Trusts & Estates Associate Attorney

Fischer Harbage•New York, NY

5h•$150,000 - $225,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Trusts & Estates Associate Attorney advises individuals and families on a range of estate-planning needs, handles complex planning challenges, and collaborates with the firm's team. The role covers comprehensive estate planning as well as sophisticated planning for high-net-worth clients. The attorney is expected to independently manage estate-planning matters and mentor junior attorneys. A strong tax background and experience designing and implementing advanced estate and wealth-transfer strategies are valued but not required. The position involves advising on trust, business-entity, and other wealth-transfer strategies; designing and implementing plans involving federal and state gift, estate, and generation-skipping transfer taxes; preparing and reviewing estate-planning documents; counseling clients on charitable giving, business succession, asset protection, and multi-jurisdictional matters; and managing probate and administration proceedings. The attorney also collaborates with outside professionals, reviews existing plans, contributes to firm systems and drafting practices, maintains client and referral relationships, and stays current on relevant laws.

Requirements

J.D. from an accredited law school.
Admission to practice in New York and good standing with the bar.
At least 3–5 years of substantial experience handling sophisticated estate-planning matters.
Strong knowledge of federal and New York gift, estate, and generation-skipping transfer tax planning.
Demonstrated ability to independently manage complex client matters from initial consultation through drafting, execution, and implementation.
Excellent drafting, analytical, research, issue-spotting, and client-counseling skills.
Strong technical knowledge, analytical ability, and professional judgment.
Ability to explain complicated legal and tax concepts clearly and practically.
Collaborative leadership style and genuine interest in mentoring other attorneys.
Proactive, organized, and detail-oriented approach to managing matters and deadlines.
Ability to navigate sensitive family, financial, and interpersonal dynamics with confidence, discretion, and compassion.
Genuine interest in sophisticated estate and tax planning and contributing to the continued growth, development, and reputation of the firm.

Nice To Haves

Admission to practice in New Jersey or Connecticut.
Strong tax background and experience designing and implementing sophisticated estate and wealth-transfer strategies, including SLATs, GRATs, IDGTs, ILITs, family entities, charitable planning, and federal and state gift, estate, and generation-skipping transfer tax planning.

Responsibilities

Advise clients on sophisticated estate and wealth-transfer strategies involving trusts, business entities, and other planning structures.
Design and implement complex estate plans involving federal and state gift, estate, and generation-skipping transfer tax considerations.
Draft and review advanced estate-planning documents, including wills, revocable and irrevocable trusts, powers of attorney, healthcare directives, family limited partnerships, limited liability company agreements, and related instruments.
Counsel clients regarding charitable giving, business succession, asset-protection considerations, and cross-border or multi-jurisdictional planning matters.
Independently manage probate and administration proceedings, including preparing and filing petitions and supporting documents with the Surrogate's Court.
Analyze existing estate plans and recommend modifications in light of changes in clients' families, finances, residency, business interests, or applicable law.
Collaborate with accountants, financial advisors, insurance professionals, valuation experts, corporate trustees, and attorneys in other jurisdictions to implement planning strategies.
Mentor junior attorneys, review their work product, and provide substantive guidance and professional development.
Help refine the firm's drafting standards, internal systems, workflows, knowledge resources, and best practices.
Build and maintain strong relationships with clients, colleagues, and professional referral sources.
Stay current on developments in federal and state trust, estate, tax, and related laws.