Part-Time Legal Assistant / Paralegal: Estate Planning & Probate

Firm Overview & culture:
Our Client’s law firm is a respected provider of legal services, offering counsel and representation across a diverse range of practice areas. The Solo Practitioner runs a very busy practice focusing on estate planning, trust administration, probate, and estate tax / gift tax return practice. The Solo Practitioner is an exacting person and runs a very profitable solo practice. If the candidate is a contributor, she is generous.

• The Solo Practitioner prefers a friendly, helpful yet professional telephone/client demeanor for the paralegal/legal assistant. Due to the nature of the practice, the schedule/workflow can be unpredictable. 
• Elderly clients can be deaf and hard to talk with on the phone.  The candidate answering the phone needs to know that people call to say loved ones have died, or their spouse is dying, etc. They also need some poise and grit to deal with those sad calls.
•  If the candidate is professional and willing to work hard and willing to learn, there could also be client meetings/signings as part of the job, and more challenging projects

What you will focus on:
As a Legal Assistant/Paralegal, you will play a crucial role in supporting the Solo Practitioner with a variety of legal tasks and responsibilities.

• Draft ancillary documents for estate planning documents
• Prepare probate pleadings
• Prepare documents for trust administration (beneficiary notice letters, trust certifications, administration letters, receipts)
• Prepare organizational documents for entities (corporations, LLCs)
• Secretarial: open files (still uses hard copy files), enter time in Timeslips, answer phones and handle clients in the Solo Practitioner’s calendar, respond to emails, order supplies and keep track of “work in progress” lists

You will be an integral member of her team, contributing to the firm's success through your exceptional organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to handle complex legal matters with professionalism and efficiency.

Hard skills you need to be successful:

• Conduct legal research and analysis to assist attorneys in preparing for cases, transactions, and client meetings
• Draft and format legal documents, including contracts, pleadings, and correspondence
• Manage and maintain electronic and physical filing systems to ensure the organization and accessibility of important documents
• Communicate with clients, opposing counsel, and other parties to gather information and provide updates on case progress
• Coordinate schedules, arrange meetings, and provide general administrative support to the legal team