Estate Planning / Trusts & Estates Attorney | Rochester | Buffalo, NY

About Us

HireHawk connects experienced professionals with organizations where their expertise can make a meaningful impact. For this opportunity, we are supporting a legal practice serving clients across Upstate New York, including both individuals receiving estate planning benefits through LegalShield and private clients with more sophisticated planning needs.

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced Estate Planning / Trusts & Estates Attorney to join the firm's Rochester office and advise clients on a broad range of estate planning matters. You will independently conduct client consultations, develop appropriate estate planning strategies, and draft and review documents including wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and healthcare proxies.

The practice serves clients with needs ranging from straightforward estate plans to more complex private-client matters, giving you exposure to a meaningful variety of planning scenarios. This is an opportunity for an attorney who values autonomy, thoughtful client service, strong legal analysis, and collaboration with an established Estates team.

Responsibilities

• Advise individuals and families on estate planning strategies based on their personal, family, financial, and long-term objectives.
• Independently lead client consultations, identify planning needs, and translate complex legal concepts into clear, practical guidance.
• Draft and review wills, trusts, powers of attorney, healthcare proxies, and other estate planning documents under New York law.
• Develop thoughtful estate plans for both LegalShield members and private clients with more sophisticated planning requirements.
• Review existing estate planning documents and recommend updates or restructuring when clients' circumstances or objectives change.
• Deliver accurate, comprehensive legal analysis while identifying potential estate planning risks and opportunities.
• Maintain a high standard of organization, documentation, responsiveness, and attention to detail across active client matters.
• Build trusted relationships with clients while handling sensitive family, financial, and end-of-life conversations with professionalism and empathy.
• Collaborate with attorneys and other members of the broader legal team on complex or specialized client matters.
• Take ownership of assigned matters from initial consultation through completion of the client's estate planning documents.

Must-Have:

• Juris Doctor from an accredited law school.
• Active New York State Bar admission in good standing.
• Prior legal experience practicing Estate Planning and/or Trusts & Estates law.
• Strong working knowledge of New York estate planning laws and related legal requirements.
• Demonstrated experience drafting and reviewing wills, trusts, powers of attorney, healthcare proxies, and related estate planning documents.
• Ability to independently conduct client consultations and provide sound estate planning guidance.
• Ability to work onsite at the Rochester, New York office.

Nice to Have:

• Experience advising clients with more sophisticated trust or estate planning needs.
• Experience serving a high-volume or membership-based legal services client population.
• Strong transactional legal analysis, strategic thinking, and creative problem-solving skills.
• Experience collaborating across a broader Estates, private client, tax, or related legal practice.
• Established familiarity with the Upstate New York client market.