Associate - Estate Planning

Job Description

Job Description

Targeted Legal is partnering with a high‐end boutique estate planning firm with a strong referral pipeline and rapidly expanding client base. This is an opportunity to step directly into sophisticated, high‐net‐worth planning work alongside respected practitioners. The firm is seeking an experienced Estate Planning Associate who can immediately take ownership of complex client work and help support significant incoming referrals.

The firm is seeking an experienced Estate Planning Associate with 5+ years of substantive estate planning experience. This attorney will work on advanced planning matters, high‐net‐worth clients, gift tax returns, and complex trust structures. This person will manage their own matters while collaborating closely with senior partners on major client engagements, including a potential $500M client matter requiring sophisticated planning and trust restructuring.

Key Responsibilities

• Estate Planning Strategy — Lead high‐end estate planning matters, including legacy planning, gifting strategies, and complex trust structures.
• Gift & Estate Tax Work — Prepare and review gift tax returns, estate planning returns, and oversee gifting matters.
• Trust Planning — Work with spousal lifetime trusts (SLATs), grantor trusts, and other advanced planning vehicles.
• Client Relationship Management — Serve as a primary point of contact for high‐net‐worth clients, including those referred through major financial institutions.
• Referral Partner Coordination — Collaborate with referral partners to provide timely, sophisticated planning guidance.
• Independent Case Ownership — Manage your own matters while partnering with senior attorneys on complex engagements.
• General Estate Work — Handle residual estate planning and probate matters that fall outside the high‐net‐worth category.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of estate planning experience.
• Strong background in high‐net‐worth planning, gifting, and trust structures.
• Experience completing and reviewing gift tax returns and estate planning returns.
• Ability to work directly with clients and manage sophisticated planning matters independently.
• Entrepreneurial mindset with strong ownership, organization, and service orientation.
• No portable book required; small book welcome but not necessary.

Ideal personality traits include being smart, hardworking, detail‐oriented, organized, entrepreneurial, and service‐driven.

Schedule & Location

• 5 days in office. Hybrid after establishing workflow.

Targeted Legal Staffing Solutions is an equal opportunity employer. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, creed, color, religion, sex, national origin, ethnicity, age, ancestry, disability, military or veteran status, marital status, sexual orientation, gender including pregnancy or related conditions, gender identity or expression, citizenship or immigration status, genetic information or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. We are dedicated to fostering an inclusive workplace and will provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment.