Trusts & Estates Associate

Sterlington, PLLC • Philadelphia, PA

4h • Onsite

About The Position

Sterlington's Private Wealth group advises founders at the peak of their business, executives navigating complex compensation and liquidity events, and multigenerational families managing significant inherited wealth. The work is sophisticated, the clients are consequential, and the team is deliberately small. As an Associate on this team, you will work directly with senior practitioners on real matters; not spend years on drafting assignments before you see a client. The practice is built around one belief: the best way to develop a great private wealth lawyer is to give them great private wealth work.

Requirements

• J.D. from a top-tier law school
• 2–6 years of trusts and estates experience at an AmLaw 100 firm or a recognized private wealth boutique
• Drafted complex estate plans
• Understand the federal transfer tax system
• Real experience; not just exposure; to UHNW client matters
• Comfortable with IRC §2010, §2642, §2031, and the mechanics of grantor trust rules
• Can spot a 280G issue when it surfaces in a succession context
• Can hold a drafting conversation with a senior partner without needing the answer to every question; but you know when to ask
• Write clearly
• Communicate well under pressure
• Understand that how you show up in a client meeting matters as much as the quality of the document you drafted the night before

Nice To Haves

• LL.M. in Taxation or Estate Planning is a meaningful differentiator
• Curiosity about how AI can enhance estate planning work is welcomed

Responsibilities

• Draft wills, revocable and irrevocable trusts, powers of attorney, healthcare directives, and ancillary estate planning documents for high-net-worth and UHNW clients
• Support design and implementation of advanced planning structures: GRATs, SLATs, IDGTs, QPRTs, charitable trusts (CLTs/CRTs), and private foundations
• Assist with trust and estate administration; probate, fiduciary accounting, beneficiary communications, and post-mortem planning
• Conduct federal and state tax research on estate, gift, GST, and fiduciary income tax issues
• Support business succession planning matters, including entity structure analysis and buy-sell agreement review
• Coordinate with family offices, accountants, and investment advisors as part of multidisciplinary client teams

Benefits

• Medical
• Dental
• Vision
• 401(k)

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree