Trusts & Estates Legal Assistant

Hancock Estabrook, LLP, one of Upstate New York’s leading law firms, is seeking a full-time Trusts & Estates Legal Assistant.

Responsibilities

• Provide administrative and legal support to attorneys in the Trusts & Estates practice group.
• Prepare, revise, and format estate planning documents including wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and health care directives.
• Coordinate the execution of estate planning documents, including scheduling signing meetings and arranging witnesses and notaries.
• Assist with probate and estate administration matters, including preparation of court filings and related documents.
• Maintain and organize client files within the firm’s document management system.
• Communicate with clients, financial institutions, and other third parties regarding document requests and administrative matters.
• Manage attorney calendars, schedule client meetings, and track important deadlines.
• Prepare engagement letters, open new matters, and assist with client intake processes.
• Enter attorney time and assist with billing and expense processing as needed.
• Maintain strict confidentiality when handling sensitive client and financial information.

Qualifications

• Prior experience as a legal assistant or paralegal in trust and estates law. 2+ years highly preferred.
• Strong knowledge of estate planning documents, probate procedures, and trust administration.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office programs (Word, Outlook, Excel).
• Excellent attention to detail, organization, and time management skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to interact professionally with clients and third parties.
• Ability to handle confidential information with discretion.
• Comfortable working independently and as part of a team in a fast-paced legal environment.
• Ability to multitask and prioritize tasks for multiple attorneys.
• Notary Public (or willingness to become one).

Benefits

Hancock Estabrook offers a competitive salary and benefits package including medical, dental and vision coverage; a 401(k) and profit-sharing retirement plan; paid holidays, vacation, and sick time; 35-hour work week; Firm paid Group Term Life and LTD insurance. Training and professional development opportunities provided along with the opportunity to work with a diverse client base within an environment of teamwork and collaboration.

The pay range for this position is $26.00-$30.00 per hour and represents the firm’s good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting. Actual compensation will depend upon a number of factors, including the candidate’s years of experience, qualifications and skill set.

Join a workplace that was selected as a 2026 Best Companies to Work for in New York.

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Hancock Estabrook, LLP is an Equal Opportunity Employer. EEO M/F/D/V