Estate Planning & Trust Administration Associat...

Description:

South Orange County (Laguna Hills & San Clemente, CA)

Estate Planning, Trust Administration & Probate Firm Immediate Need—3 to 5 Years Experience Required

Compensation: $150,000 plus performance bonuses

If you're an experienced attorney who is burned out on litigation, tired of chasing clients, and craving meaningful work in a stable, respectful firm, this may be the role that finally feels right.

At Ocean Estate Law, we practice law the way it should be practiced with clarity, compassion, structure, and purpose.

• Clients are grateful.
• Our systems are proven.
• Our team is supportive.
• And your work makes a real, visible difference every day.
• No rainmaking.
• No litigation.
• No chaos.

Just excellent lawyering in an environment that respects your time, intelligence, and humanity.

This Role Is Ideal For You If You:

• Have 3+ years of estate planning experience, including planning for high-net-worth clients
• You know about GRATs, SLATs, ILITs, and IDGTs
• Want to focus on high-quality legal work—not marketing, sales, or litigation
• Communicate with warmth, confidence, and emotional intelligence—and want client contact
• Appreciate structure, systems, and clear expectations
• Want to be proud of the firm you represent and the impact you make

You'll step into a mature, well-run practice where your experience is respected, and your contributions are valued.

Compensation Package:

• Base salary DOE + performance bonuses
• Paid time off and holidays
• 401(k)

No Phone Calls Or Emails Regarding This Posting. No Recruiters Or Headhunters.

Responsibilities:

• Guide clients with clarity and empathy through the estate planning process, helping them protect what matters most.
• Review customized trusts, wills, and asset-protection strategies tailored to each client's unique needs.
• Collaborate with, support, and mentor team members, contributing to a culture of growth and excellence.
• Build and strengthen client and professional relationships, earning trust and confidence along the way.
• Track time accurately and meet reasonable performance goals, balancing quality and efficiency.
• Leverage modern tools like Microsoft Office, MyCase (or similar CRM), and WealthCounsel (or similar drafting software) to streamline work.

Qualifications:

• You're a licensed California attorney in good standing with a current license with the CA State Bar and the professionalism to match.
• You bring at least 3 years of solid experience in estate planning, trust administration, and probate—and you're ready to deepen your expertise.
• Your attention to detail is the kind clients can trust.
• You communicate with confidence, clarity, and compassion, making clients feel supported and informed.
• You thrive in an organized, system-driven environment, and you take pride in delivering consistent, high-quality work.
• You're motivated by meaningful impact, not just billable hours—supporting families through major life decisions resonates with you.
• If you're passionate about guiding families, protecting legacies, and doing work that truly matters, you'll feel right at home here.

You'll Thrive Here If:

• You embrace systems and processes that make your work smoother, not more complicated.
• You're driven by both quality and efficiency, delivering excellent work without unnecessary friction.
• You enjoy collaborating with a talented, high-performing team and contributing to firmwide success.
• You want your work to feel purposeful and impactful, making a real difference in clients' lives.
• You're seeking a long-term role with room to grow, develop, and take on increasing responsibility.

This Role May NOT Be a Fit If:

• You want a fully remote position — this is a full-time, in-office role (Monday through Friday from 8:30 am to 5 pm in either our Laguna Hills and San Clemente offices—split 3/2).
• Client interaction makes you uncomfortable—you'll be engaging with clients regularly.
• You struggle with deadlines, follow-through, or time tracking—consistency matters here.
• You dislike structure or prefer to “figure it out as you go”—we rely on systems to serve clients well.
• Technology isn't your thing—we're a modern, streamlined practice that uses tech to enhance efficiency.

Compensation:
$150,000 yearly plus performance bonuses
Ocean Estate Law is more than a law firm—we're a team committed to excellence, growth, and genuine client service. We support individuals and families through estate planning and trust administration with a thoughtful, organized, and client-first approach.

The firm is led by founder Jennifer Elliott, who brings over 23 years of experience in estate planning and has personally helped create more than 3,500 estate plans for individuals and families throughout California. Her depth of knowledge, attention to detail, and commitment to education set the standard for our work and our culture. Internally, we prioritize collaboration, clear communication, and professional development.

Team members are trusted, supported, and encouraged to take ownership of their work while continuing to grow their skills in a supportive legal environment. We're looking for people who are detail-oriented, proactive, and motivated to build a long-term career alongside a team that truly values what they do.

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