Estate Planning Legal Assistant

We are seeking an Estate Planning Legal Assistant to support our San Francisco office. 

Duties and Responsibilities

• Editing and proofreading of estate planning and trust administration documents
• Assisting in drafting various estate planning documents, including trusts, wills, assignments, powers of attorney, advance health care directives, and recordation of deeds with accompanying transfer documents
• Assisting in drafting trust administration documents, including checklists, certifications of trust, beneficiary releases and agreements, court petitions, probate documents, pleadings, and asset inventories 
• Assisting in drafting and recording of real property transfer documents including deeds, preliminary changes of ownership, and transfer tax affidavits
• Filing federal tax documents including Forms 709, 706, 8971, etc.
• Filing probate court documents including court petitions and coordinating service of process on parties
• Arranging for valuations as necessary
• Obtaining EINs
• Assisting executor/trustee with the collection, valuation and distribution of assets
• Coordinate and carry out mailing, filing, and other administrative tasks for client projects
• Preparing client memos and correspondence to clients and other professionals as needed
• Performing legal research
• Preparing signing instruction memoranda and finalizing estate documents for signature
• Facilitating meetings, client calls, and maintaining attorney's calendars 
• Assisting in client estate planning signing appointments as needed
• Notary service (Public Notaries would be very helpful)
• Coordinating with the records and conflicts departments in the opening and closing of matters
• Database management of all relevant documents; routine document filing
• Preparing physical and electronic estate planning and transaction binders for clients 
• Expense reimbursements
• Entering and editing attorney time as necessary

Knowledge and Abilities Required

• Experience with and basic knowledge of revocable estate planning documents (revocable trust, health care directives, trustee’s certification, powers of attorney, wills, etc.) and basic irrevocable estate planning documents (irrevocable trusts, assignments, etc.)
• Experience with recording and filing real property transfer documents
• Experience with court filings and service on parties, including e-filing
• Experience with assembling and filing federal tax returns
• Experience with calendaring deadlines and reminders on master calendar, in addition to managing calendaring calls and meetings for multiple attorneys
• The ideal candidate will interact well with others in a team setting, work effectively under pressure, be detail oriented, eager to learn, and have strong organizational and communication skills
• Excellent verbal and written skills are required 

Experience and Education Required

• Qualified candidates will have 3 – 5 years of strong estate planning experience, including knowledge of California Probate & Trust law and procedure and federal tax law and procedure.  Strong experience in real estate or corporate practice areas, or family office/financial management background may also be considered. 

Buchalter APC offers a competitive salary, 401K, profit sharing, a generous benefits package, commuter benefits, PerkSpot Discount Program, company events and more. Buchalter is currently offering a hybrid work model for this position.

Pay Scale: The reasonably expected pay scale for this position is $70-100k.  This is an employer estimate and the salary offered within that range, and the potential for bonus and bonus amount, will depend on candidate’s years of practice, experience and performance.

Buchalter was founded based on principles of inclusivity.  Our firm’s commitment to reflecting and enhancing the rich diversity of the clients and communities we serve is more than eight decades strong. Buchalter’s diversity of attorneys and staff provides clients with a greater breadth of creative talent and alternative approaches, and enriches our firm’s collaborative, entrepreneurial and collegial environment, benefiting all.  We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer.  In recruiting, we welcome the unique contributions that all candidates can bring in terms of their education, opinions, culture, ethnicity, race, sex, gender identity and expression, nation of origin, age, languages spoken, veteran’s status, color, religion, disability, sexual orientation and beliefs.

Interested candidates should submit a resume.