Hybrid | Chico/Northern California preferred | Must be available for regular in-office client meetings Compensation: $130,000–$160,000 DOE + bonus opportunity
About the Role
Legal Norcal P.C. is seeking a Trusts & Estates Associate Attorney to join our growing team and support families across Northern California with estate planning, trust administration, probate, and related post-death matters.
This role is ideal for an attorney who wants to do meaningful, client-centered legal work while maintaining a sustainable workload and a supportive team environment. We are looking for someone who can communicate with warmth, clarity, and confidence while guiding clients through important and often emotional planning decisions.
You will work closely with our legal team to manage client matters, lead and support estate planning conversations, help families understand their options, and ensure matters are handled with professionalism, care, and attention to detail.
Our firm values professional growth, collaboration, modern legal technology, and a sustainable approach to legal practice. We offer a hybrid work environment, a 1,500-hour annual billable target, flexible time off, and the opportunity to make a real impact in the lives of clients and families.
What You’ll Do
- Lead and support estate planning matters, including client design meetings, attorney review, signing meetings, trust funding strategy, property planning, Medi-Cal recovery considerations, and Proposition 19 analysis.
- Communicate directly with clients, explaining complex legal concepts in plain language and helping clients feel informed, supported, and at ease.
- Draft, review, and analyze estate planning documents, including trusts, wills, powers of attorney, advance health care directives, deeds, and related planning documents.
- Administer routine and complex trusts, including trustee guidance, beneficiary notices, asset inventory and valuation, sub-trust funding for A/B and A/B/C structures, accountings, distributions, and final closure.
- Manage probate matters from petition through final distribution, including intake, fee planning, petition drafting, court appearances, notices, inventory and appraisal coordination, creditor claims, accountings, and distribution.
- Handle estate administration matters that fall between probate and trust administration, including small-estate affidavits, spousal property petitions, summary procedures, and matters requiring attorney judgment.
- Coordinate with the firm’s CPA, financial, and professional partners on more complex matters involving tax allocation, basis issues, sub-trust splits, property planning, and related client needs.
- Work collaboratively with legal assistants, paralegals, and firm leadership to move matters forward efficiently while maintaining a high level of client service.
- Track time contemporaneously and prepare clear, task-based, value-focused time entries that reflect the substance of the work performed.
- Support the firm’s long-term client relationship model by helping clients feel protected, understood, and confident in their planning.
What We’re Looking For
- Active California State Bar license in good standing.
- Juris Doctor from an ABA-accredited or California-accredited law school.
- Three or more years of substantive trusts and estates experience preferred; candidates with at least two years of strong, directly relevant experience may be considered.
- Meaningful experience in estate planning required, including client meetings, document review, drafting, and planning strategy.
- Experience with trust administration and probate strongly preferred.
- Working knowledge of the California Probate Code and related rules and procedures applicable to estate planning, probate, and trust administration.
- Familiarity with Proposition 19, Medi-Cal recovery, property transfers, trust funding, and family wealth transfer issues preferred.
- Excellent client communication skills and a strong “bedside manner,” especially when working with families during emotionally significant moments.
- Ability to explain complex legal concepts in a practical, plain-language way.
- Strong judgment, attention to detail, follow-through, and ownership of client matters.
- Comfort using modern legal technology and willingness to learn new systems.
- Experience with tools such as MyCase, WealthCounsel, Clio Draft, DecisionVault, Lawmatics, Microsoft 365, CEB, or LexisNexis is helpful but not required.
- Spanish-speaking skills are a plus, but not required for this position.
Work Environment
This is a hybrid role for an attorney located in or near Chico/Northern California. The attorney should be available for regular in-person client meetings, signing meetings, team collaboration, and occasional court appearances in Chico or throughout Northern California as needed.
The firm offers flexibility, but this role is intended for someone who can support client-facing work in person as part of the firm’s service model. Candidates within commuting distance of Chico, or those open to being in the office several days per week based on client and team needs, are strongly encouraged to apply.
Compensation & Benefits
- Salary range: $130,000–$160,000, depending on experience
- Bonus opportunity based on performance, production, and/or firm contribution
- Sustainable 1,500-hour annual billable target
- Flexible time off after 90 days, with genuine support for work-life balance
- Medical insurance contribution
- Paid holidays
- Professional development support
- Modern legal technology and team support
- Collaborative, collegial, mission-driven work environment
About Legal Norcal P.C.
Legal Norcal P.C. is a trusts, estates, and business law firm based in Chico, California, serving families throughout Northern California and across the state.
We work with families navigating estate planning, multigenerational wealth transfer, trust administration, probate, blended family planning, elder issues, family businesses, and clients with substantial California assets.
Our mission is to be trusted legal guides who lead families through complex legal terrain with expertise, clarity, and genuine care. We exist to help people take agency over their lives and their legacy while protecting the people they love.
Our core values are:
- Provide value
- Teamwork
- Respect
- Relatability and professionalism
- Empowerment
- Community commitment
At Legal Norcal, we believe estate planning is more than documents. It is protection, dignity, family stability, and peace of mind. We are looking for an attorney who shares that belief and wants to build a meaningful career helping families protect what they have worked so hard to create.
Pay: $130,000.00 - $160,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
Application Question(s):
- Are you currently licensed and in good standing with the California State Bar?
- Which areas do you have hands-on experience with? Estate planning, Trust Administration, Probate, Post-death administration, Prop 19/property planning, Medi-cal recovery planning, none of the above
- Are you able to support occasional in-person meetings in Chico California?
Experience:
- substantive trusts and estates: 3 years (Preferred)
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Chico, CA 95973
