Paralegal - Trusts and Estates

Location: Albany and Rochester, NY (Hybrid remote opportunity)

Are you a motivated self-starter? Do you have paralegal experience? Are you excited about the opportunity to join an innovative, growing law firm that has been successful for more than 165 years?

The Trusts & Estates Team at Harris Beach Murtha is in search of a Paralegal with a positive, flexible attitude to assist multiple attorneys. You will thrive in this role if you have:

• 1+ years of experience as a trusts and estates paralegal required, 3+ years of experience preferred

• Experience preparing Surrogate's Court filings, fiduciary accountings, and tax returns (including Forms 1041, 706, and related New York forms)
• The ability to assist with estate administration, including asset inventory, valuation, distribution, and probate documentation
• Strong organizational, analytical, and proofreading skills to ensure accuracy of legal documents
• Exceptional oral and written communication skills, with a client-focused approach
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook); experience with fiduciary income tax preparation and fiduciary accounting software a plus
• A Notary Public license (or willingness to obtain one after hire)

The Trusts & Estates team needs a Paralegal to support attorneys with a wide range of estate planning and administration matters. Do you have the drive and desire to:

• Prepare and file probate documents, fiduciary accountings, and related court filings
• Assist with estate and trust administration, including asset tracking, funding, and beneficiary communications
• Draft and finalize estate planning documents, including wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and beneficiary designations and assist in retitling assets in accordance with attorney direction
• Assemble and organize financial records for fiduciary accountings, estate tax returns, and audits
• Prepare, edit, and review fiduciary accountings, estate tax returns, fiduciary income tax returns, and settlement papers for both informal and formal settlement of estates and trusts
• Conduct legal research related to trusts, estates, tax regulations, and case law
• Communicate with clients to gather information, provide updates, and respond to inquiries
• Organize and maintain physical and electronic files to ensure accessibility and accuracy
• Support attorneys with case management and day-to-day administrative needs
• Perform additional duties as assigned

Harris Beach Murtha recognizes everyone has a right to be included. You will be successful in your career at the firm if you:

• Exhibit well-developed interpersonal skills (exude patience and empathy), particularly with clients

• Can manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment

• Complete a minimum 1400 billable hours annually
• Believe in the firm's core values: integrity, respect, accountability, ingenuity, teamwork, inclusion and engagement

• Enjoy working with diverse personalities within various levels of the firm
• Are comfortable working a hybrid schedule (1 day remote)

Harris Beach Murtha is committed to an inclusive environment and we welcome applications from diverse candidates with varied backgrounds and skills, including military experience. Harris Beach Murtha Cullina PLLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

#LI-Hybrid

Salary information below will vary depending upon relevant experience for the position, geographic locations and weekly hours schedule. The anticipated weekly schedule for the Paralegal in Albany is 37.5 hours per week. The anticipated weekly schedule for the Paralegal in Rochester is 38.75 hours per week.

Albany: $33.34 - $43.59/hour

Rochester: $32.26 - $42.19/hour

About Harris Beach Murtha:

Harris Beach Murtha formed in 2025 via the combination of Harris Beach PLLC and Murtha Cullina LLP. A forward-thinking and innovative partnership with the benefit of more than 250 years of combined history, Harris Beach Murtha's New York roots reach back to 1856 and the firm has had ties to New England since 1936. Harris Beach and Murtha Cullina were separately among the country's top law firms as ranked by The National Law Journal.

Harris Beach Murtha and its subsidiaries have a strong Northeast presence, but a global reach. Clients include Fortune 100 corporations, privately held companies, emerging businesses, public sector entities, tax-exempt organizations and individuals. The firm's practice areas and industries served span appellate law, business litigation, commercial real estate, construction, corporate, environmental, energy, financial institutions, financial restructuring, government compliance and investigations, health care, immigration, intellectual property, labor and employment, mass torts, medical and life sciences, political law, product liability, public finance, tax, and trusts and estates.


The firm's lawyers and consultants practice from offices throughout Connecticut in Bantam, Hartford, New Haven and Stamford; New York state in Albany, Buffalo, Ithaca, New York City, Rochester, Saratoga Springs, Syracuse, Long Island and White Plains, as well as in Boston, Massachusetts and Newark, New Jersey.

The firm's policy prohibiting unlawful discrimination applies to all aspects of employment, including hiring, placement, assignment of duties, training, promotion, compensation & benefits and termination. It is the policy of Harris Beach Murtha Cullina PLLC that all applicants and employees enjoy a positive, respectful and productive work environment, free from behavior, actions or language constituting unlawful harassment. Accordingly, harassment or discrimination of any kind based on an individual's race or color, sex, age, religion, national origin, marital status, disability, military status, genetic predisposition, carrier status, sexual orientation, citizenship status, creed, domestic violence victim status or any other legally protected status is strictly prohibited. Harris Beach Murtha complies with the provisions of the Human Rights Law, all other State and Federal statutory and constitutional non-discrimination provisions including non-discrimination on the basis of prior criminal conviction and prior arrest.