Legal Assistant

Legal Assistant - Probate, Trust & Estate Practice

In-office, Irvine, OC, CA

ABOUT FBFK LAW

For more than 20 years, FBFK Law has been a people-first, entrepreneurial law firm. We are a team of builders, creators and collaborators who believe law works best when it's practiced with clarity, integrity and genuine human connection.


Today, with 150 people across TX and CA, FBFK is entering its next chapter of growth under FBFK 2.0, a deliberate plan to scale our people, platform, and capabilities. That momentum has been recognized nationally: FBFK earned 18 regional practice-area rankings (including four Tier 1) in the 2026 Best Law Firms® guide, 21 attorneys were named to the 2026 Best Lawyers in America® and Ones to Watch® editions, and the firm was named the #1 Overall Leading Law Firm among Small Firms in Bloomberg Law's 2026 Leading Law Firms rankings and to Fortune's 2026 America's Most Innovative Companies list.

Our Orange County team has earned recognition of its own, including a Tier 1 ranking in Commercial Litigation and a Tier 2 ranking in Real Estate Litigation in the 2026 Best Law Firms guide, the Orange County Business Journal's 2026 Best Places to Work and 2025 Company That Cares honors, and inclusion of our attorneys among the OCBJ's Top Litigators and OC 500.


Joining FBFK means joining a firm investing in its people and building careers - not just filling seats.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Legal Assistant for FBFK's Orange County Probate, Trust & Estate practice is the first point of contact and a trusted, consistent presence for clients. This is a relationship-focused role for an experienced legal assistant who is ready to work closely with senior attorneys and talented paralegals to serve as a genuine extension to clients on non-legal matters - answering and managing the practice's phones, building direct client relationships through proactive follow-up and thoughtful communication, and supporting matters from intake through resolution.

The ideal candidate is confident, articulate, and entirely at ease representing the practice and speaking directly with high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth clients. They will need to work independently, exercise sound judgment in prioritizing competing demands, and take pride in being the calm, capable presence clients and attorneys alike can count on.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Client Relations & Communications

• Serve as the primary point of contact for the practice, answering and triaging all incoming phone calls with warmth, professionalism, and discretion
• Build and maintain direct, ongoing relationships with clients, proactively following up on open items and anticipating client needs
• Act as an extension of the attorneys to the client on all non-legal matters, ensuring clients feel informed, valued, and well cared for throughout their engagement
• Communicate confidently and professionally with high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth clients, family office representatives, financial advisors, and other trusted advisors
• Exercise sound judgment and discretion when handling sensitive family, financial, and estate matters
• Work collaboratively and professional with all staff members

Attorney Support & Calendar Management

• Manage calendars, appointments, and daily schedules, resolving conflicts and prioritizing competing demands independently
• Coordinate travel arrangements, itineraries, and expense reporting
• Screen and manage correspondence, prepare for client meetings, and track follow-up commitments
• Anticipate needs and proactively manage day-to-day priorities with minimal direction
• Handle confidential and time-sensitive matters with the highest degree of professionalism

Document Preparation & Client Support

• Prepare, format, proofread, and finalize estate planning documents, correspondence, and client deliverables in accordance with firm standards
• Assist with preparation and organization of estate planning binders, trust documents, and asset documentation
• Coordinate client meetings, document signings, notary appointments, and witness requirements
• Support probate court filings by preparing and organizing filing packages under attorney direction
• Maintain estate planning and trust administration files, track deadlines, and monitor court hearing dates

Calendar, Deadline & Case Management

• Track and monitor probate court deadlines, trust administration timelines, and compliance dates
• Coordinate scheduling of client meetings, conference calls, closings, and signings across multiple matters
• Process incoming and outgoing correspondence with courts, beneficiaries, financial institutions, and other parties
• Update and maintain client contact information and matter status in firm systems, including NetDocs

Administrative & Practice Support

• Leverage NetDocs and firm-approved templates to organize and maintain matter files in electronic and physical formats
• Process expense reports and credit card receipts in accordance with firm standards
• Coordinate with vendors, outside counsel, financial institutions, and other service providers as needed
• Accurately record all time worked, including billable and non-billable hours, in the firm's timekeeping system on a daily basis

QUALIFICATIONS

Experience

• Minimum of 5 years of legal assistant experience in probate, trust, and estate planning is required
• Expert-level skill in Microsoft Word and Excel required
• Technically adept in the use of AI-assisted platforms and legal practice management/document software systems
• Demonstrated experience providing calendar and administrative support to a senior attorney or executive strongly preferred
• Proven track record of building and maintaining direct client relationships, ideally with high-net-worth or ultra-high-net-worth individuals and families
• Experience coordinating probate court filings, trust administration, and estate planning document preparation

Knowledge, Skills & Attributes

• Confident, articulate, and professional - genuinely comfortable representing the practice and speaking directly with high-net-worth clients, including billionaires
• Exceptional client service instincts, with a warm and polished phone and in-person presence
• Ability to work independently, exercise strong judgment, and prioritize effectively in a fast-paced, high-stakes environment
• Strong understanding of probate, trust, and estate planning terminology, documents, and procedures
• High level of discretion and unwavering ability to maintain confidentiality regarding sensitive family and financial matters
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• High attention to detail and accuracy in a document-intensive practice
• Experience with NetDocs or comparable document management systems preferred

Education

• High school diploma or equivalent required
• Associate's degree, paralegal certificate, or bachelor's degree preferred

COMPENSATION

This is a non-exempt, hourly position eligible for overtime under the FLSA. Based on current market data for experienced probate, trust, and estate legal assistants in the Irvine/Orange County area - and reflecting the elevated scope of this role (5+ years of specialized experience, direct high-net-worth client relationship management, and executive assistant duties to the lead attorney) - FBFK anticipates a target pay range of approximately:

$38-$46 per hour (approximately $79,000-$96,000 annualized)

Final offer will be commensurate with the selected candidate's experience, specialized skill set, and demonstrated ability to manage high-net-worth client relationships and executive-level responsibilities. This range reflects market data for comparable Orange County trust and estate legal assistant and executive assistant roles as of mid-2026 and should be confirmed against current Paycom compensation benchmarking and any updated market survey data prior to posting.

COMPLIANCE NOTE

Work must be performed under the direct supervision of a licensed attorney in accordance with California Business & Professions Code § 6450 et seq. This position may not provide legal advice, represent clients, set legal fees, or otherwise engage in the unauthorized practice of law.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY AND ACCOMMODATIONS

FBFK Law is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic under federal, state, or local law. The firm will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and applicable state law.