Private Client Paralegal (Trust & Estate)
About The Position
Faegre Drinker is a firm designed for clients and designed for you. We understand that our people are critical to our success and we are committed to investing in our paraprofessional, administrative and operations professionals. We are always looking for talented, service-focused individuals to join our flexible and high-performing culture. With technology tools and resources that support our hybrid work environment, our colleagues enjoy a culture of learning, support for work and personal goals, opportunities to give back to our communities, and competitive benefits and rewards programs. At Faegre Drinker, you will have the opportunity to share your expertise within and across teams and contribute to our success. Faegre Drinker, one of the 50 largest law firms headquartered in the U.S., is searching for a Paralegal to join our Private Client team in our Princeton office. As a Private Client Paralegal, you will support experienced lawyers in all aspects of estate administration, from inception through termination. This role is client facing and requires the ability to effectively communicate and work directly with clients. This position will work with other talented individuals who share a passion for doing great work in the best interest of our clients.
Requirements
- Energetic, organized, detail orientated and disciplined with the willingness to work hard.
- Ability to work well independently and as part of a team, through effective communication strategies.
- Ability to manage workflow and work under tight deadlines and other time constraints, with competing and shifting priorities.
- Ability to bill 1550 hours annually.
- Ability to effectively manage projects.
- Ability to create and work with excel spreadsheets to calculate financials
- Ability to disseminate information from bank, brokerage and other financial statements
- Apply knowledge of the Uniform Probate Code to meet requirements for estate planning documents
- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience required; paralegal certificate strongly preferred
- 5+ years of experience in trusts and estates in NJ required
- Experience as a paralegal in a law firm strongly preferred
- Previous experience with tax programs for preparing state, federal, and gift tax returns estate and inheritance tax, fiduciary income tax, estate tax, and securities evaluations
- Proficiency in the Microsoft Office Suite (Outlook, Word, Excel, etc.)
- Experience entering and tracking billable time is a plus
Nice To Haves
- Experience with any of the following systems is a plus: CCH Axcess tax, CCH ProSystem, OneSource, NumberCruncher, Tiger Tables, Zcalc, EstatVal
- Experience entering and tracking billable time is a plus
Responsibilities
- Establish close rapport with client and beneficiaries to ensure positive and cooperative working relationships
- Assist attorneys, as needed, in connection with drafting documents
- Collect, analyze, and organize decedent’s financial records, including tax returns, trust agreements, deeds, stock powers, and financial statements and assist with valuation of assets
- Draft documents to assist the client to qualify as executor and trustee
- Ensure proper publication and required notices as part of estate administration
- Consider post-mortem estate planning and prepare disclaimer documents
- Compile materials required in connection with an audit of estate and/or inheritance tax returns
- Prepare state inheritance tax returns, federal estate tax returns and gift tax returns as well as fiduciary tax returns and personal income tax returns
- Prepare inventories, asset allocation agreements and asset transfer documents as well as receipts and releases
- Prepare and file Accountings and related settlement documents
- Coordinate distributions and funding transfers of estates and trusts
- Coordinate with other professionals and clients to obtain and analyze due diligence materials in preparation for filing
- Special projects and duties, as assigned
Benefits
- Flexible working environment for work-life success
- Opportunity to participate in firm-sponsored volunteer events
- Wellness programming with personalized content and activities
- Professional environment and the opportunity to work with experts at the top of their fields
- Variety of health plan options, as well as dental, vision and 401(k) plans
- Generous paid time off
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
Number of Employees
1,001-5,000 employees
