Trust and Wealth Planning Paralegal (On-Site)

Job Description

Frost Brown Todd LLP, a national law firm with 1000+ legal and business professionals in eighteen offices, is currently searching for a full-time Paralegal to join our Newport Beach office located in Fashion Island. This position will support our Tax, Benefits, and Estates Practice Group, with a primary focus on ultra-high-net-worth individuals, multi-generational families, and family office clients.

The ideal candidate brings substantial experience in trust and wealth planning, tax-sensitive structuring, and closely held entity management, with a polished ability to interface with clients, family office professionals, and external advisors at the highest level.

Key Responsibilities:

Provide comprehensive legal and administrative support to attorneys serving ultra-high-net-worth individuals, family offices, and private wealth clients.

Assist with the structuring and implementation of advanced estate planning strategies, including grantor and irrevocable trusts, family limited partnerships, intentionally defective grantor trusts, and dynasty trusts.

Collaborate closely with family office executives, accountants, investment advisors, and trustees to coordinate legal documentation and tax filings across jurisdictions.

Manage legal logistics related to intergenerational wealth transfers, philanthropic initiatives, and private foundation compliance.

Support entity governance, document organization, and compliance for private investment vehicles, real estate holding companies, and other bespoke asset structures.

Draft and maintain organizational documents for closely held corporations, LLCs, and partnerships, particularly those integrated into ultra-high-net-worth estate plans.

Manage corporate governance records, including minute books, stock ledgers, membership interest tracking, and ownership changes.

Coordinate documentation and compliance related to private foundations, charitable lead and remainder trusts, and other philanthropic structures.

Prepare and file federal and state regulatory documents, including Form 709 (gift tax), Form 990, Form 1023, and state-level tax exemption applications.

Handle and protect sensitive financial and personal information with the highest level of discretion and confidentiality.

Organize and maintain detailed records for tax matters, trust and estate documentation, and communications with government agencies.

Prepare summaries, internal reports, and supporting materials for client and advisor briefings.

Maintain comprehensive, well-organized digital files using document management software.

Track deadlines and schedule meetings, document submissions, and client deliverables in coordination with the legal team.

Job Requirements:

A certificate of completion of a paralegal program or post-secondary degree from an institution that requires a minimum of 24 semester (or equivalent) units in law-related courses and has been accredited by a national or regional accrediting organization, or

A bachelor’s degree in an unrelated major, and have:

A certificate of completion of an ABA-approved paralegal program, or

A minimum of one year of law-related experience under the supervision of an attorney who, for at least the preceding three years, has been an active member of the State Bar of California or has practiced in the federal courts of California, and

A written declaration from same stating that the paralegal is qualified to perform paralegal tasks.

Additionally, every two years, a paralegal is required to certify completion of the following:

Four hours of mandatory continuing legal education in legal ethics, and

Four hours of mandatory continuing legal education in either general law or in an area of specialized law.

Continuing legal education must meet the requirements established in Section 6070 of the California Business and Professional Code.

Minimum of 3 years of paralegal experience, with a strong background in estate planning, family office support, or private client services for ultra-high-net-worth individuals, or in a comparable area of law.

Demonstrated experience working with complex matters such as estate structures, tax-sensitive transactions, and multi-entity holdings.

Strong working knowledge of estate planning, trust administration, business entities and charitable entities.

Exceptional discretion, client service, and organizational skills.

Ability to communicate professionally with clients and their teams, including family office executives, accountants, and wealth advisors.

Proficiency using Excel, Word and other Microsoft applications, generative AI tools and database and document assembly software.

Must be detail oriented, efficient, and able to coordinate multifaceted projects with minimal supervision.

Proficiency in Westlaw and web-based research strongly preferred.

Ability to problem solve, set priorities and ask questions when needed.

Ability to meet tight deadlines.

Availability to work overtime as needed.

Frost Brown Todd is fully committed to equality of opportunity in all aspects of employment. It is the policy of Frost Brown Todd to provide equal employment opportunity to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, military status, veteran status, age, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, genetic information, physical or mental disability or any other protected status.

Frost Brown Todd offers a competitive salary and a comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, life, disability, and 401k/profit sharing retirement package.

The pay range for this role accounts for the wide range of factors considered in making compensation decisions including but not limited to skill sets; experience and training; licensure and certifications; and other business and organizational needs. For applicants physically based in California, a reasonable estimate of the current range is $50.00 – $60.00 hourly. Actual pay will be determined based on skills, relevant experience and other-job related factors, consistent with applicable employment laws.

In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire.

Full-time