Managing Attorney | Lead, Mentor, and Grow with a Premier Trust & Estate Litigation Firm

Managing Attorney

WHO WE ARE

The Estate Lawyers is a fast-growing Trust and Estate litigation Firm in Southern California with offices in Irvine and San Diego. Our firm values our reputation not only in the legal community, but among our clients and referral partners, many of whom are repeat customers. If you are looking to join a firm of results-based, high performing legal professionals who value collaboration and teamwork, we look forward to seeing your resume.

Position Overview

As the Managing Attorney, you will help lead our legal production efforts, ensuring the highest quality of service while driving the firm’s strategic growth. You will manage a team of attorneys, and their respective teams, focusing on operational excellence, team accountability, and revenue growth. This role requires a proactive leader with a strategic mindset and the ability to cultivate a high-performing legal team aligned with the firm's core values.

Who This Job Is For

The ideal candidate is a results-driven, highly organized, and proactive leader, committed to fostering a culture of accountability and continuous improvement while supporting the firm's growth and client satisfaction.

Core Values to Embody:

• Radical Candor & Respect: Lead with honesty and empathy.
• Team Win/Client Win: Foster a collaborative environment where both the team and clients thrive.
• No Jerks Allowed: Maintain a positive, professional culture.
• Stay Hungry: Continuously seek improvement and excellence.

Who This Job Is NOT For

• Those who prefer to clock in, clock out, and stay in their lane instead of taking initiative or ownership.

• Candidates who are uncomfortable holding senior attorneys accountable or navigating firm-wide performance conversations.

• Professionals who want to remain deeply tied to hourly billing rather than shift into a strategic leadership trajectory.

• Individuals who resist change, technology, or process improvement and prefer sticking with the status quo.

Minimum Qualifications & Background Requirements

• Active California Bar license in good standing
• 5–8 years of litigation experience, including depositions, court appearances, and motion practice
• 3 years of dedicated trust and estate litigation experience
• Expert-level familiarity with the California Probate Code, Code of Civil Procedure, and Evidence Code
• Prior experience managing attorney's and production staff

Key Responsibilities

1. Strategic Leadership & Growth

• Lead the recruitment and successful onboarding of newly hired attorneys.
• Build high-performing legal teams and foster a culture of accountability, efficiency, and excellence.
• Establish structured production pods to ensure maximum team utilization and output.
• Align legal production processes with the firm’s long-term growth objectives.

2. Accountability & Performance Management

• Set clear deadlines, track progress, and hold team members accountable for deliverables.
• Identify underperformance issues, implement corrective action plans, and establish firm timelines for 'go/no-go' decisions.
• Conduct regular check-ins, performance evaluations, and proactive intervention strategies to ensure team success.

3. Office Presence & Team Engagement

• Maintain an in-office presence (3-4 days per week) to foster relationships, mentor attorneys, and oversee production.
• Actively engage with attorneys and paralegals through one-on-one meetings and pod development initiatives.
• Encourage informal interactions to build team rapport and morale.

4. Operational Excellence

• Follow a structured daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, and yearly cadence of responsibilities to ensure consistent workflow.
• Drive operational efficiencies by aligning production processes with revenue and profitability targets.
• Monitor and refine KPIs to align with goals for billable hours, case movement, and client satisfaction.

5. Collaboration & Communication

• Work closely with the Director of Legal Operations and Managing Partner, COO, Director of Marketing, and Director of Finance to ensure seamless operations and goal alignment.
• Maintain open communication with leadership regarding obstacles, opportunities, and operational improvements.
• Foster a collaborative environment that supports firm-wide success.

6. Talent Development & Retention

• Lead mentoring, training, and career development initiatives within the legal team.
• Implement structured feedback mechanisms to improve individual and team performance.
• Ensure high retention rates by fostering a positive and productive work environment.

Why Join The Estate Lawyers?

This is a high-impact, culture-shaping role at the center of our expansion. You will:

• Lead people, processes, and culture across multiple offices.
• Shape benefits, training, and infrastructure for a fast-growing firm.
• Work alongside a high-performance executive team in a firm on track to double in size in 18 months.
• Join a culture that values excellence, collaboration, and respect.

Compensation Package – Managing Partner/Director of Legal Production

Base Salary: $175,000–$275,000 DOE

• Performance-Based Incentives
• Partnership Track Opportunities
• Comprehensive benefits package including health, dental, and 401(k).