Paralegal

Job Description

Job Description

Please Read Before Applying

•         Paralegal training or experience is required. You must have either:

◦          a paralegal certificate or degree, or

◦          at least two years of experience working as a paralegal in a law firm or legal department.

•         Must include a resume, cover letter, and writing sample (see instructions under How to Apply). In our practice, attention to detail matters, and your application is your first work sample.

•         We are looking for someone who plans to stay. If you expect to move away from the Southeast Michigan area or change careers in the next few years, this is probably not the right fit.

•         As long as you meet the requirements above, you do not need a background in estate planning or probate; we will teach you our practice area. Recent paralegal graduates are welcome to apply, though we hold new graduates to a high bar.

•         Please apply only if you meet these requirements. We appreciate your interest, but because of the volume, we can only respond to applicants who do.

Why You Will Like Working Here

•         A well-established firm. For more than thirty years, we have served families and business owners in estate planning, probate, trust administration, business, tax, and real estate law. We are a team of six attorneys and seven staff members. We love our clients, and our clients love us. We pride ourselves on giving our clients the best legal advice and personal experience possible.

•         A place people stay. Three of our four paralegals have been with us for nearly a decade or more.

•         Work you can take ownership of. Our paralegals handle probate, trust administration, and estate planning matters from start to finish and take pride in the results. They genuinely enjoy helping our clients and assisting our attorneys.

•         You will learn from experienced attorneys. Our attorneys enjoy teaching and also lead continuing legal education seminars for other lawyers.

•         An office unlike any other. We work in a restored 1800s historic home, within walking distance of downtown Ann Arbor.  We, like our clients, love where we are located.

Who Thrives Here

•         You take initiative. You see what needs to happen next and do it.

•         You ask good questions early. We would much rather answer a question than fix a mistake.

•         You work independently once trained. We move fast and need someone who learns quickly and runs with it.

•         You are curious. You want to know why, not just how.

•         You get along well with people. This matters most of all.

Required

•         Strong writing and proofreading skills, with close attention to detail.

•         Excellent organization and the ability to manage deadlines across many files.

•         Ability to conduct basic legal research.

•         Proficiency in Word, Excel, and Adobe, and the ability to quickly learn the software we use for case management, scheduling, and document assembly.

A Big Plus

•         Paralegal experience in estate planning, probate, or trust administration.

•         Paralegal experience in business, real estate, or tax matters.

•         Experience drafting advanced estate planning documents or preparing estate tax returns and fiduciary accountings.

•         Experience with Clio, Westlaw, Lexis, Bloomberg, or similar software.

Schedule

This is primarily an in-person position based in our office. It is not a remote position, though some remote work may become available over time. We prefer full-time but will consider part-time for the right candidate.

Compensation and Benefits

•         $22 to $33 per hour. Recent graduates start at the lower end. The top of the range is for paralegals with extensive Michigan estate planning, probate, and trust experience.

•         Health, disability, and life insurance, and a 401(k) retirement plan

•         Generous paid time off and a holiday schedule you’ll appreciate

•         Predictable hours

•         Firm-paid paralegal seminars and continuing education

•         Free on-site parking, a rare perk this close to downtown Ann Arbor

How to apply

We will require your resume, cover letter, and a short writing sample. In your cover letter (one page maximum), please give us one or two specific examples that show you are the paralegal we describe at the top of this posting. And to show us you read this far, please end your letter with your best PG-rated “dad joke.”

Your writing sample can be a letter, memo, or legal document from work. Recent paralegal graduates should submit a sample from their coursework. Please remove client names and confidential information.

Applications without a cover letter and writing sample will not be reviewed.

No agencies or recruiters, please.