Associate Attorney

Estate Planning & Administration – Attorney

Due to growth, McCuiston Law Offices, PLLC, is seeking a highly motivated estate planning and administration attorney who can provide outstanding legal counsel to our clients. We are a small, highly productive firm, where organization and time management are key metrics of success. The candidate must be actively licensed in North Carolina and work well with clients and our staff (which includes pitching in and helping staff, when needed).

We encourage anyone with an interest and relevant experience to apply. If you have at least three years of work experience in estate planning, we consider you to be a strong candidate. Those applying need not have their own book of business, though we won’t shun an attorney who does, as we have three seasoned paralegals. Strong preference will be given to candidates with a Board Specialization, a CPA license, or experience in tax or elder law.

WHAT YOU WILL DO:

As a member of our team, you will be responsible for overseeing estate planning and administration matters from beginning to end, ensuring that our clients receive a comprehensive estate plan in a timely, professional manner. You will be expected to apply your estate planning expertise to provide clients with multiple options, allowing them to make an informed decision on how best to achieve their planning goals. An attorney in this role will collaborate with our paralegals and legal assistant by reviewing drafted documents, advising on best strategies, and assisting with complex drafting. In order to be successful, candidates must be active listeners, able to communicate clearly and effectively, have acute attention to detail, and be well attuned to client needs and relationship management. Of course, we allow room for some fun along the way, but our small team necessitates focused work in order to achieve the output our clients have come to expect.

This position will also have the benefit of training with our managing partner, who is a Board-Certified Specialist in Estate Planning and Administration and a licensed CPA. The other attorney in our office is a seasoned real estate attorney and litigator, which is particularly helpful given the large number of clients who present unique real estate issues in their estate plans.

In addition to our estates practice, which would comprise a majority of the job, our new attorney would also have the chance to work with business transactions, tax controversy, and real estate matters. Experience in these areas is a plus, though not necessary, since training will be available through senior attorneys.

SCHEDULE AND COMPENSATION:

This is a full-time position, but part-time status will be considered for candidates with at least three years of experience. We are flexible with compensation arrangements depending on the candidate’s experience. Our firm relies heavily on the cloud, including Microsoft One Drive (client files) and Cosmolex (time entry and practice management). While some work can be done remotely, in-office presence is required to meet with clients, paralegals and other attorneys. We want our new attorney to share in our office camaraderie!

Given our busy client load, it is nice, but not necessary, for the candidate to market themselves and the practice. Our main focus, however, is to serve our existing clients and grow incrementally.

If you are passionate about helping people, thrive in a demanding environment, and possess the below requirements and desired qualifications, we look forward to reviewing your application!

MUST HAVE: Active license to practice law in the State of North Carolina.

NICE TO HAVES:

• Board Certified Specialist in Estate Planning & Probate (Strongly preferred)
• Certified Public Accountant (Strongly preferred)
• 3 years of experience in estate planning and administration (Strongly preferred)
• 2 years of experience in business transactions, real estate, and/or tax controversy (Preferred)

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Estate Planning (approximately 60%)

• Provide clients with the tools and knowledge to help them best plan for their future.
• Collaborate with paralegals to draft (or oversee drafting of) Wills, Trust Agreements, Financial and Health Care Powers of Attorney.
• Review correspondence to accompany documents.
• Address all communication received via phone or email with speed and full attention.
• Occasionally conduct follow-up meetings with clients.
• Maintain case and client files to effectuate 60-day signing goals.

Estate Administration (approximately 30%)

• Conduct initial consultations with compassion and care.
• Ensure that estate administration filings are prepared accurately and timely, including Applications, Inventories, and Accountings.
• Review correspondence to accompany filings.
• Research estate administration issues.

Business Transactions, Real Estate, & Tax Controversy (approximately 10%)

• Meet with corporate clients and draft (or oversee drafting of) various business closing documents, contracts, correspondence, and other legal documents.
• Consult with tax clients to determine best legal strategies to address controversy.
• Communicate and negotiate with taxing authorities (IRS and NCDOR).
• Draft and review deeds transferring property into entities, trusts, etc.
• Research various corporate, tax, and real estate issues.

MORE ABOUT US:

McCuiston Law Offices, PLLC, has had the honor of serving Cary and Western Wake County since 2001. Our boutique law firm operates under the belief that each client is unique and deserves the respect of various solutions to their legal situation, allowing them to make their own informed decisions based on the advice and counsel we provide.

Our clients are what drive us, and their feedback is integral. We have been described as “blue collar mentality in a white-collar profession,” “mensch,”, and “the only firm on our HOA list serve no one complains about.” We pride ourselves on building client relationships and delivering results, which is why our number one referral source is prior clients. We let our actions and reputation carve our path forward, and don’t need to rely on gimmicky marketing, scare tactics, or social media. We are not “trust peddlers,” but will draft a SLAT or QTIP trust where the circumstances merit. We focus our attention and resources on our clients so that we may serve them in a practical and cost-effective manner.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $50,000.00 - $250,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k) matching
• Paid time off

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Monday to Friday

Work Location: In person

Salary : $50,000 - $250,000