What are the responsibilities and job description for the Paralegal - Wills, Trusts and Estates position at Harris Beach Murtha?
Harris Beach Murtha formed in 2025 via the combination of Harris Beach PLLC and Murtha Cullina LLP. A forward-thinking and innovative partnership with the benefit of more than 250 years of combined history, Harris Beach Murtha’s New York roots reach back to 1856 and the firm has had ties to New England since 1936. Harris Beach and Murtha Cullina were separately among the country’s top law firms as ranked by The National Law Journal.
Harris Beach Murtha and its subsidiaries have a strong Northeast presence, but a global reach. Clients include Fortune 100 corporations, privately held companies, emerging businesses, public sector entities, tax-exempt organizations and individuals. The firm’s practice areas and industries served span appellate law, business litigation, commercial real estate, construction, corporate, environmental, energy, financial institutions, financial restructuring, government compliance and investigations, health care, immigration, intellectual property, labor and employment, mass torts, medical and life sciences, political law, product liability, public finance, tax, and trusts and estates.
The firm’s lawyers and consultants practice from offices throughout Connecticut in Bantam, Hartford, New Haven and Stamford; New York state in Albany, Buffalo, Ithaca, New York City, Rochester, Saratoga Springs, Syracuse, Long Island and White Plains, as well as in Boston, Massachusetts, Newark, New Jersey and Washington, D.C.
Location: Albany (preferred), Buffalo, Ithaca, New York City, Rochester, Syracuse, Uniondale, and White Plains, NY offices (Hybrid remote opportunity)
Are you a motivated self-starter? Do you have paralegal experience? Are you excited about the opportunity to join an innovative, growing law firm that has been successful for more than 165 years?
The Wills, Trusts & Estates Team at Harris Beach Murtha is in search of a Paralegal with a positive, flexible attitude to assist multiple attorneys. You will thrive in this role if you have:
Salary information below will vary depending upon relevant experience for the position, geographic locations and weekly hours schedule. The anticipated weekly schedule for the Paralegal in Albany is 37.5 hours per week. The anticipated weekly schedule for the Paralegal in Buffalo, Ithaca, Rochester and Syracuse is 38.75 hours per week. The anticipated weekly schedule for the Paralegal in New York City, Uniondale and White Plains is 35 hours per week.
Albany: $33.34 - $40.00/hour
Buffalo, Ithaca, Rochester and Syracuse: $32.26 - $38.71/hour
New York City: $43.96 - $52.20/hour
Uniondale and White Plains: $38.47 - $43.96/hour
The firm’s policy prohibiting unlawful discrimination applies to all aspects of employment, including hiring, placement, assignment of duties, training, promotion, compensation & benefits and termination. It is the policy of Harris Beach Murtha Cullina PLLC that all applicants and employees enjoy a positive, respectful and productive work environment, free from behavior, actions or language constituting unlawful harassment. Accordingly, harassment or discrimination of any kind based on an individual’s race or color, sex, age, religion, national origin, marital status, disability, military status, genetic predisposition, carrier status, sexual orientation, citizenship status, creed, domestic violence victim status or any other legally protected status is strictly prohibited. Harris Beach Murtha complies with the provisions of the Human Rights Law, all other State and Federal statutory and constitutional non-discrimination provisions including non-discrimination on the basis of prior criminal conviction and prior arrest.
Harris Beach Murtha and its subsidiaries have a strong Northeast presence, but a global reach. Clients include Fortune 100 corporations, privately held companies, emerging businesses, public sector entities, tax-exempt organizations and individuals. The firm’s practice areas and industries served span appellate law, business litigation, commercial real estate, construction, corporate, environmental, energy, financial institutions, financial restructuring, government compliance and investigations, health care, immigration, intellectual property, labor and employment, mass torts, medical and life sciences, political law, product liability, public finance, tax, and trusts and estates.
The firm’s lawyers and consultants practice from offices throughout Connecticut in Bantam, Hartford, New Haven and Stamford; New York state in Albany, Buffalo, Ithaca, New York City, Rochester, Saratoga Springs, Syracuse, Long Island and White Plains, as well as in Boston, Massachusetts, Newark, New Jersey and Washington, D.C.
Location: Albany (preferred), Buffalo, Ithaca, New York City, Rochester, Syracuse, Uniondale, and White Plains, NY offices (Hybrid remote opportunity)
Are you a motivated self-starter? Do you have paralegal experience? Are you excited about the opportunity to join an innovative, growing law firm that has been successful for more than 165 years?
The Wills, Trusts & Estates Team at Harris Beach Murtha is in search of a Paralegal with a positive, flexible attitude to assist multiple attorneys. You will thrive in this role if you have:
- 3 years of estate administration experience (required)
- Experience preparing estate and trust accountings (required)
- A high level of initiative, and ability to follow through on numerous ongoing projects in a busy environment
- Exceptional oral and written communication, and organizational skills
- Strong proofreading and analytical skills to ensure top quality of legal documents
- Proficiency with MS Office, including Word, Outlook and Excel, and able to efficiently use technology resources
- Interact with a wide variety of clients in person, on the phone, via email and video conferencing
- Draft, edit, and review probate and administration related documents
- Assist clients with retitling assets
- Assemble and organize financial records for estate tax returns and audits
- Prepare, edit, and review estate tax returns
- Prepare fiduciary income tax returns and settlement papers for both informal and formal settlement of estates and trusts
- Exhibit well-developed interpersonal skills (exude patience and empathy), particularly with clients
- Complete a minimum 1400 billable hours annually
- Believe in the firm’s core values: integrity, support, ingenuity, teamwork, and inclusion
- Enjoy working with diverse personalities within various levels of the firm
- Are comfortable working a hybrid schedule (1 day remote)
Salary information below will vary depending upon relevant experience for the position, geographic locations and weekly hours schedule. The anticipated weekly schedule for the Paralegal in Albany is 37.5 hours per week. The anticipated weekly schedule for the Paralegal in Buffalo, Ithaca, Rochester and Syracuse is 38.75 hours per week. The anticipated weekly schedule for the Paralegal in New York City, Uniondale and White Plains is 35 hours per week.
Albany: $33.34 - $40.00/hour
Buffalo, Ithaca, Rochester and Syracuse: $32.26 - $38.71/hour
New York City: $43.96 - $52.20/hour
Uniondale and White Plains: $38.47 - $43.96/hour
The firm’s policy prohibiting unlawful discrimination applies to all aspects of employment, including hiring, placement, assignment of duties, training, promotion, compensation & benefits and termination. It is the policy of Harris Beach Murtha Cullina PLLC that all applicants and employees enjoy a positive, respectful and productive work environment, free from behavior, actions or language constituting unlawful harassment. Accordingly, harassment or discrimination of any kind based on an individual’s race or color, sex, age, religion, national origin, marital status, disability, military status, genetic predisposition, carrier status, sexual orientation, citizenship status, creed, domestic violence victim status or any other legally protected status is strictly prohibited. Harris Beach Murtha complies with the provisions of the Human Rights Law, all other State and Federal statutory and constitutional non-discrimination provisions including non-discrimination on the basis of prior criminal conviction and prior arrest.
Salary : $32 - $39
