Estate Planning Attorney

You went to law school to help people. Not to review documents in the background of someone else's firm. Not to carry the overhead and stress of running your own practice. Not to bill 60 hours a week for a firm that treats you like a revenue unit. You want to sit across from a client, understand what they've built and who they love, and help them protect it. That's estate planning done right—and that's exactly what this role is. Ocean Estate Law is a boutique estate planning firm led by Jennifer Elliott, one of California's few State Bar Certified Specialists in Estate Planning, with over 23 years of experience and 3,500+ estate plans completed. We are growing, we are organized, and we are looking for one exceptional attorney to step into the lead legal production role on our team. This is not a document-review job. This is not a stepping stone. This is the role. You will own client relationships from the initial design meeting through execution. You will review plans drafted by our experienced paralegal team, guide clients through their trust funding, and make sure every family we serve leaves feeling confident and cared for. You will not be expected to bring in clients. You will not be managing staff. You will not be drowning in administrative work. You will be doing what you trained to do—excellent estate planning law—inside a firm that has the systems, the team, and the leadership to support you. 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. Responsibilities 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. Qualifications 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, 8:30 am to 5 pm Must be able to work from either the Laguna Hills or San Clemente office, depending on business needs Must have reliable transportation and a valid driver's license to travel between office locations #J-18808-Ljbffr