Trusts and Estates Senior Associate

Job Overview

A law firm seeks a Trusts and Estates Senior Associate to join its practice group in Holland, Michigan. The ideal candidate will possess three to seven years of experience in estate planning, trust and estate settlement, and related tax and corporate matters. Candidates must have excellent research, writing, and communication skills and be licensed or willing to become licensed to practice law in Michigan.

Duties

• Develop comprehensive estate plans tailored to clients' specific needs and goals.
• Advise clients on tax implications of estate planning and strategies to minimize tax liabilities.
• Handle the probate process, including court proceedings, asset valuation, debt settlement, and distribution of assets.
• Manage and administer trusts, ensuring compliance with applicable laws and trust agreements.

Requirements

• Strong foundation in estate planning, tax law, probate law, and trust law.
• Experience assisting high net worth families and individuals with estate planning and management.
• Proficiency in estate and gift tax complex planning, including CRUTS, SLATS, GRATS, FLPs, QPRTs, IDGTs, ILITs.
• Experience in succession planning, fiduciary accounting, will and trust contests, family settlement agreements, and tax preparation.
• Excellent communication skills to explain complex legal concepts clearly.
• Ability to actively listen to clients' concerns and provide aligned legal advice.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills for complex financial and legal situations.
• Precision in drafting legal documents to ensure compliance with relevant laws.
• Handles sensitive and confidential information with discretion and professionalism.

Education

• Juris Doctor from an ABA-accredited law school.

Certifications

• Licensed or willing to become licensed to practice law in Michigan.

Skills

• Interest in building a book of business.

Benefits

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance plans.
• Firm-provided life insurance and disability coverage.
• 401k with employer contribution or match.
• Firm holidays.
• Remote work flexibility.
• Wellness program.
• Employee assistance program.
• Professional development opportunities.

With four offices in Michigan and over 150 attorneys, this is truly one of the greatest places to work. Concentrating on a broad civil and criminal practices, these attorneys represent a broad spectrum of clients who are industry leaders, both nationally and internationally, including publicly traded companies, privately held companies, financial institutions and foreign corporations. Although founded primarily to serve clients in a corporate capacity, this firm now offers expertise in financial institutions (large practice), IP, employee benefits, litigation, real estate, tax, trusts and estates and health care. This firm is looking for attorneys with top academic credentials and it attracts many candidates who have practiced at major law firms. Associates seem happy here -- perhaps because they are allowed to choose areas of concentration and their average billables are lower than at other comparable firms. Associates love the non-competitive environment here. These attorneys are extremely cooperative with one another and are focused on the growth and development of the firm. The professional development programs here are exceptional. This firm definitely gets our gold star for its high-quality work, great atmosphere and investment in the development of its attorneys.