Trust & Estate Associate Attorney

Pay: $ - $ per year

• Join a nationally recognized Trust & Estate practice advising high-net-worth individuals and families on complex wealth planning matters
• Work on sophisticated estate planning, trust administration, and tax-driven strategies with meaningful client interaction
• Be part of a collaborative, entrepreneurial firm that values expertise, initiative, and long-term career development
• Strong compensation for the California market with exposure to complex, high-impact matters
• Clear opportunity to deepen technical skills while building trusted client relationships

On-site in San Francisco, California — work closely with partners, clients, and advisors in a highly sophisticated private wealth practice.

This role requires an active California bar license and 3+ years of estate planning and trust administration experience.

Primarily on-site with some hybrid flexibility depending on the team. Fully remote is not available.

Our client is a nationally recognized law firm with a strong reputation in private wealth, taxation, and estate planning. They combine the resources and reach of a large national platform with a collegial, boutique-style culture that emphasizes collaboration, mentorship, and meaningful client relationships.

• Draft estate plans for high-net-worth clients, including matters involving complex family structures
• Assist with restatements of existing estate plans and funding of revocable trusts
• Handle trust administration matters, including division of irrevocable trusts into sub-trusts
• Draft pleadings and manage probate court cases
• Coordinate with tax litigators, valuation experts, accountants, trustees, and appraisers
• Review and negotiate fee agreements with experts and fiduciaries
• Draft indemnity agreements and support valuation and tax planning efforts
• Review federal gift and estate tax returns and support tax-driven planning strategies
• Conduct detailed legal research and prepare high-quality written work product

• Juris Doctor (JD) required
• Active license to practice law in the State of California
• 3+ years of experience in estate planning and trust administration
• Experience working with high-net-worth individuals and families
• Foundational knowledge of federal gift, estate, income, and California property tax planning
• Strong academic record and analytical skills
• Large law firm experience strongly preferred
• Admission to U.S. Tax Court is a plus
• LLM in Taxation is a plus but not required

• Sophisticated private wealth work with nationally recognized practitioners
• Direct client interaction and meaningful responsibility
• Collaborative, collegial culture that values expertise and teamwork
• Strong compensation and benefits aligned with the California market
• Long-term career growth within a respected national platform

The salary range for this California-based position is $225,000 to $250,000
, with compensation determined based on experience, education, licensure, and business needs. It is not typical to be hired at the top of the range.

Compensation increases are merit-based and consider factors such as quality of work, billable hours, pro bono involvement, business development efforts, recruitment activities, and firm participation. Benefits include comprehensive health, dental, and vision coverage; health savings and spending accounts; dependent care options; life and disability insurance; retirement savings programs; financial well-being resources; family-building benefits; wellness initiatives; employee assistance programs; commuter benefits; a 529 college savings plan;

and access to firm-wide programs supporting physical, mental, and financial health.

Job Type: Full-time

• Dental insurance
• Paid time off
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance