What are the responsibilities and job description for the Legal Assistant- Estate Planning, Wills & Trusts position at Martin, Pringle, Oliver, Wallace & Bauer, LLP?
Description
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
Salary : $50 - $65