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.
At Carolina Estate Planning, we've built a firm where talented attorneys can focus on what they do best: delivering rigorous, thoughtful estate plans that protect families and create lasting legacies. You'll work directly with firm owners, handle sophisticated client matters, and play a meaningful role in a firm that's growing fast and doing it right.
If you hold yourself to a high standard, thrive in a fast-paced environment, and believe that great legal work can genuinely change people's lives, we built this role for you.
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:
โข Consulting with prospective clients and leading them through our proprietary estate planning process
โข Providing expert legal counsel and delivering superior estate planning and asset protection work products
โข Researching, designing, and executing complex, customized estate plans - wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and more
โข Educating clients on retirement strategies, charitable giving, and insurance options
โข Guiding clients through the probate process with clear, actionable advice that cuts through complexity
โข Representing clients in uncontested guardianship and probate hearings
โข Maintaining detailed, organized client records that ensure seamless service and full compliance
โข Attending court proceedings as needed
โข Maintain client files to ensure they are properly organized and up to date
โข Discuss plans with clients for distributing clients' assets
โข Advise clients regarding retirement plans, charitable giving, and insurance options
โข Assist clients effectively by understanding their needs, analyzing the situation, then strategizing and deciding on a proper course of action
โข Attend court proceedings as needed to represent clients
Qualifications
What You Bring
Required:
โข Active North Carolina Bar license in good standing
โข J.D. from an accredited law school
โข 5+ years of estate planning, probate, and trust administration experience
โข Proven ability to lead and manage in a fast-paced, service-oriented environment
โข Exceptional communication skills - especially in high-stakes, emotionally sensitive situations
โข Strong working knowledge of complex trust planning, probate, and trust administration
Preferred:
โข LL.M. in Taxation or Estate Planning & Probate Board Certified Specialist designation
โข Experience with WealthDocx Estate Planning or ElderDocx Elder Law software
โข 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:
โข Integrity - You hold yourself to the highest ethical standards, always.
โข Impact & Influence - You want your work to matter beyond the billable hour.
โข Initiative - You anticipate problems and solve them before they escalate.
โข Everyone Gets Helped - You believe great legal work ripples outward, and you show up fully for every person you encounter.
โข 100% Accountability - You own your outcomes, no excuses.
โข Growth Mindset - You're committed to continuous improvement, and you push those around you to grow, too.
โข Rigor - You know that in estate planning, the difference between good and exceptional lives in the details.
โข Wide range of knowledge regarding real estate-related topics such as title insurance, wills and trusts, property management, and litigation
โข 4-year degree with a legal background and J.D. degree are necessary for this position
โข Active member of the ABA (American Bar Association)