Legal Staff Paralegal in Hartford, CT

Law Firm

Hartford, CT

Legal Staff Paralegal in Hartford, CT

Legal Staff

2-5 yrs required

No

Job Title: Trusts and Estates Administrative Paralegal

Job Responsibilities:

The Trusts and Estates Administrative Paralegal is tasked with managing and efficiently producing a high volume of complex and detailed work related to domestic estate administration, trust administration, and fiduciary accounting. This role is integral to the law firm's objective of providing exceptional service. The paralegal must be capable of independently handling the administration of an estate from inception to completion while collaborating with attorneys as necessary. Key responsibilities include:

- Identifying, gathering, and valuing assets.
- Preparing various probate and accounting documents.
- Preparing accountings for both estates and trusts.
- Preparing death tax returns, including the federal estate tax return and state estate tax returns.
- Reviewing and interpreting wills and trust agreements in collaboration with attorneys to implement plans during the estate and trust administration process and to fund trusts.
- Utilizing reference materials and performing basic research using a variety of resources, although attorneys generally handle research of legal issues.

The paralegal must also demonstrate excellent organizational, client service, communication, and technological skills. They should have effective judgment in managing information and the ability to manage and meet deadlines in a fast-paced work environment. Flexibility to work overtime, as deadlines require, and the ability to multitask while adapting to changes in priorities and technology is also essential. The paralegal should be willing to mentor and be mentored, and must be able to interact with empathy towards individuals who may have suffered the loss of a loved one or are experiencing significant stress.

Education and Experience:

- An undergraduate degree and paralegal certification (or equivalent) are required.
- Familiarity with procedures of courts and regulatory agencies is essential.
- Experience working with Microsoft Office resources (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint), PDF software and related scanning and production utilities, and document management software is necessary.
- Experience with tax preparation and accounting software such as FastTax and ProSystems is important.
- The ability to learn and use advanced software programs and new technology is required, along with a desire to seek and attend training to improve skills.
- A good understanding of basic business relationships and client confidentiality principles is essential.

Salary Information:

The text does not provide specific salary information for this position.