Trust and Estates Attorney

About This Opportunity

Golden Oaks Law Group, LLP is hiring a Trust and Estates Attorney to manage a caseload covering probate, trust administration, conservatorship, disability trust administration, and trust litigation. This role primarily represents fiduciaries in court-supervised probate proceedings and reports directly to the Managing Partner.

This is not a back-office drafting role. You will own your caseload from intake to resolution — managing client relationships, developing legal strategy, supervising paralegals, preparing for hearings and trials, and appearing in court. You will handle both uncontested administration matters and contested litigation.

Golden Oaks is a California-based firm with over 30 years of trust and estate law experience, combining a legacy of personalized client service with modern systems and technology. We are growing and looking for an attorney who wants to build something — not just bill hours.

If you want real case ownership, a dedicated support team, and a clear path from associate to partner, apply now.

Key Responsibilities

Uncontested Probate, Trust Administration & Conservatorship

• Prepare and file Petitions for Probate, Petitions for Letters of Administration, inventories and appraisals, creditor notices, accountings, and petitions for distribution
• Advise trustees on fiduciary duties, trust interpretation, Probate Code compliance, and proper administration procedures
• Prepare statutory notifications to beneficiaries and heirs, trust accountings, and coordinate asset transfers, retitling, and distributions
• Draft Heggstad petitions, petitions for instructions, and Probate Code §17200 petitions
• Prepare and file Petitions for Appointment of Conservator (person and/or estate), coordinate court investigator reports and care plans, and file annual status reports and accountings
• Administer disability trusts (first-party, third-party, and pooled), including court-supervised accountings and compliance with Medi-Cal, SSI, and other public benefit requirements
• Coordinate with appraisers, real estate agents, financial institutions, title companies, and other professionals during estate and trust administration

Contested Matters & Litigation

• Handle contested conservatorships, trust and will contests, fiduciary duty claims, and elder abuse litigation
• Conduct and manage all phases of discovery, including interrogatories, depositions, and requests for production of documents
• Prepare motions, points and authorities, declarations, and trial briefs
• Attend mediations, settlement conferences, contested hearings, and trials in probate court

Client Relations & Case Management

• Meet with clients to understand their needs, assess case viability, and develop legal strategy
• Manage client expectations through proactive communication, timely status updates, and clear guidance on process, timelines, and outcomes
• Advise fiduciaries and beneficiaries on administration disputes and various probate case types
• Collaborate with colleagues on complex estate planning strategies, including tax planning and asset protection

Team Supervision

• Supervise and collaborate with junior attorneys and paralegals on case preparation, filings, and work product review
• Delegate tasks with clear instructions and deadlines, ensuring balanced workloads and timely completion

Business Development & Professional Standards

• Participate in business development and client origination through networking, referral relationships, and community engagement
• Adhere to the highest ethical standards, including the California Rules of Professional Conduct
• Maintain current knowledge of relevant laws and continuously pursue professional development
• Demonstrate and uphold Golden Oaks Law Group's core values (I-PEACE) in all client interactions and case handling

What Success Looks Like

• Maintain a minimum of 35 billable hours per week (approximately 1,800 annually)
• Manage all aspects of trust and estates cases from start to finish without requiring supervision on routine matters
• Produce high-quality work product that minimizes revision requests
• Effectively delegate to and review work product from paralegal team members
• Proactively communicate with clients
• Prepare cases for trial and hearings; attend and represent clients at court proceedings
• Provide structured reports to the Managing Partner on team productivity, case status, and escalated issues
• Maintain at least 10 hours per year of continuing professional development in T&E law

Qualifications

Required

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an ABA-accredited law school
• Active membership in the California State Bar in good standing
• Minimum 3 years of experience in trust and estates law, including probate court appearances
• Experience with trust administration, probate, conservatorship, and/or trust litigation
• Strong legal research, writing, and oral advocacy skills
• Experience representing fiduciaries (trustees, administrators, conservators) in probate court
• Ability to manage a full caseload independently with minimal supervision
• Proficiency with legal technology and case management systems

Preferred

• Familiarity with disability trust administration and Medi-Cal/SSI compliance
• Existing book of business or demonstrated business development ability
• Experience supervising paralegals or junior attorneys
• California State Bar Certified Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law (or working toward certification)

This Role Is Probably Not a Fit If...

• You prefer detailed instructions for every task — this role requires daily independent judgment and initiative
• You are uncomfortable with billable hour expectations — 35 hours per week is the firm baseline
• You avoid client-facing interactions — client management is a core function, not an occasional duty
• You are looking for a purely transactional or estate planning role — court appearances and hearing preparation are central to this position
• You are resistant to technology or process improvement
• You are not interested in business development — case origination is a key metric on the path to partnership

Compensation & Benefits

• Base salary: $140,000 – $190,000 per year (depending on experience and book of business)
• Performance bonuses for exceeding 1,800 annual billable hours and for case origination
• Case origination bonuses for cases that you bring to the Firm
• Partnership track: Consideration for profit-sharing or partnership after 3–5 years of successful performance
• Group health insurance (employer contributes)
• Life insurance
• 12 paid holidays per year
• Paid time off accruing based on tenure
• Paid sick leave
• Continuing education and tuition assistance
• Mentorship from partners with nearly 30 years of T&E experience

About Golden Oaks Law Group

Golden Oaks Law Group, LLP is a California-based trust and estate law firm serving families and business owners across Southern California and statewide. Founded on nearly three decades of experience, the firm was re-established in 2023 by Partner Suzanne M. Graves and Managing Partner Kyle R. Graves.

The firm's court cases practice primarily represents fiduciaries — administrators, trustees, and conservators — in probate court proceedings. Golden Oaks also provides proactive estate planning, business succession planning, and post-mortem administration services.

Core Values (I-PEACE): Integrity, People First, Excellence in Action, Always Improving, Client Experience, Efficiency with Grace.

How to Apply

Please submit:

1. Your resume.

2. A writing sample (a brief, memorandum, or pleading from a trust/estate/probate matter).

3. Answers to the application screening questions.

Golden Oaks Law Group, LLP is an equal opportunity employer.

Pay: $140,000.00 - $190,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Employee discount
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Professional development assistance
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Application Question(s):

• What is your desired starting salary range for this position?
• Are you an active member of the California State Bar in good standing?
• Are you willing to meet a minimum billable hours expectation of 35 hours per week?
• In your own words, define three core values that guide your personal and professional life. Describe each value and explain how it influences your decision-making, interactions, and overall approach to work.

Experience:

• Trust and Estate: 3 years (Preferred)

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Upland, CA 91786

Salary : $140,000 - $190,000