Paralegal - Wills, Trusts and Estates

Founded in 1856, Harris Beach and its subsidiaries provide a full range of legal and professional services for clients across New York state, as well as nationally and internationally. Harris Beach is among the country’s top law firms as ranked by The National Law Journal. Clients include Fortune 100 corporations, privately-held companies, emerging businesses, public sector entities, not-for-profit organizations and individuals. Principal industries Harris Beach represents include education, energy, financial, food and beverage, health care, insurance, manufacturing, medical and life sciences, real estate developers, and state and local governments and authorities. The firm’s more than 200 lawyers practice among offices throughout New York state in Albany, Buffalo, Ithaca, New York City, Rochester, Saratoga Springs, Syracuse, Uniondale, Washington, D.C. and White Plains, as well as in New Haven, Connecticut and Newark, New Jersey.

Location: Albany, Buffalo, Ithaca, Rochester or Syracuse, NY offices (Hybrid remote opportunity)

Are you a motivated self-starter? Do you have paralegal experience? Are you excited about the opportunity to join an innovative, growing law firm that has been successful for more than 165 years?

The Wills, Trusts & Estates Team at Harris Beach is in search of a Paralegal with a positive, flexible attitude to assist multiple attorneys. You will thrive in this role if you have: 

• 3+ years of estate administration experience (required)
• Experience preparing estate and trust accountings (required) 

• A high level of initiative, and ability to follow through on numerous ongoing projects in a busy environment
• Exceptional oral and written communication, and organizational skills
• Strong proofreading and analytical skills to ensure top quality of legal documents

• Proficiency with MS Office, including Word, Outlook and Excel, and able to efficiently use technology resources

This Paralegal will be responsible for working on estate administration matters for both taxable and non-taxable estates. Do you have the drive and desire to:

• Interact with a wide variety of clients in person, on the phone, via email and video conferencing
• Draft, edit, and review probate and administration related documents
• Assist clients with retitling assets
• Assemble and organize financial records for estate tax returns and audits
• Prepare, edit, and review estate tax returns
• Prepare fiduciary income tax returns and settlement papers for both informal and formal settlement of estates and trusts

Harris Beach recognizes everyone has a right to be included. You will be successful in your career at the firm if you:

• Exhibit well-developed interpersonal skills (exude patience and empathy), particularly with clients
• Complete a minimum 1400 billable hours annually
• Believe in the firm’s core values: integrity, support, ingenuity, teamwork, and inclusion

• Enjoy working with diverse personalities within various levels of the firm
• Are comfortable working a hybrid schedule (1 day remote)

Harris Beach is committed to an inclusive environment and we welcome applications from diverse candidates with varied backgrounds and skills, including military experience. Harris Beach PLLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Salary information below will vary depending upon relevant experience for the position, geographic locations and weekly hours schedule. The anticipated weekly schedule for the Paralegal in Albany is 37.5 hours per week. The anticipated weekly schedule for the Paralegal in either Buffalo, Ithaca, Rochester or Syracuse is 38.75 hours per week.

Albany: $33.34 - $40.00/hour

Buffalo, Ithaca, Rochester and Syracuse: $32.26 - $38.71/hour

The firm’s policy prohibiting unlawful discrimination applies to all aspects of employment, including hiring, placement, assignment of duties, training, promotion, compensation & benefits and termination. It is the policy of Harris Beach PLLC that all applicants and employees enjoy a positive, respectful and productive work environment, free from behavior, actions or language constituting unlawful harassment. Accordingly, harassment or discrimination of any kind based on an individual’s race or color, sex, age, religion, national origin, marital status, disability, military status, genetic predisposition, carrier status, sexual orientation, citizenship status, creed, domestic violence victim status or any other legally protected status is strictly prohibited. Harris Beach complies with the provisions of the Human Rights Law, all other State and Federal statutory and constitutional non-discrimination provisions including non-discrimination on the basis of prior criminal conviction and prior arrest.