Associate

Job Description

Job Description

Department: Trust & Estates 

Location: Rochester

Classification: Exempt

Company Overview:

Woods Oviatt Gilman LLP is a leading and reputable full-service law firm dedicated to providing exceptional legal services to our clients. With a team of highly skilled and experienced attorneys, we strive to deliver comprehensive and effective solutions to meet the diverse needs of our clients. Headquarters are located in Rochester, NY, with additional offices in Albany and Buffalo, NY.

We foster a collaborative and inclusive work environment where every team member is valued and respected. We encourage open communication, teamwork, and professional growth. Our firm promotes a healthy work-life balance and supports the well-being of our employees.

Summary:

We are looking for a motivated Elder Law Attorney to join our growing team. This position is responsible for counseling clients on long term care planning, Medicaid eligibility, asset protection, and estate planning. The ideal candidate has a strong work ethic, exceptional client communication skills, and is comfortable working in a fast-paced environment where matters are often time-sensitive and emotionally charged.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Counsel clients on Medicaid eligibility for nursing home and community-based long-term care, including New York's five-year lookback rules and asset protection strategies
• Draft and review estate planning documents including Wills, Powers of Attorney, Health Care Proxies, and various Trust Agreements
• Prepare Medicaid gift and note plans, asset summaries, and flowcharts
• Assist with Medicaid applications and coordinate with experienced Medicaid paralegals on submission of required documentation to county DSS offices
• Represent clients in administrative hearings and court appeals involving wrongfully denied benefits or Medicaid estate recovery claims
• Advise on supplemental needs trusts and special needs planning for individuals with disabilities
• Advise on guardianships, spousal impoverishment protections, pooled income trusts, and community spouse resource allowances
• Coordinate with clients, financial advisors, accountants, and skilled nursing facilities to ensure planning is compliant with federal and state Medicaid law
• Provide professional, efficient, and compassionate client service in person, by telephone, and in writing
• Stay current on developments in New York Medicaid law and policy through continuing legal education and participation in organizations such as NAELA and the NYSBA Elder Law and Special Needs Section
• Perform other duties as needed upon request by department chair or firm management

Required Education and Experience:

• J.D. from an accredited law school
• Admission to the New York State Bar required
• 5+ years of elder law, estate planning, or related experience preferred
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite: Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
• Familiarity with New York Medicaid rules, DSS application procedures, and long-term care planning strategies preferred
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to explain complex legal concepts clearly to clients and families
• Ability to prioritize workload and independently manage multiple matters simultaneously
• Must maintain professional relationships with attorneys, staff, clients, and outside agencies and observe strict confidentiality of all client and firm matters
• NAELA membership or demonstrated interest in elder law policy a plus

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Employee is regularly required to stand, walk, use hands/fingers to type, hold, handle, or feel; and reach with hands and arms. 
• Regularly required to talk or hear.
• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer. 
• The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 15 pounds.

Other Duties: Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities required of the employee for this role. It provides a snapshot of the core functions and responsibilities. All inquiries will be handled with the utmost confidentiality. The compensation range for this position is $120,000-160,000 annually, representing our good faith and reasonable estimate of the potential compensation at the time of posting. Actual compensation will be determined based on numerous factors, including the candidate's qualifications, experience, skill set, and office location. Additionally, relocation assistance is available for qualified candidates.

Woods Oviatt Gilman LLP is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We value an open mind, dedication to work, and a collaborative spirit. We hire based on these qualities, a job’s requirements, our business needs, and an applicant’s qualifications. We do not tolerate discrimination or harassment of any kind—in the hiring process or in the workplace. We comply with the ADA and consider reasonable accommodation measures that may be necessary for eligible applicants/employees to perform essential functions. We participate in E-Verify. We will provide the federal government with employees’ Form I-9 information to confirm authorization to work in the U.S. We will only use E-Verify once an employee has accepted a job offer and completed Form I-9.