Associate Attorney - Trust & Estate Administration

Job Description

Job Description

Location: Santa Ana, CA (In-person; also hiring in San Jose)

Compensation: $120,000–$200,000 per year

Supplemental Pay: Bonus pay

Benefits:

• 401(k) & retirement plan
• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• Health savings & flexible spending accounts
• Paid time off & parental leave
• Flexible schedule
• Employee discounts
• Employee assistance program
• Professional development assistance
• Referral program

Position Summary:
Copenbarger & Copenbarger LLP, a full-service estate planning and elder law firm, is seeking an experienced Trust and Estate Administration Associate Attorney for our Santa Ana office. This is an excellent opportunity to join a highly respected firm with deep expertise in tax, estate, and elder law, offering competitive compensation, strong benefits, and a supportive, collaborative culture.

Key Responsibilities:

• Administer wills, trusts, probates, and conservatorships from start to finish
• Draft and prepare petitions, court documents, and fiduciary accounts (e.g., 850 & 17200 petitions)
• Handle asset inventory, valuation, sub-trust funding, and distributions
• Review estate and gift tax returns, fiduciary income tax returns
• Communicate regularly with clients, internal staff, and attorneys
• Perform legal research and maintain accurate documentation
• Attend litigation-related events (depositions, hearings, etc.) if applicable
• Maintain billable hours with accurate time tracking
• Coordinate with courts and restricted depository accounts when needed
• Support clients with compassion and professionalism through the administration process

Qualifications:

• Juris Doctorate
• Active California Bar membership in good standing
• 5+ years of experience in trust & estate administration
• Clear and professional legal writing and analysis
• Comfortable working independently with good judgment on when to escalate issues
• Strong client-facing communication and interpersonal skills
• Organized, deadline-driven, and detail-oriented
• Experience with conservatorships and probates required
• Experience with estate planning, guardianships, or contested matters is a plus
• LL.M. in Tax or Estate Planning is a plus

Why Join Us?
You’ll be part of a mission-driven, client-focused law firm that values growth, compassion, and work-life balance. Whether you prefer autonomy or collaboration, our hybrid-friendly structure offers flexibility. We pride ourselves on creating lasting client relationships and providing legal excellence across estate planning, taxation, litigation, and business law.

Alternate Titles:
Trust Administration Attorney, Estate Planning & Probate Attorney, Associate Attorney – Trust & Estates

We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibit discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

Keywords:
Trust administration, probate, estate attorney, conservatorships, fiduciary accounts, legal drafting, California Bar, wills, sub-trusts, elder law, tax law