Estate Planning and Elder Law Paralegal

Position SummaryThe Estate Planning and Elder Law Paralegal supports attorneys with estate planning, probate and trust administration, guardianship or conservatorship, long-term care planning, and related elder law matters while serving as a compassionate first point of contact for prospective and existing clients. This role combines substantive legal support, detailed matter administration, and client intake. The ideal candidate is organized, patient, responsive, and sensitive to the needs of older adults, individuals with disabilities, caregivers, and families navigating complex legal and personal circumstances.
Essential Duties and ResponsibilitiesAssist attorneys with estate planning, elder law, probate, trust administration, guardianship or conservatorship, and long-term care planning matters.Prepare and revise attorney-approved drafts of wills, revocable and irrevocable trusts, powers of attorney, health care documents, deeds, beneficiary-related documents, probate forms, fiduciary documents, and client correspondence.Collect and organize family, asset, income, insurance, medical, caregiving, and beneficiary information needed for legal planning and administration.Assist with probate and trust administration, including inventories, accountings, notices, asset-transfer documents, beneficiary communications, and deadline tracking.Support Medicaid and long-term care planning by gathering financial records, preparing document summaries, maintaining eligibility checklists, and assisting with applications under attorney supervision.Coordinate deed preparation and recording, asset-funding tasks, document execution meetings, notarizations, witnesses, and follow-up items.Communicate professionally with clients, family members, fiduciaries, care managers, financial professionals, health care providers, courts, registries, and government agencies as authorized.Maintain accurate electronic and physical files, calendars, document templates, task lists, and case-management records.Track statutory, court, filing, renewal, and client follow-up deadlines and promptly escalate urgent issues.Prepare meeting materials, document summaries, execution packets, closing binders, and status updates for attorney review.Record time, expenses, matter activity, and client communications accurately and promptly.Protect confidential and privileged information and comply with firm procedures, professional standards, and applicable legal requirements.
Other ResponsibilitiesConduct initial intake interviews using approved questionnaires to identify the prospective client, decision-makers, family relationships, planning goals, health or capacity concerns, caregiving needs, assets, income, existing estate documents, long-term care circumstances, and relevant deadlines.Explain the firm’s intake and consultation process, required documents, fees, and next steps without offering legal conclusions or promising an outcome.Schedule consultations and execution meetings; provide confirmations, accessibility information, directions, reminders, and secure document-submission instructions.Request and organize relevant materials, including existing estate documents, deeds, financial statements, benefit notices, insurance information, medical or care-facility records, death certificates, and probate documents, as appropriate.Create and maintain complete intake records in the firm’s case-management or customer relationship management system and document all follow-up activity.Prepare attorney-approved engagement letters, fee agreements, non-engagement communications, and new-matter documentation for review and signature.