Trusts & Estates Paralegal

Company Description

Conn Kavanaugh is a Boston-based law firm providing legal counsel to individuals, families, and organizations, ranging from Fortune 100 companies to family businesses. Established in 1988, the firm is known for offering practical and innovative legal solutions tailored to meet clients' unique needs. Conn Kavanaugh serves clients in diverse settings, including courtrooms, boardrooms, and homes, addressing challenges both in Boston and beyond.

Role Description

This is a full-time, on-site Paralegal position located in Boston, MA Monday-Thursday and Hingham, MA on Friday. The selected candidate will provide comprehensive legal support to attorneys by independently managing probate, estate planning, and trust administration matters from inception through completion.

• Draft and review substantive legal documents, conduct legal research, maintain complex case files, and coordinate court filings while ensuring compliance with court rules and deadlines.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for clients, fiduciaries, financial institutions, and government agencies, facilitating effective communication and the timely resolution of each case.
• Oversee all phases of estate and trust administration, including asset transfers, inventories, accountings and beneficiary communications.
• Maintain accurate case management, billing, and document control systems while identifying opportunities to improve workflow efficiency and support the firm's commitment to exceptional client service.

Key Responsibilities:

• Client & Matter Management: Serve as a primary client liaison, managing ongoing communication, client onboarding, and overseeing the collection and organization of documents throughout the lifecycle of estate planning and probate matters.
• Case Management: Independently manage a high-volume caseload by maintaining case files, monitoring deadlines, tracking case progress and calendars to ensure timely filing, recording, and service of legal documents with courts, registries, and government agencies.
• Legal Drafting & Document Preparation: Draft, review, and revise a broad range of substantive legal documents, including wills, revocable and irrevocable trusts, powers of attorney, health care proxies, deeds, probate petitions, fiduciary accountings, inventories, court pleadings, and legal correspondence for attorney review.
• Legal Research & Procedural Analysis: Conduct legal research to support attorneys in probate, trust administration, and estate planning matters. Analyze procedural requirements to ensure compliance with jurisdictional filing and notice requirements.
• Probate & Trust Administration: Assist with all phases of estate and trust administration, including preparing court filings, coordinating asset valuations, communicating with fiduciaries and beneficiaries, preparing inventories and accountings, facilitating asset transfers, and monitoring compliance with court deadlines and fiduciary obligations.
• Attorney Support & Case Strategy: Support attorneys through all stages of representation by preparing case summaries, organizing client documentation, identifying outstanding issues, coordinating document collection, review and reporting, and assisting with state filing preparation.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Collaborate with attorneys, clients, financial institutions, accountants, title companies, and government agencies to obtain records, resolve issues, coordinate transactions, and facilitate the efficient progression and resolution of legal matters.
• Office & Practice Administration: Maintain accurate billing and timekeeping records, manage confidential client files, oversee document management systems, and implement procedures that improve workflow efficiency and ensure compliance with firm policies and legal ethics requirements.

Qualifications

• Proven experience as a Paralegal in Trusts & Estates, probate, or trust administration.
• Strong knowledge of probate procedures, estate planning documents, trust administration, and court filing requirements.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite and experience with legal practice management software.
• Demonstrated experience drafting, reviewing, and managing substantive legal documents and court filings.
• Excellent legal research, analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills with exceptional attention to detail.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to interact professionally with attorneys, clients, courts, fiduciaries, and third parties.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, work independently, maintain confidentiality, and meet competing deadlines in a fast-paced legal environment.

Personality Traits

• Dependable, professional team player with a collaborative approach and strong commitment to client service.
• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build trust and interact effectively with clients, attorneys, courts, and third parties.
• Highly organized, detail-oriented, and methodical, with a commitment to accuracy and maintaining confidentiality.
• Self-motivated and resourceful, able to manage multiple priorities, work independently, and consistently meet deadlines.
• Sound judgment and problem-solving skills, with the ability to remain composed and adaptable in a fast-paced legal environment.
• Quality-driven and process-oriented, committed to following established procedures, mitigating risk, and delivering accurate, thorough work.

Salary Range

• Salary range: $90,000 - $115,000 per year
• Full Benefits package