Estate Planning Legal Assistant

Martin Pringle performs legal services for a diverse group of clients with business clients ranging from large publicly traded companies to sole proprietorships, as well as individuals with varied legal needs. Our primary objective is to deliver nothing less than the highest quality work product. We recognize that legal services should be cost-effective and focused on the client’s objectives, whether the business goals of a company, or the financial or personal needs of an individual.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Position Summary

Supports attorneys by preparing legal documents (wills, trusts, powers of attorney), managing client communication, gathering asset information, and assisting with probate/trust administration. They maintain client files, coordinate signing ceremonies, and ensure compliance with legal regulations, acting as a crucial liaison between clients and lawyers.

1) General Support:

• Draft correspondence, pleadings, motions, notices, subpoenas, affidavits, contracts, estate planning and many other documents
• Investigate facts and law related to client matter including public records and social media
• Organize and update client matter file
• Meet with clients, attorneys, and other professionals regarding client matters
• Direct communication with clients
• E-file in state and federal courts as well as with Register of Deeds, Secretary of State, and other government offices
• Calendar meetings and hearing dates
• Routine office duties

2) Estate Planning Support:

• Check for conflicts of interest; intake clients; manage attorney calendars and coordinate meetings
• Gather and digitize financial, legal, and other documents; input, collect, compile, organize, and analyze confidential information
• Prepare engagement letters, closing letters, other correspondence, and estate plan documents with attorney supervision
• Print and flag signature-ready estate planning and administration documents
• Serve as witness to estate planning executions; notarize documents
• E-file probate court documents; retrieve public records
• Handle incoming telephone calls
• Maintain the estate/trust department’s estate planning archives
• Track billable hours
• Assist in preparing corporate annual reports, resolutions, and minutes
• Obtain due diligence materials, such as corporate certificates of good standing, real estate and title information, securities filings
• Attend executions of estate plans and transaction/deal closings
• Track corporate report deadlines and registered agent service
• Handle documents and prepare reports and pleadings for probate and trust administration
• Assist with entity formation, title review, summary review, escrow closings and the full life cycle of a transaction
• Obtain employer and tax identification number

SKILLS:

• Has 2 or more years of work experience as an estate/trust legal assistant or in estate/trust settlement or wealth management at a financial institution or trust company
• Strong problem solving and analytical skills
• Excellent Microsoft and PDF software knowledge and skills
• Exceptional organizational and prioritization of workload skills
• Detail oriented with excellent proofreading skills
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to follow directions
• Must be comfortable speaking to clients