Probate Paralegal

Husch Blackwell LLP is a full-service litigation and business law firm with multiple locations across the United States, serving clients with domestic and international operations.

At Husch Blackwell we believe that diverse, equitable and inclusive teams lead to better outcomes. Husch Blackwell is committed to retaining, recruiting, developing, and promoting talented lawyers and business professionals with diverse backgrounds and experiences. We foster an engaged, diverse, and inclusive team culture of accountability and purpose that makes our Firm and our communities better.

Our firm is committed to attracting and retaining professionals who value each other and the service we provide by embracing Teamwork, Collaboration, Client Service, and Innovation. If you are a motivated professional looking for a long-term fit where you can grow in a role, and will be valued and empowered, then we invite you to apply to our Probate Paralegal position in our Dallas, Texas office.

SCOPE OF RESPONSIBILITIES:

Provide Private Wealth attorneys with assistance in the management and administration of probate matters including fact investigation, legal research, document preparation and filing, accounting preparation, liquidation and transfer of property, and overall client service.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

• Assist attorneys in fact investigation, legal research, document preparation and production, document database management, docketing/case management and overall client service.
• Prepare and file probate documents in the administration of an estate (petitions, motions, testamentary letters, inventories, accountings, and notices).
• Manage the probate process, including tracking deadlines, scheduling court appearances, and managing correspondence.
• File life insurance claims and other death benefits.
• Contact beneficiaries and next of kin regarding admission of the will and other probate hearings.
• Communicate with clients, beneficiaries, court personnel, and other parties involved in the probate process.
• Assist attorneys with gathering estate asset information for probate inventory purposes.
• Administer estate accounts and assist with the liquidation and transfer of property.
• Conduct field work, including traveling to, securing, managing, and maintaining estate property and assisting with inventory of and preparation for sale or transfer of assets.
• Receive and review financial statements and maintain spreadsheet of account activity for statutory annual and final account purposes in estate, trust, and guardianship proceedings.
• Assist in the distribution of assets to beneficiaries.
• Assist with preparation and filing of decedent’s final income and tax returns.
• Participate in the administration of guardianships and trusts.
• Review and process court filings.
• Assist with e-filing in both litigation and probate matters.
• Docket management using Firm docketing system.
• Assist with client file maintenance and management (properly saving documents in NetDocs, etc.).
• Assist with mediation/arbitration/deposition/trial preparation.
• Assist with other tasks as assigned.
• Expected to meet annual targeted billable hours of 1500.

CORE REQUIREMENTS:

• Ability to deliver superior service to all internal and external customers and communicate effectively.
• Ability to interact in a professional and courteous manner with clients and employees at all times; professional appearance required.
• Ability to successfully perform position requirements with excellent organizational, time-management and prioritization skills required.
• Ability to work collaboratively within a team; ability and willingness to adapt to changing business demands.
• Ability to produce acceptable amount of work efficiently and accurately; ability to produce quality final work product.
• Ability to exercise good judgment at all times by making sound and practical decisions; ability to assume responsibility for decisions and act decisively under deadlines.
• High level of professional integrity required; ability to maintain confidentiality and build trust.

POSITION-SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS:

• Five years of probate experience required.
• One to three years of litigation experience preferred.
• Associate’s degree required; Bachelor’s degree or paralegal certificate preferred.
• Significant, substantive legal related experience may be considered in lieu of formal education at the discretion of the Managing Director.
• Excellent organization skills.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to prioritize workflow and manage time.

The above is intended to describe the general content of and requirements for the performance of this job. It is not to be construed as an exhaustive statement of essential functions, responsibilities, or requirements. The Firm will provide reasonable accommodations as necessary to allow an individual with a disability to apply for and/or perform the essential functions of a position. Please reach out to our HR team to request an accommodation.

Please include a cover letter and resume when applying.

EOE/Minority/Female/Disabled/Vet. Principal Applicants Only.