributions
• Collaborate with accountants, financial advisors, and other professionals to deliver integrated wealth planning solutions
• Prepare and review federal estate and gift tax returns
• Conduct legal research and stay current on developments in estate, tax, and trust law
• Manage multiple client matters with a high degree of independence, organization, and attention to detail

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an accredited law school
• Active membership in the California State Bar
• 3+ years of experience in estate planning and trust administration, including exposure to taxable estates
• Strong understanding of estate, gift, and GST tax principles
• Ability to handle complex planning matters and post-death administrations with minimal supervision
• Excellent drafting, analytical, and communication skills
• LL.M. in Taxation is preferred but not required
• Demonstrated ability to build trusted relationships with clients and professional referral sources
• Collaborative mindset with a proactive approach to professional development