Legal Assistant -- Probate & Estate Planning - South Tampa, Florida

Job Description

Job Description

Law Offices of Robert S. Walton, PL

South Tampa | Full-Time, In Person

Compensation: $65,000–$75,000 per year, depending on experience

About the Firm

The Law Offices of Robert S. Walton, PL is an established sole practitioner law office in South Tampa handling estate planning, probate, trust administration, guardianship, and contested probate and trust litigation throughout the Tampa Bay area. The attorney has 16+ years of experience and appears regularly in the probate divisions of Hillsborough and Pinellas Counties.

The office is small: one attorney and currently one legal assistant. You will work directly with the attorney each day and be involved in matters from intake through closing, across both transactional work and litigated cases.

About the Role

The practice covers the full range of estate work — planning documents, court-supervised administrations, guardianships, and litigation — and the legal assistant is involved in all of it. The position offers the opportunity to develop substantive knowledge of Florida probate practice. Candidates with strong fundamentals will be trained on the probate-specific work, but there is no substitute for experience so If you have no experience, this is not the right position for you.

As a Team Member, What You'll Do

• Answer phones and serve as the first point of contact — many callers have recently lost a family member, so professionalism, discretion, and courtesy are essential.

• Manage the master calendar: statutory deadlines, hearing dates, response deadlines, and client appointments.

• Draft, format, and finalize estate planning documents, probate pleadings, and court filings.

• E-file through the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal and manage e-service to opposing counsel and interested persons.

• Prepare probate workflow documents: petitions for administration, proposed orders, notices to creditors, inventories, and accountings (with attorney oversight).

• Maintain complete client files, physical and electronic, from opening to closing.

• Handle mail, correspondence, engagement letters, and general office administration.

Who Thrives Here

• You prefer varied, substantive work over a single repetitive function.

• You are self-directed and manage your own workload.

• You are precise and deadline-conscious; probate practice requires strict attention to statutory deadlines.

• You are comfortable in a quiet, focused office and value direct communication.

• You want to develop a durable skill set in probate and estate practice.

Qualifications

• 4+ years in a law office, courthouse, title company, or comparable professional setting.

• Florida probate or estate planning experience strongly preferred; the attorney will train the right candidate with strong fundamentals.

• Experience with the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal and probate are a significant plus.

• Attention to detail is required.

• Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Adobe Acrobat, and Microsoft Office 365 are necessary.

• Associate degree, paralegal certificate, or equivalent training a plus, but not required

Compensation & Benefits

• $65,000–$75,000 annually, based on experience

• Medical insurance

• Paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays

• Retirement plan

• Predictable Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. schedule with a full hour for lunch

• On-site parking

• Substantive training in Florida probate practice, with responsibility that grows with demonstrated ability

• Semi-Annual performance review required

Schedule & Location

Full-time, Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m., with a one-hour lunch (12:00–1:00 p.m.). This is an in-person role at our office at 3802 W. Bay to Bay Blvd., Tampa, FL 33629; it supports daily operations and cannot be performed remotely. Occasional travel to the Hillsborough or Pinellas or Pasco courthouses may occur..

To Apply

Submit your resume and cover letter via ZipRecruiter. The cover letter should briefly describe your legal office experience and why a small-office setting appeals to you. References will be requested at the interview stage.

\nCompany Description

Small law office; sole practitioner; committed to helping clients.

Company Description

Small law office; sole practitioner; committed to helping clients.