Trusts & Estates Paralegal
Jackson Walker LLP · Houston, TX
- On site
- Full-time
- $65,000 / year
- Houston, TX
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Job highlights
- Full-time Trusts & Estates Paralegal role available.
- Prepare legal documents, tax forms, and correspondence.
- Manage estate administration and probate matters.
- Requires 5+ years of law firm experience.
- Located in Houston, Texas.
About the role
Trusts & Estates Paralegal
Jackson Walker, the largest law firm in Texas, has an exciting full-time employment opportunity for a Trusts & Estates Paralegal in our Houston office.
Essential Duties & Responsibilities:
- Prepare correspondence, estate planning documents, and corporate/partnership/LLC documents.
- Maintain tracking system for clients and entities, including saving documents to document management system.
- Assist with execution of estate planning documents.
- Prepare initial drafts of various state and federal tax reports and returns, including Texas Franchise Tax No Tax Due Reports, Texas Franchise Tax Public Information Reports, U.S. Gift (and Generation-Skipping Transfer) Tax Returns – Form 709s, U.S. Estate (and Generation-Skipping Transfer) Tax Returns – Form 706s.
- Draft probate pleadings, prepare materials for and correspondence with clients and witnesses relating to court hearings, and handle most aspects of administration of the estate, including probate tracker for internal use for tracking deadlines on probate matters.
- Interact with courts and various government agencies to set hearings and obtain information for estate and trust administration matters.
- Perform legal research tasks using all available resources including libraries and computer research systems.
- Organize and maintain trust, estate, corporate, partnership and LLC record books, forms, and indices.
- Assist with review of real estate contracts, title commitments, surveys, closing documents, and other related documents as requested.
- Travel to private and public buildings to assist attorney in attending to client legal matters.
- Work occasional overtime to perform the essential duties of the position.
- Track and record time spent performing all Firm-related tasks.
- Take initiative in acquiring and managing projects from attorneys.
- Maintain positive contact with clients.
Qualifications:
- Interpersonal skills necessary to communicate and follow instructions effectively from a diverse group of clients, attorneys and staff to provide information with courtesy and tact.
- Interpersonal skills necessary to communicate in person, by e-mail and telephone to provide information with courtesy and tact.
- Ability to organize and prioritize numerous tasks and complete them under time constraints.
- Ability to read and write in order to proof and perform editing (e.g., punctuation, grammar, spelling) of routine law office correspondence and legal case matters.
- Perform non-complex arithmetic calculations when verifying calculations on forms and documents; maintain records and filing systems at a level normally acquired through completion of a four-year undergraduate degree.
- Substantive knowledge and proficient use of Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
Education:
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university preferred.
- High school diploma or GED required.
- Paralegal certification required.
- Substantial equivalent work experience may be considered in lieu of a degree or paralegal certification.
Experience:
- Minimum of 5 years’ relevant experience within a law firm with demonstrated knowledge of complex issues within estate planning practice area.
Working Conditions:
- Normal office environment with little exposure to excessive noise and temperature.
- Work may occasionally require more than 40 hours per week to perform the essential duties of the position; may require irregular hours.
Key skills/competency:
- Trusts and Estates Paralegal
- Estate Planning
- Probate
- Tax Reports
- Legal Research
- Document Management
- Client Interaction
- Law Firm Experience
- Microsoft Office Suite
- Organizational Skills
Skills & topics
- Trusts & Estates Paralegal
- Paralegal
- Estate Planning
- Probate Law
- Legal Document Preparation
- Tax Returns
- Law Firm
- Houston Jobs
- Texas Law Firm
- Legal Support
How to get hired
- Tailor your resume: Highlight your 5+ years of law firm experience and specific expertise in estate planning and probate.
- Emphasize qualifications: Showcase your paralegal certification, Bachelor's degree (if applicable), and proficiency in legal research and document preparation.
- Demonstrate technical skills: List your advanced knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, crucial for drafting documents and reports.
- Showcase soft skills: Mention your strong interpersonal, organizational, and communication abilities, essential for client and attorney interaction.
- Prepare for the interview: Be ready to discuss complex estate planning issues and your experience with tax reporting.
Technical preparation
Master Microsoft Word for document drafting.,Practice Excel for financial calculations and tracking.,Familiarize with legal research databases.,Review probate and estate planning forms.
Behavioral questions
Describe handling multiple urgent deadlines.,How do you ensure accuracy in legal documents?,Detail your client communication experience.,How do you manage projects from attorneys?
Frequently asked questions
- What is the primary focus of the Trusts & Estates Paralegal role at Jackson Walker?
- The Trusts & Estates Paralegal at Jackson Walker will primarily focus on preparing estate planning and trust documents, assisting with probate administration, drafting various tax reports, and managing client and entity records. This role requires a strong understanding of estate planning practice areas.
- What qualifications are essential for the Trusts & Estates Paralegal position?
- Essential qualifications include a Paralegal certification, a High school diploma or GED (Bachelor's degree preferred), a minimum of 5 years of relevant law firm experience, and proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Strong interpersonal, organizational, and communication skills are also vital.
- What type of legal documents will a Trusts & Estates Paralegal prepare at Jackson Walker?
- A Trusts & Estates Paralegal will prepare correspondence, estate planning documents, corporate/partnership/LLC documents, various state and federal tax reports and returns (e.g., Form 709, Form 706), and probate pleadings.
- Does this Trusts & Estates Paralegal position require overtime or travel?
- Yes, the position may occasionally require more than 40 hours per week to perform essential duties and may involve irregular hours. Travel to private and public buildings to assist attorneys with client legal matters may also be required.
- How does Jackson Walker handle reasonable accommodations during the application process for the Trusts & Estates Paralegal role?
- Jackson Walker is committed to Equal Opportunity and will provide reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities during the application or interview process. Please contact BusinessProfessionalRecruiting@jw.com for assistance.
- What is the typical work environment for a Trusts & Estates Paralegal at Jackson Walker?
- The work environment is a normal office setting with minimal exposure to excessive noise or temperature. The role involves managing multiple tasks and deadlines under time constraints.
- Can substantial equivalent work experience substitute for a degree or paralegal certification for the Trusts & Estates Paralegal role?
- Yes, Jackson Walker may consider substantial equivalent work experience in lieu of a Bachelor's degree or paralegal certification for the Trusts & Estates Paralegal position, provided the candidate demonstrates the necessary knowledge and skills.