Senior Trusts & Estates Tax Paralegal

Overview

This position supports attorneys handling Trusts & Estates matters, including estate administration and related fiduciary tax work. The role involves assisting with probate administration, funding post-death irrevocable trusts, preparing tax returns and legal documents, maintaining trust and general ledger records, and managing client case files.

The position is open in multiple offices across the United States, with preferred location in either St. Louis, Missouri or Phoenix, Arizona.

Responsibilities

• Prepare estate-related tax returns, including Estate Tax Returns and Fiduciary Income Tax Returns.
• Maintain financial records of trusts; perform trust accounting and audit accounts.
• Maintain G/L accounts, reconcile broker statements, prepare payables, and prepare bank deposits.
• Obtain and reconcile 1099 and K-1 statements.
• Support irrevocable trust funding and administration (post death).
• Assist with probate administration, including drafting probate pleadings.
• Maintain close communication with clients and financial advisors.
• Manage electronic and physical files independently, including organizing files or delegating similar tasks to appropriate business professionals and supervising as needed.
• Meet an annual billable hour requirement of 1600 hours.
• Develop technical proficiency in database use and management, internet/electronic research, and project/folder/electronic file maintenance.
• Learn and apply legal AI as needed; familiarity and experience with adopting legal AI is preferred.
• Sustain attention to detail and quality of work.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Ability to deliver superior service to internal and external customers and communicate effectively.
• Ability to interact professionally and courteously with clients and employees at all times; professional appearance required.
• Strong organizational, time-management, and prioritization skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a team and adapt to changing business demands.
• Ability to produce accurate, high-quality work efficiently within established time limits and ongoing deadlines.

Position-Specific Requirements

• 8+ years of progressively responsible experience in Trusts & Estates, including complex estate and trust administration, and estate and fiduciary tax matters.
• Two-year degree required. Bachelor’s degree or Paralegal Certificate from an ABA approved program preferred; significant, substantive related experience may be considered in lieu of formal education.
• Excellent communication, analytical, and organizational skills.
• Proven success working in a fast-paced, continually changing environment.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications.
• Familiarity with tax and trust accounting software.
• Experience with document database programs and/or software.
• Significant client case management experience.
• Exceptional attention to detail.
• Highly organized, able to prioritize workflow and manage projects.
• Ability to perform effectively with little or no supervision.

Preferred Qualifications

• Familiarity and experience with adopting legal AI, and ability to learn and implement new AI.

Compensation & Benefits

Employees are entitled to compensation commensurate with skill and experience. The exact compensation will vary based on skills, experience, location, and other factors permitted by law.

Expected compensation ranges by location:

• State of California: $86,000 - $139,000
• State of Colorado: $75,000 - $119,000
• State of Connecticut: $70,000 - $178,000
• State of Illinois: $64,000 - $125,000
• State of Maine: $60,000 - $139,000
• State of Maryland: $73,000 - $107,000
• State of Massachusetts: $85,000 - $130,000
• State of Minnesota: $75,000 - $111,000
• Jersey City, NJ: $78,000 - $114,000
• State of New York: $66,000 - $125,000
• State of Virginia: $57,000 - $168,000
• State of Vermont: $87,000 - $168,000
• State of Washington: $88,000 - $134,000
• Washington, DC: $94,000 - $138,000

Location

Open in multiple offices across the United States. Location in either St. Louis, Missouri or Phoenix, Arizona is preferred.

Application Requirements

Please include a cover letter and resume when applying.

Equal Opportunity

EOE/Minority/Female/Disabled/Vet. Principal Applicants Only.