Estate Planning Paralegal

Job Description

Job Description

Position Summary : The Estate Planning Paralegal (ESP) professionally supports the vision and mission of the law firm. The ESP creates, manages, and stores all word processing for the firm estate planning clients and crossover elder law clients, including firm correspondence, drafting of trusts, wills, powers of attorney, and deeds.

The ESP is also responsible for the creation, finalization and maintenance of all firm estate planning forms. The ESP is principally responsible for the funding of clients estate plans.

The ESP will also facilitate the firms client maintenance program.

The ESP works independently and in collaboration with the lawyers and client services to foster a team spirit in cooperation with law firm management.

All law firm employees must always maintain confidentiality with regard to clients, firm interest, and employees.

The ESP may perform other duties as necessary to keep the production and administrative

functions of the law firm operating smoothly and efficiently.

Duties and Responsibilities

Responsible for outgoing correspondence to clients and advisors

Responsible for creating, modifying and maintaining internal estate planning forms

Draft trusts, wills, powers of attorney and other planning documents and

collaborate with attorneys for review and finalization

Gather and enter client data into law firm practice management system

Enter all relevant general information and meeting notes into the firm database

Meet with clients to review and sign estate planning documents

Obtain required forms from financial institutions and other professional

organizations, complete in accordance with client funding worksheet and submit

to financial institution and other professional organizations to ensure clients assets retitled as instructed

Work with attorneys and client services to ensure clients trusts are funded properly

Meet with clients as needed to handle funding-related matters

Provide quality customer service to clients, potential clients, and their families and

ensure all client calls / emails are handled timely

Communication with attorney as needed regarding all client needs and / or

questions on attorney instruction

Calendars all work and is responsible for meeting applicable deadlines and having all client documents prepared for clients to sign

Meet with clients for appointments that do not require attorney supervision

Navigate through client management software and tools

Actively participates in required firm calls and meetings and provides weekly time reporting in ActionStep

Complete projects or tasks as requested by attorney within the time frame allotted

Attend training events and other firm events as needed

Adheres to firm established core values

The firm reserves the right to add or change duties at any time

Qualifications Required

Academic : Bachelors Degree or Associate Degree (or similar) in Paralegal Studies or practical experience

Skills / Knowledge & Ability :

Above average administrative / clerical / technical skills, and the ability to operate necessary office equipment and software;

o Computer, Telephone, e-Fax, Scanner, Copier, Postage Service

o Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Outlook, Word, Publisher, PowerPoint)

o ActionStep

o Calendly

o Other software used by the firm

Type proficiently and accurately

Knowledge, skills and ability to perform functions and develop administrative

procedures and systems to manage all tasks at hand

Skilled at formatting and communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience

Highly developed time management, organizational, and prioritization skills

Knowledge about Special Needs Planning, including both 1st and 3rd party SNTs

Knowledgeable about funding

Ability to work with outside organizations and advisors

Professional-level communication, interpersonal and relationship building skills

Able to listen (give full attention to what other people are saying), be empathetic and affect client behavior in written or verbal forms

Remain current with ever-changing technology

Demonstrate aptitude for working in sensitive environments requiring a high degree of confidentiality.