Estate Attorney

Carolina Estate Planning

$110K — $140K *
Legal & Accounting
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Active North Carolina Bar license in good standing
  • J.D. from an accredited law school
  • 5+ years of estate planning, probate, and trust administration experience
  • Proven ability to lead in a fast-paced service environment
  • Exceptional communication skills in high-stakes situations
  • Strong knowledge of complex trust planning and probate

Responsibilities

  • Own client relationships from consultation through delivery
  • Consult with clients and guide them through the estate planning process
  • Provide expert legal counsel in estate planning and asset protection
  • Research and execute customized estate plans including wills and trusts
  • Educate clients on retirement strategies and charitable giving
  • Guide clients through the probate process with clear advice
  • Represent clients in uncontested guardianship and probate hearings

Benefits

  • Performance-based bonus structure
  • Access to professional development and growth opportunities
  • Opportunity to work in a values-driven environment
  • Supportive team culture focused on client empathy
  • Engagement with a diverse range of estate planning cases
Full Job Description
This isn't a seat-warmer role. We're looking for an estate planning attorney who brings exceptional legal skill, genuine client empathy, and the drive to do their best work - every single day.

Compensation- Base salary: $110,000 - $140,000, commensurate with experience. Incentive compensation: Performance-based bonus structure.

Responsibilities

What You'll Do

You'll own the client relationships from first consultation through final delivery, guiding families through some of the most important legal decisions of their lives. Day-to-day, that means:
• Consulting with prospective clients and leading them through our proprietary estate planning process
• Providing expert legal counsel and delivering superior estate planning and asset protection work products
• Researching, designing, and executing complex, customized estate plans - wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and more
• Educating clients on retirement strategies, charitable giving, and insurance options
• Guiding clients through the probate process with clear, actionable advice that cuts through complexity
• Representing clients in uncontested guardianship and probate hearings
• Maintaining detailed, organized client records that ensure seamless service and full compliance
• Attending court proceedings as needed
• Maintain client files to ensure they are properly organized and up to date
• Discuss plans with clients for distributing clients' assets
• Advise clients regarding retirement plans, charitable giving, and insurance options
• Assist clients effectively by understanding their needs, analyzing the situation, then strategizing and deciding on a proper course of action
• Attend court proceedings as needed to represent clients

Qualifications

What You Bring

Required:
• Active North Carolina Bar license in good standing
• J.D. from an accredited law school
• 5+ years of estate planning, probate, and trust administration experience
• Proven ability to lead and manage in a fast-paced, service-oriented environment
• Exceptional communication skills - especially in high-stakes, emotionally sensitive situations
• Strong working knowledge of complex trust planning, probate, and trust administration

Preferred:
• LL.M. in Taxation or Estate Planning & Probate Board Certified Specialist designation
• Experience with WealthDocx Estate Planning or ElderDocx Elder Law software
• Active involvement with the American Bar Association (ABA)

Who Thrives Here

Our core values aren't aspirational - they're operational. The right candidate will recognize themselves in all of them:
Integrity - You hold yourself to the highest ethical standards, always.
Impact & Influence - You want your work to matter beyond the billable hour.
Initiative - You anticipate problems and solve them before they escalate.
Everyone Gets Helped - You believe great legal work ripples outward, and you show up fully for every person you encounter.
100% Accountability - You own your outcomes, no excuses.
Growth Mindset - You're committed to continuous improvement, and you push those around you to grow, too.
Rigor - You know that in estate planning, the difference between good and exceptional lives in the details.
• Wide range of knowledge regarding real estate-related topics such as title insurance, wills and trusts, property management, and litigation
• 4-year degree with a legal background and J.D. degree are necessary for this position
• Active member of the ABA (American Bar Association)

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