The Los Angeles office of Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP is looking for an experienced Trusts and Estates Paralegal to support the Private Wealth Department. Willkie is an elite international law firm of approximately 1,200 lawyers located in 15 offices in six countries. 

The ideal candidate will have a minimum of seven years’ experience. The Private Wealth Paralegal will be responsible for primarily servicing high-wealth, high-profile clients on multi-million dollar trusts & estates and probate matters. The successful candidate will be extremely empathetic and capable of offering the highest level of service to our clients and work well with attorneys, co-workers, clients and their advisors, such as accountants and financial planners. This role requires in-office attendance four times a week.

At Willkie, we believe great people are the key to our success. As such, we are offering a highly competitive compensation package with exceptional benefits. If you are looking to work in a friendly, collaborative environment that affords unique opportunities to expand your professional development, this role is for you.

• Meet with clients, trustees and family members and communicate with beneficiaries
• Prepare estate (706) and gift tax (709) returns
• Prepare deeds, asset spreadsheets and probate pleadings
• Prepare documents in connection with probate of wills and/or commencing administration proceedings, including drafting pleadings such as inventories, petitions for distribution, intermediate reports, petitions to close estates, and waivers of account
• Prepare Judicial Council Forms for Trust Proceedings and Probate Proceedings
• Familiarity with administration and court procedures for LASC, SDSC, OCSC, etc.
• Prepare required fiduciary accountings for probate estate and trust administration
• Prepare allocation of assets to beneficiaries and/or respective sub-trust
• Prepare and transmit all necessary papers to transfer assets, including stock transfer documents, recording of real estate papers, and transferring title to motor vehicles
• Prepare documents for the sale of assets including deeds, deeds of trust, promissory notes, and settlement sheets
• Ability to handle administration of decedent’s assets, problem solve on how to address and administer decedent’s assets re title issues and other roadblocks
• Correspondence with financial institutions to collect estate assets; work with appraisers for appraisal for real or personal property; obtain financial information on closely held corporations, partnerships and sole proprietorships from accountants
• Preparing and filing petitions and ongoing accountings and reports related to guardianship and conservatorship proceedings
• Draft trusts, Wills, and ancillary estate planning documents
• Perform other duties as assigned

• Minimum of seven years’ of solid trust & estate paralegal experience, along with a bachelor’s degree and a paralegal certificate or equivalent
• Experience preparing estate (706) and gift tax (709) returns required
• Must have strong attention to detail, proactive, dependable and extremely organized
• Excellent math and computer skills
• Strong problem solving analytical skills
• Strong proofreading and clear and concise communication skills
• Knowledge of probate and trust administration process and rules and use of judicial council forms
• Ability to work in the Los Angeles office four times a week

• Ability to sit at a desk most of the working day and walk short distances
• Needs manual dexterity, speed and accuracy in handling office equipment
• Ability to work efficiently and accurately in an atmosphere of frequent interruption
• Ability to work in close proximity to other individuals
• Ability to carry light objects, e.g., files, small objects and supplies a short distance
• Must be able to lift, carry and move objects up to 20 lbs.

Non-Exempt

The salary range for this role represents the Firm’s good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting. Actual compensation will be dependent upon a number of factors, including but not limited to, the candidate’s relevant experience, qualifications and location. Willkie offers a comprehensive suite of benefit programs to all eligible employees. A summary of available benefits can be found here in the Career section of the Firm’s website.

Willkie Farr & Gallagher is an Equal Opportunity employer. We do not discriminate based upon actual or perceived: race (including hair texture, protective hairstyles and other traits associated with race), color, age, religious creed, citizenship, citizenship status and alienage, nationality, national origin or ancestry, ethnicity or creed, disability, genetic information or medical condition, reproductive health decision making, pregnancy or maternity, paternity, marital or civil partnership status, caregiver status, gender (including gender identity, expression, nonconformity, gender reassignment or status as a transgender individual), sex, sexual orientation or preference, veteran or military status, height, weight, any other characteristic protected by law or any combination thereof. We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations for candidates with disabilities in our recruiting process. If you need any assistance or accommodations due to a disability, please let the hiring manager know. 

Pursuant to the City of Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance (FCIHO) and the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider qualified applicant with arrest and conviction records.