Paralegal - Estates & Trusts

Summary:

This position will support the Estates & Trusts Practice Group and will report to the Estates & Trusts Practice Group Lawyers. In brief, research law, investigate facts, and prepare documents to assist the Estates & Trusts Lawyers by performing the following duties.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

include the following. Please note, this list is not all inclusive, and other duties may be assigned.

·Under the supervision of a lawyer, values assets, prepares accountings related to trust and estate administration and various tax returns including federal estate tax, fiduciary income taxes, reports.

· Prepares drafts of various estate plan documents, codicils, agreements, forms and status reports.

· Prepares and delivers communications to clients, estate administrators, beneficiaries, interested parties.

·Research simple to complex legal and factual issues and summarizes for internal and external review and use.

·Assists with the creation, organization and maintenance of forms, client materials and attorney work product in software and databases including Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, etc.

·Drafting client’s documents for review by an attorney; Documents that are commonly prepared by a probate paralegal include Estate Planning documents such as Wills, Powers of Attorney, Healthcare Directives, and Living Wills, and Probate Estate documents such as Petitions, Motions, Testamentary Letters, Inventories, Accountings, and Notices.

·Assists with on-going administrative client matters including preparation of routine EINs, tracks various calendaring events, tracks billable and non-billable time and inputs into timekeeping system, adheres to firm’s administrative standards.

·Assist with trust administration tasks such as maintain trust accounts, bill payments, bank reconciliations, correspondence, and communications regarding same.

·Assists with the drafting of letters, making phone calls, and sending faxes to various other professionals. This may include:

-Working with banks to help personal representatives collect estate assets, arrange the return of a vehicle on which it holds a loan, or help an employee who is personal representative of an estate.

-Notifying creditors of the estate’s intention not to pay a bill, negotiating a compromise, or arranging for payment of a debt.

-Arranging for income, gift, or inheritance taxes to be prepared.

-Collecting assets from retirement, investment, and other accounts.

Education and/or Experience:

· Bachelor’s or Associates Degree required or Paralegal Certificate and equivalent experience.

·Minimum of 5-8 years of Estates & Trusts experience.

·Demonstrated knowledge of trust and estate accountings and principal and income accounting concepts; Florida estate and trust law; probate administration processes and procedures; Probate Court rules; duties and obligations of trustees and personal representatives.

·Must have superior communication skills and be able to work in a team environment.

·Ability to work independently to organize large amounts of data, both hardcopy and electronic, into an easily retrievable system.

·Must have the ability to meet deadlines and work well under pressure.

·Must have the ability to interact and work productively with all levels of firm staff.

·Professional demeanor, attention to detail, and great organizational skills are essential.

·Strong verbal, written, analytical, organizational, and interpersonal skills.

·Strong computer technical skills and demonstrated ability to learn new software.

·Ability to maintain discretion and privacy with confidential matters and documents.

·Ability to recognize and comprehend facts and legal concepts.

·Ability to lift boxes up to 25 lbs., and to transport files, documents and office supplies throughout the office.

· Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, PDF creation tool(s), document management software, Elite or other timekeeping software, Internet, and estate administration, accounting & tax preparation software required.

·Excellent client service, ability to work overtime and travel as needed.

Competencies:

-To perform the job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following competencies:

-Analytical - Synthesizes complex or diverse information; Collects and researches data.

-Design - Demonstrates attention to detail.

-Problem Solving - Identifies and resolves problems in a timely manner; gathers and analyzes information skillfully.

-Interpersonal Skills - Focuses on solving conflict, maintains confidentiality.

-Oral Communication - Listens and gets clarification.  Responds well to questions.

-Written Communication - Writes clearly and informatively. Edits work for spelling and grammar; Varies writing style to meet needs. Is able to read and interpret written information.

-Teamwork - Balances team and individual responsibilities. Contributes to building a positive team   spirit.

-Professionalism - Accepts responsibility for own actions. Follows through on commitments.

-Quality - Demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness. Looks for ways to improve and promote quality.

- Attendance/Punctuality - Is consistently at work and on time.

-Dependability - Follows instructions, responds to direction. Commits to long hours of work when necessary to reach goals.

-Initiative - Takes independent actions and calculated risks; Asks for and offers help when needed.

Qualifications:

• To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty . The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.