Estate Planning and Estate Administration Paralegal

Stoel Rives LLP has an immediate opening for an Estate Planning and Estate Administration Paralegal in our Portland office. The ideal candidate is extremely empathetic and capable of offering the highest level of service to our clientele. Professionalism and teamwork are prized, so the best candidate works well with attorneys, co-workers, clients and their allied advisors, such as accountants and financial planners, and the court.

Responsibilities include all facets of estate planning and trust and probate administration, with a particular focus on planning.  The paralegal will be responsible for reviewing files and asset information, drafting estate planning documents, including wills, trust agreements, deeds, funding documents, and charts of estate plans, communicating with clients to gather information and schedule signings, and meeting with clients to execute documents.  The paralegal will also provide trust administration back up support, including   meet with clients, trustees and family members; communicating with clients, beneficiaries, and their allied advisors; drafting probate pleadings; preparing federal estate tax returns and gift tax returns; reviewing bank statements; notarizing documents; and organizing and maintaining client files.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS/RESPONSIBILITIES

Legal Document Preparation

Data input, document generation via a document automation program, and custom edits of estate planning documents depending on client need and tax planning goals; coordinate the scanning of original documents into document management system, retention of originals in the office “vault,” and preparation of hard copy estate planning notebooks and/or PDFs for client records.

Special Projects

Electronic filing/recording of probate court documents and real estate deeds, accounting and administrative tasks for ongoing trust administration projects; and prepare charts, diagrams and summaries encompassing all aspects of a client’s estate plan by reading, understanding and depicting trust provisions, including trusts that may not have been prepared at our firm.

3.Process Improvement

Identify process improvement and workflow efficiency opportunities; work with the members of the Private Client group and other Firm administrative departments on process improvement efforts; and assist Private Client attorneys and paralegals with creating, documenting and implementing standard processes and procedures.

Template/Forms

Assist Private Client attorneys with creation, implementation, and maintenance of standard document templates/forms for estate planning, and act as a liaison between Private Client group and various IT personnel to make the templates/forms assessable to all group members via our document assembly program.

Timekeeping

Enter time daily in adherence with timekeeping rules.

Other duties as assigned.

ESSENTIAL CAPABILITIES

Must possess strong written and verbal communication skills; high tolerance for stress, rush, and/or last-minute deadlines; the initiative to problem-solve and be resourceful in seeking out solutions and information; good judgment; the ability to learn quickly; excellent organizational skills and the ability to handle multiple priorities in a changing environment; attention to detail and the ability to produce high-quality work product; flexibility and the ability to adapt to change and learn new programs and procedures; and the ability to share responsibility, to work as part of a team on a variety of tasks, both complex and routine, and to work without direct supervision in a fast paced setting in which there are rapid changes in daily work schedules.

            Technical Knowledge

Must be able to type a minimum of 40 wpm with minimal errors.  Must be proficient with Microsoft software; experience with Excel and Visio is beneficial.  Knowledge of estate and gift tax return preparation (GEMS) and estate valuation (EVP) software preferred.  Must be capable of learning document assembly programs such as Contract Express.

            Physical and Mental Capabilities

Must be capable of sitting for extended periods of time to enter data at computer terminal.  Must be able to bend and reach for, lift, place, and carry pouches containing multiple files or large reference books several times per day.  Must possess the ability to bend and reach for, lift, place, and carry boxes containing files, reams of paper, computer equipment, or supplies on a daily basis and to move boxes of heavy files or file cabinets using a hand truck.  Must be capable of reading information in printed, handwritten, or computer form many times daily; interpreting and understanding instructions; and interpreting and understanding legal correspondence, memoranda, forms, documents, and reference materials. 

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE

College degree or equivalent work experience required, and at least 3 years’ law firm experience.  Must have estate planning experience. Prior experience in complex, high net-worth estates and trusts matters a plus.

NORMAL WORK HOURS

This is a hybrid position, is non-exempt, and eligible for overtime compensation.  Regular office hours are 8:30 - 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.  The ability to work longer hours is essential during peak workload periods.

How You Will Live Life Well at Stoel Rives: Compensation, Benefits, and More!

The pay range for this position is $58,000 - $97,000; however, the base compensation presented to a candidate may vary based on skills and overall experience. This salary range is based on market location.

In addition to base compensation, Stoel Rives has a total rewards program that includes an annual discretionary bonus and rich benefits offerings. For example, our benefits offerings include paid family & medical leave, competitive PTO, and remote work options. We offer competitive and robust medical, dental, vision, life long-term disability, AD&D, EAP, FSA and Voluntary Life, ADD, and LTC options. We also provide a generous firm-contributed health savings account, a pre-tax transportation/parking plan including an employer monthly subsidy of $100 for individuals who work 3+ days/week in the office, and an annual contribution into the employee’s retirement plan.

No recruiters please.

Stoel Rives places a high priority on attracting and retaining lawyers and business professionals with different backgrounds and life experiences. This makes us better and happier as people, as an organization, and as legal advisers. We are proud to offer many engagement opportunities including a firmwide DE&I Committee, Associates Committee, Pro Bono Committee, Affinity Groups, and Parenting Circle.

We proudly partner with Diversity Lab to implement innovative programs to advance Stoel Rives’ DE&I goals, including the aggressive metrics-based goals we’ve adopted as one of five founding Move the Needle firms. Our efforts with Diversity Lab include certification under the Mansfield Rule, to boost the representation of diverse lawyers in our firm’s leadership by broadening the pool of candidates considered for opportunities. Additional information on these programs, can be found here.