Description:

Hybrid | Chico/Northern California preferred | Must be available for regular in-office client meetings Compensation: $130,000–$160,000 DOE + bonus opportunity

About the role:
Legal Norcal P.C. is seeking a Trusts & Estates Associate Attorney to join our growing team and support families across Northern California with estate planning, trust administration, probate, and related post-death matters.

This role is ideal for an attorney who wants to do meaningful, client-centered legal work while maintaining a sustainable workload and a supportive team environment. We are looking for someone who can communicate with warmth, clarity, and confidence while guiding clients through important and often emotional planning decisions.

You will work closely with our legal team to manage client matters, lead and support estate planning conversations, help families understand their options, and ensure matters are handled with professionalism, care, and attention to detail.

Our firm values professional growth, collaboration, modern legal technology, and a sustainable approach to legal practice. We offer a hybrid work environment, a 1,500-hour annual billable target, flexible time off, and the opportunity to make a real impact in the lives of clients and families.

What You'll Do:

Lead and support estate planning matters, including client design meetings, attorney review, signing meetings, trust funding strategy, property planning, Medi-Cal recovery considerations, and Proposition 19 analysis.
Communicate directly with clients, explaining complex legal concepts in plain language and helping clients feel informed, supported, and at ease.
Draft, review, and analyze estate planning documents, including trusts, wills, powers of attorney, advance health care directives, deeds, and related planning documents.
Administer routine and complex trusts, including trustee guidance, beneficiary notices, asset inventory and valuation, sub-trust funding for A/B and A/B/C structures, accountings, distributions, and final closure.
Manage probate matters from petition through final distribution, including intake, fee planning, petition drafting, court appearances, notices, inventory and appraisal coordination, creditor claims, accountings, and distribution.
Handle estate administration matters that fall between probate and trust administration, including small-estate affidavits, spousal property petitions, summary procedures, and matters requiring attorney judgment.
Coordinate with the firm's CPA, financial, and professional partners on more complex matters involving tax allocation, basis issues, sub-trust splits, property planning, and related client needs.
Work collaboratively with legal assistants, paralegals, and firm leadership to move matters forward efficiently while maintaining a high level of client service.
Track time contemporaneously and prepare clear, task-based, value-focused time entries that reflect the substance of the work performed.
Support the firm's long-term client relationship model by helping clients feel protected, understood, and confident in their planning.

What We're Looking For:

Active California State Bar license in good standing.
Juris Doctor from an ABA-accredited or California-accredited law school.
Three or more years of substantive trusts and estates experience preferred; candidates with at least two years of strong, directly relevant experience may be considered.
Meaningful experience in estate planning required, including client meetings, document review, drafting, and planning strategy.
Experience with trust administration and probate strongly preferred.
Working knowledge of the California Probate Code and related rules and procedures applicable to estate planning, probate, and trust administration.
Familiarity with Proposition 19, Medi-Cal recovery, property transfers, trust funding, and family wealth transfer issues preferred.
Excellent client communication skills and a strong “bedside manner,” especially when working with families during emotionally significant moments.
Ability to explain complex legal concepts in a practical, plain-language way.
Strong judgment, attention to detail, follow-through, and ownership of client matters.
Comfort using modern legal technology and willingness to learn new systems.
Experience with tools such as MyCase, WealthCounsel, Clio Draft, DecisionVault, Lawmatics, Microsoft 365, CEB, or LexisNexis is helpful but not required.
Spanish-speaking skills are a plus, but not required for this position.

Work Environment:
This is a hybrid role for an attorney located in or near Chico/Northern California. The attorney should be available for regular in-person client meetings, signing meetings, team collaboration, and occasional court appearances in Chico or throughout Northern California as needed.

The firm offers flexibility, but this role is intended for someone who can support client-facing work in person as part of the firm's service model. Candidates within commuting distance of Chico, or those open to being in the office several days per week based on client and team needs, are strongly encouraged to apply.