Estate Planning, Probate, and Tax Attorney

A law firm is seeking a skilled legal professional to expand its practice in wealth transfer, estate settlement, and fiscal advisory services. This individual will cultivate existing client relationships while guiding new matters, with the potential to integrate a small established team if available.

Job Overview

• Location: Seattle, WA

• Experience: 1–6 years of focused work in legacy planning, estate administration, and tax strategy

• Practice Setting: Collaborative environment, serving a range of private clients and family-run enterprises

• Compensation & Benefits: Competitive salary; 401(k) retirement plan; contributions to medical and dental coverage; long-term and short-term disability insurance

Primary Responsibilities

• Oversee and advise on the creation of testamentary documents, including wills, durable powers of attorney, and advanced directives

• Counsel clients on transferring assets during life and at death, employing strategies to minimize tax liabilities and safeguard family wealth

• Administer and settle estates: coordinate with fiduciaries, prepare inventories, handle creditor claims, and guide probate court proceedings

• Provide tax counsel related to gifting, estate, and income tax matters; collaborate with accountants to develop comprehensive tax-efficient plans

• Manage a portfolio of existing clients, fostering trust through regular communication, case updates, and proactive outreach

• Conduct all phases of case preparation: client interviews, fact gathering, legal research, drafting petitions and motions, and representing clients in hearings as needed

• Identify opportunities to bring in smaller groups of attorneys or established practices, integrating them into the firm’s structure when appropriate

• Mentor junior staff or incoming associates, sharing best practices for client service and technical drafting

Ideal Qualifications

• Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school; an advanced Master of Laws (LLM) in Taxation or related field is strongly preferred

• Washington State Bar membership in good standing

• 1–6 years of substantive experience handling legacy planning, probate, and tax-related matters—experience with high-net-worth individuals or family offices is a plus

• Comfortably managing a sophisticated caseload with minimal oversight, while also collaborating on complex, multi-faceted transactions

• Proven ability to grow and sustain client relationships, with a track record of generating referrals and repeat business

Education & Certification

• Juris Doctor (JD) required; LL.M. in Taxation (or equivalent postgraduate credential) preferred

• Admission to Washington State Bar (active and non-restricted)

• Continued professional education in estate and tax law (e.g., CELA certification, Tax Law Institute courses) is advantageous

Key Competencies & Skills

• Exceptional drafting and analytical abilities: capable of crafting tailored trusts, tax‐planning memoranda, and probate pleadings

• Strong communication skills—both written and verbal—for clear client counseling and effective courtroom advocacy when necessary

• High level of organization and attention to detail, ensuring all deadlines, filings, and client follow-ups are handled diligently

• Comfort with practice management software, document automation tools, and virtual communication platforms

• Ability to work autonomously on complex projects while remaining a collaborative team member when cases require multiple practitioners

• Client-centric approach: empathetic listener who can explain intricate legal concepts in accessible terms

The law firm provides legal services related to disability law, elder law, guardianship, estate planning, trust & estate administration, and related disputes. The firm is located in Seattle, Washington.