Trust and Estates Paralegal (Full-time or Part-time)
Buffalo, NY US
Job Description
The paralegal works closely with clients and attorneys on all phases of trust and estate administration. Job duties include, but are not limited to, drafting legal documents, coordinating financial transactions, and data compilation necessary for the Trusts & Estates Practice Group.
Incumbent shall operate from established Firm procedures with moderate supervision.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: "Essential duties”are primarily job duties that incumbents must be able to perform unassisted or with some reasonable accommodation made by the Firm.
- Marshall, organize, and analyze asset and debt information of an estate or trust;including arranging for valuation of assets as necessary.
- Exercise judgment in the procurement of information from clients and financial institutions, etc., in order to draft or complete inventories/documents/forms for asset transfers.
- Maintain checkbook or bank record of an estate or trust.
- Draft probate pleadings;including petitions for probate, receipt and release documents, and fiduciary accountings.
- Coordinate filings of pleadings with Surrogate Courts.
- Prepare and assist with necessary tasks at various phases of administration;including reading and interpreting Will and Trust instruments.
- Assist with preparation of tax returns;including personal income tax returns, fiduciary income
- Tracking of daily chargeable hours, assistance with client billing, supervision of assigned support staff, approval of invoices, etc.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES REQUIRED:
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
- Good organizational skills for prioritizing work flow, anticipating needs, meeting deadlines, and maintenance of client files.
- Sensitivity to confidentiality.
- Ability to work in a diverse team environment and effectively support the demanding needs of the Firm.
- Flexibility in required hours - 24-40 per week
EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE:
- Bachelor's Degree required in a business or law related field of study. Minimum of 5 years of paralegal experience required.
- Experience in commercial real estate transactions and related title and survey expertise.
Meet Your Recruiter
Peggy Koch
Vice President, National Recruiter
Peggy joined our staff in 2020 bringing 15 years of recruiting experience, and 20+ years of solid experience to the DCM team! In addition to her degree in Marketing from SUNY Alfred State, she has a demonstrated history in successful placements in the areas of Marketing, Legal, Human Resources, Medical, Accounting/Finance and Engineering. Peggy prides herself on working tirelessly to help clients and candidates alike find a great fit for their businesses and careers. Taking her passion for recruitment outside of the workplace, Peggy has used her volunteer time to speak at local colleges to help student-candidates early on in their careers with critical skills for future success such as guidance on creating a solid resume, conducting a successful job search, and the all-important interview preparation.
When not working hard recruiting, Peggy enjoys traveling and exploring new places, gardening, and baking.