Legal Estates Practice Assistant

Cozen O'Connor•Philadelphia, PA

67d

About The Position

The Legal Estates Practice Assistant provides specialized administrative and legal support to attorneys and paralegals within the Trusts & Estates practice group. This role focuses on estate and trust administration tasks, tax filing support, document preparation, and compliance with jurisdictional requirements. The ideal candidate is detail-oriented, proactive, and capable of working independently with minimal guidance.

Requirements

Prior experience in legal administrative support, preferably in Trusts & Estates or Tax Law.
Familiarity with estate and trust documentation, tax forms, and court filing procedures.
Strong attention to detail and ability to manage multiple tasks independently.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and document management systems.
Excellent written and verbal communication.
Ability to work collaboratively with attorneys, paralegals, and administrative staff.
Strong organizational and time management skills.

Nice To Haves

Experience with DocuSign and legal research tools preferred.

Responsibilities

Draft estate notices, certifications of notice, and enclosure letters for Pennsylvania matters with minimal supervision.
Prepare and order legal advertisements for estate notices.
Conduct unclaimed property searches and complete claims upon request.
Draft trust notices and related correspondence for Pennsylvania matters.
Prepare enclosure letters for routine tax returns and information filings (e.g., Form 706, 709, 8971, PA/NJ Inheritance Tax Returns).
Maintain organized records of mailing addresses and filing practices.
Utilize DocuSign for Gift Tax Return filings when appropriate.
Bookmark saved tax returns as requested.
Confirm completeness and accuracy of exhibits and riders for tax filings.
Ensure final exhibit packages meet jurisdictional filing requirements (e.g., bindings, tabs, formatting).
Collaborate with administrative assistants on exhibit list and binder preparation.
Draft basic business correspondence including enclosure letters for filings and notices.
Prepare PA closing status reports and related letters for completed and pending estates.
Retrieve and organize deeds and other legal documents (e.g., Montgomery County).
Make complete copies of correspondence, tax returns, and filings.
Accurately name, file, and maintain both electronic and hard copy records.