Senior Paralegal, Trust and Estates

Overview:
Accelerant Law was founded by entrepreneurial-minded attorneys who strive to modernize the traditional approach to estate planning by integrating 21st-century business practices and technology into a sophisticated trust and estate practice. Our firm serves ultra-high-net-worth families with contemporary estate planning and administration strategies delivered in a transparent, proactive, and innovative manner.

Position:
Accelerant Law is seeking a Paralegal, Trust & Estates, Operations, and Tax (Senior Level) to provide comprehensive, highly experienced trust and estate administration support to attorneys and clients as part of the Firm’s legal team. This role applies deep technical expertise across estate and trust administration, advanced tax compliance, and complex entity formation, while also helping to design and maintain systems that support the Firm’s growing and evolving practice.

Location:
This role is based in Washington, DC and requires 3 days per week in-office.

Essential Responsibilities:

• Participate in internal client strategy discussions, providing procedural, administrative, and technical expertise to ensure optimal, high-quality legal services.
• Manage the end-to-end administration process for non-taxable and complex estates and trusts, including asset inventories, notice procedures, and coordination of appraisals.
• Prepare and manage probate court filings, including petitions, inventories, accountings, and closing documents, ensuring compliance with applicable local rules and deadlines.
• Prepare SS-4 forms, manage authorizations, and apply for tax identification numbers (EINs) for trusts and entities created by the Firm; work with third-party service providers and draft necessary documentation to create and form entities.
• Collaborate with attorneys on drafting estate-planning-related documents, including powers of attorney, LLC operating agreements, Crummey letters, promissory notes, and related materials.
• Prepare and file complex Federal Gift Tax Returns (Form 709) and Federal Estate Tax Returns (Form 706), addressing advanced issues such as portability elections, valuation adjustments, and complex gifting strategies.
• Prepare and execute documentation for complex asset transfers, including deeds, assignments, and advanced funding instructions.
• Prepare and send Firm correspondence, including engagement letters, cover letters, signing instructions, ancillary documents (e.g., Assignments of Tangible Personal Property and Trust Certifications), and other communications accompanying legal documents.
• Design, implement, and manage systems to support trust and estate administration across multiple legal projects and business lines as the Firm grows and as laws evolve, ensuring ongoing compliance with estate planning and tax regulations.
• Provide training, mentorship, and guidance to team members on Firm procedures, best practices, and technical compliance standards.

• Strong working knowledge of state-specific probate processes, trust administration procedures, and foundational estate planning documents required.
• Strong knowledge of irrevocable trusts, including GRATs, IDGTs, and ILITs, preferred.
• Deep understanding of federal transfer taxes, basis adjustment, income tax issues related to estates and trusts, and entity formation.
• Expert-level proficiency in preparing and filing Forms 706 and 709 for taxable estates and complex gifting strategies, with a proven history of designing and implementing legal administrative and compliance systems.
• A resourceful self-starter who takes initiative and quickly assimilates and applies new knowledge.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, high-energy, and team-oriented environment.
• Meticulous, organized, self-motivated, practical, and flexible; able to manage multiple complex and shifting priorities effectively.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills; able to communicate information clearly and professionally; open to receiving and giving feedback.
• Ability to work independently while also developing strong internal and external relationships.
• Builds trust, honors commitments, and treats all with respect; uses those skills to reach consensus, produce high-quality work, and meet deadlines.
• Strong aptitude for technology with proficiency in MS Office Suite, advanced skills in Excel, Clio, estate and gift tax preparation software (e.g., GEMS), and cloud-based document management systems (e.g., Box).

• Bachelor’s degree and/or Paralegal Certificate from an ABA-approved program required; demonstrated related experience may substitute for preferred education.
• Minimum of 10 years of experience in the Trusts & Estates practice area preferred.
• Demonstrated progressive supervisory or leadership experience preferred.
• Experience working with ultra-high-net-worth families and individuals preferred.