Estate Planning Attorney Associate

Job Description

Job Description

You became an attorney to counsel clients, solve problems, and make a meaningful impact in people's lives. If you enjoy sitting across from clients, understanding their goals, and designing thoughtful estate plans that protect what matters most, we'd love to meet you.

Ocean Estate Law is a growing boutique estate planning firm serving Southern California families through our offices in San Clemente, Laguna Hills, and Rancho Santa Margarita. Led by Jennifer Elliott, one of California's few State Bar Certified Specialists in Estate Planning, our firm is committed to delivering exceptional client experiences and sophisticated estate planning solutions.

We're looking for an experienced Estate Planning Attorney with at least 3-5 years of estate planning experience who enjoys working directly with clients and wants to continue developing their knowledge in advanced planning strategies.

This is a highly client-facing role. You'll spend your time meeting with clients, developing estate planning recommendations, reviewing and finalizing legal documents, and helping families understand the planning decisions that will protect their loved ones and legacy.

If you've ever tried running your own firm and found that the business side got in the way of the law—we see you. That experience makes you more valuable here, not less,

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS:

• Base salary: Starting at $150,000 per year (based on experience)

• Performance bonuses tied to firm growth and individual contribution

• Medical, dental, vision benefits, 401(k)

• Paid time off and holidays

• A schedule that actually ends: Monday through Friday, 8:30 am to 5 pm. No 60-hour weeks. No weekend expectations.

$150,000 starting base salary DOE plus performance bonuses

Client Relationship & Plan Execution

• Guide clients through the estate planning process with clarity, warmth, and genuine expertise, from design meeting through trust execution and funding
• Review customized estate plans (trusts, wills, powers of attorney, healthcare directives) drafted by our paralegal team, ensuring accuracy and alignment with each client's goals
• Conduct execution meetings, ensuring clients understand what they've signed and how to properly fund their trust
• Serve as the client's primary point of contact throughout the planning process, building trust and long-term relationships

Advanced Planning

• Evaluate client circumstances for advanced planning opportunities and make appropriate strategy recommendations
• Design and implement advanced estate planning strategies, including but not limited to: Irrevocable Life Insurance Trusts (ILITs), Intentionally Defective Grantor Trusts (IDGTs), Grantor Retained Annuity Trusts (GRATs), Spousal Lifetime Access Trusts (SLATs), Charitable Remainder Trusts (CRTs), Family Limited Partnerships / LLCs for wealth transfer and asset protection
• Collaborate with clients' CPAs, financial advisors, and other professionals to coordinate integrated planning strategies
• Stay current on federal and California estate, gift, and income tax law as it affects planning recommendations

Trust Administration & Business Entity Work

• Collaborate with our trust administration associate on matter handoffs and post-death administration support as needed
• Assist with basic business entity formation (LLC/Corp), where applicable, an area we are actively expanding

Systems & Operations

• Track billable time accurately and meet a clear, reasonable performance target of 32 billable hours per week
• Operate within our established systems (Microsoft Office, MyCase or similar CRM, WealthCounsel or similar drafting software) to keep client matters moving efficiently
• Contribute to a team culture of accountability, excellence, and genuine care for clients and colleagues

Perform other duties and tasks as assigned to support attorneys, clients, and firm operations.

• Active California State Bar license in good standing, required

• Minimum 3 years of substantive estate planning experience, required; 5+ years preferred

• Demonstrated, hands-on experience with advanced planning strategies, including ILITs, IDGTs, GRATs, SLATs, CRTs, and/or family entity planning, required

• Comfort and confidence in direct client communication: written, verbal, and in-person

• Ability to work independently and manage a caseload without step-by-step supervision

• Strong attention to detail; clients are trusting us with their families' futures

• Experience with trust administration and/or probate is a bonus, not a requirement

• Prior experience in a boutique or small firm environment preferred; solo practice background welcomed

• Must be available to work in the office Monday through Friday, 8:30am to 5pm

• Must be able to work from all 3 office locations, depending on business needs

• Must have reliable transportation and a valid driver's license to travel between office locations

Ocean Estate Law, P.C., is a client-centered estate planning and trust administration firm serving individuals and families throughout California. The firm is led by founder Jennifer Elliott, who brings over 23 years of experience and has personally guided the creation of more than 4,000 estate plans. Her commitment to education, detail, and genuine client service sets the standard for how the whole team operates.

OUR NICHE:

We Help People Avoid Leaving a Mess for Their Loved Ones When They Die.

CORE VALUES:

• We Educate

• We Are Humbly Confident

• We Do the Right Thing

• We Exhibit Professionalism

• We Have Fanatical Attention to Consistency and Detail

• We Are Good Listeners