Associate / Attorney - Estate Planning

NEW IN Estate Planning Attorney Help Lead & Grow an Estate Planning Practice |Paying $140k–$220k + Bonus in $100k’s Chicago – Flex Hybrid Big-Firm Work, Boutique Feel

Highlights:

• Join a well-established Chicago business law firm with a thriving, in-house estate planning practice.

• Step into a team of 5 estate planning attorneys as attorney #6 – with a real chance to become the go-to estate planner in the firm.

• Substantial autonomy: take an estate plan from initial client meeting through signing with minimal oversight.

• Mix of sophisticated estate planning and the opportunity to support corporate/tax work if that interests you.

• Positive, low-drama culture where people are genuinely happy, well-treated, and stay long term.

Role: Estate Planning Attorney (Associate or Partner Level)

• Focus: Estate planning only (partner in the group focuses on probate).

• Core work:

•Meet directly with clients, design plans, and draft complex estate planning documents (wills, revocable/irrevocable trusts, powers of attorney, tax-sensitive structures, etc.).

• Run matters beginning to end – from fact-gathering and design to drafting, revisions, and signing.

• Collaborate with the broader business/tax group on related tax and corporate planning issues.

Comp and benefits:

• Base salary: Up to $220k depending on experience

• Bonus structure (very real, very lucrative):

• Hours bonus: for associates, roughly ⅓ of your billable rate on hours over target – can add tens of thousands of dollars, even $100k’s

• Collections bonus: 10–15% of collected originations (depending on associate vs partner).

• Billable expectations:

• Associates: ~1,800 hours.

• Partner level: ~1,600 hours, with bonus kicking in after that.

• Benefits:

• Health insurance: Firm covers the individual health premium (Blue Cross), your share is minimal (often ~$30–40/month).

• Dental and life insurance.

• 401(k) with 3% mandatory firm contribution (i.e. the firm contributes regardless).

Other points of interest:

• Healthy, established estate planning practice you can step into on day one – not a “build it from scratch” situation.

• Real opportunity to become the internal leader for estate planning as the current partner focuses on probate.

• Collaborative, pleasant environment – described as a place where people are happy, supported, and not micromanaged.

• Chance to grow your own book over time with firm support, if you’re interested in developing a practice.

Location / schedule:

o Chicago Loop office.

o Expect 3–4 days in-office, with flexibility (especially after you’re established).

What they’re looking for:

• Licensed in Illinois.

• 5+ years of hands-on estate planning experience.

• Comfortable running estate plans with minimal oversight – not just form-filling.

• Strong drafting skills and client-facing confidence.

• Tax experience strongly preferred – e.g. LL.M. in Tax or tax certificate, or meaningful tax-focused planning work.

• Willingness to help on corporate tax matters and to develop a book over time (no book required to start, but openness to business development is a plus).

How to apply:

If you’re an Illinois estate planning attorney (5+ years) who can confidently run sophisticated plans and would love to join a busy, friendly Chicago firm with real upside, I’d love to talk.

Reply with your resume (and a brief note on your estate planning/tax experience), or reach out directly and mention:

“Estate Planning Attorney – Chicago hybrid role”

We’ll set up a confidential call to walk through the details and see if it’s a fit.