About the job
We are an extremely busy and growing estate planning practice. We need an associate to assist with our growing demands and opportunities. The associate will meet with clients to collaborate, plan and prepare wills, trusts, financial and medical powers-of-attorney and living wills. Work with clients to assist with the estate and trust administration for deceased family and friends. The goal is for the attorney to meet with 3 clients per day in the office, with the balance of the day spent on document preparation, correspondence and telephone communications.
Excellent interpersonal skills are a must. Most of your day will be spent working and talking with clients and advisors. A book of business is not required but is welcomed. It will be beneficial to you if you can build strategic alliances with financial advisors, accountants and trust companies so that they will refer clients and help you to grow your practice. Online marketing, writing and blogging skills are extremely helpful and preferred.
Essential Functions and Responsibilities:
Estate Planning Clients:
Meeting with clients to discuss personal estate planning goals.
Form a strategy for the protection and preservation of family assets.
Establish a flat fee for services and come to an agreement with the client in advance of providing legal services.
Prepare agreed upon estate planning documents for clients using a sophisticated document assembly software system.
Meet with clients to review planning documents and sign.
Assist clients with language necessary for completing beneficiary designations on IRA, 401k, annuity and life insurance assets.
Estate Administration Clients:
Meet with executors to review the estate administration process and the details of their particular case.
Establish a flat fee for the legal representation.
Assist with the probate process.
Assist with gathering all of the decedent’s assets into the estate name.
Assist with the preparation of the PA Inheritance and federal estate tax returns.
Assist with the protection of the executor and transfer of the decedent’s estate to the beneficiaries.
Associate Position, Opportunity For Advancement:
The partners in the Trust and Estate section of the Firm are interested in finding a hard-working associate with the desire to build a personal professional practice, advance into the partnership and ultimately become a key member of the leadership of this section of the Firm. We are willing to mentor and assist the right candidate to grow and thrive in a very well-established practice. This is an excellent opportunity for the right person to thrive and build for the future.
Office Location and Hours:
The estate planning associate would likely be working primarily in the Firm’s West Chester office. There will be days that the associate will meet with clients in the Phoenixville office. The standard work hours for the associate will be 8:30 AM to 6:00 PM. The attorney is welcome to work additional hours if needed/desired. Although you can do some work at home during non-business hours, this is not a remote position. You will be expected to be in the office to meet with clients in person. Additionally, you will be counted on to work in person with paralegals and legal assistants as you develop into a leadership role.
Required Education:
Accredited Law School Graduate licensed in Pennsylvania.
LLM welcomed but not required.
Multiple state licenses welcomed but not required.
Job Insights
2 to 5 years experience in Estate Planning & Administration which will require drafting wills, trusts, and power-of-attorney documents, and advising on asset protection, asset transfers, and tax filings for deceased individuals.
Accredited Law School Graduate licensed in Pennsylvania.
