Private Client Trusts & Estates Associate Attorney
Direct Counsel is seeking a Private Client Trusts & Estates Associate Attorney to join the nationally recognized private client practice of a sophisticated East Coast–based law firm in Boston.
This is an exceptional opportunity for an attorney with 4+ years of trusts and estates experience to join a premier private client platform handling sophisticated high-net-worth estate planning, trust and estate administration, wealth transfer strategy, and tax-efficient succession planning.
The role offers direct exposure to high-net-worth families, fiduciaries, retirement asset planning, charitable strategies, and multigenerational wealth transfer matters.
Location
Boston, Massachusetts
Position Overview
The ideal candidate will have at least 4 years of sophisticated trusts and estates experience, including meaningful work in high-net-worth estate planning and trust and estate administration.
This role is ideal for an attorney experienced in:
- Advanced estate planning
- Estate and trust administration
- Wealth transfer tax strategy
- Lifetime gifting programs
- Succession planning
- Charitable planning
- Retirement asset planning
- Family governance and legacy structures
The firm offers a hybrid schedule with two remote days per week.
Key Responsibilities
- Advise high-net-worth individuals and families on sophisticated estate planning strategies
- Draft and implement:
- Revocable and irrevocable trusts
- Wills
- Gift and generation-skipping transfer structures
- Family entity and succession vehicles
- Handle estate and trust administration matters
- Counsel clients on:
- Estate tax
- Gift tax
- Income tax
- Fiduciary tax issues
- Develop tax-efficient family wealth transfer strategies
- Support charitable giving and philanthropic planning
- Advise on retirement asset estate planning
- Coordinate with fiduciaries, family offices, tax professionals, and multidisciplinary teams
Qualifications
- J.D. from an accredited law school
- Minimum 4 years of trusts and estates experience
- Strong experience with:
- High-net-worth estate planning
- Trust and estate administration
- State and federal transfer tax laws
- Succession planning
- Lifetime giving strategies
- Excellent drafting, technical, and client counseling skills
- Strong written and verbal communication abilities
- Team-oriented and highly collaborative
- Massachusetts Bar admission required, or willingness to become admitted
- Rhode Island admission is a plus
Compensation
Base salary range: $200,000 – $245,000
Compensation will vary based on experience, credentials, and overall fit.
Ideal Candidate
The ideal attorney will be:
- Sophisticated in high-net-worth estate and tax planning
- Comfortable working directly with wealthy families and fiduciaries
- A polished drafter and trusted client counselor
- Interested in both planning and administration work
- Collaborative, responsive, and relationship-driven
- Looking for long-term growth within a premier private client practice
Why This Opportunity
This is an outstanding opportunity to join a top-tier trusts and estates platform known for sophisticated private client work and long-standing market recognition. The mix of estate planning, administration, tax strategy, and family wealth transfer work makes this especially attractive for attorneys looking to build a premier Boston-based private client practice.