Senior Estate Planning Attorney

Global Placement Firm is conducting a confidential search for a Senior Estate Planning Attorney to join an established and highly respected law firm in Southern California.

This is a rare succession opportunity for an experienced estate planning attorney to step into an established client book being transitioned from a retiring shareholder.

Unlike traditional lateral opportunities, no existing book of business is required. The firm already has the clients and revenue in place and is seeking the right attorney to assume responsibility for those relationships and become an integral part of the firm's continued growth.

For the right candidate, this role offers a clear and realistic path to shareholder based on performance, client relationships, and demonstrated leadership.

Position Overview

As a Senior Estate Planning Attorney, you will advise high-net-worth individuals, families, business owners, and other clients on sophisticated estate planning and wealth transfer matters.

You will have the opportunity to assume an established portfolio of client relationships from a retiring shareholder while developing your own long-term presence within the firm's estate planning practice.

The ideal candidate is an experienced estate planning attorney who combines strong technical expertise with excellent client relationship skills and is interested in building a long-term career with a firm that offers a genuine shareholder path.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage and advise clients on sophisticated estate planning and wealth transfer matters.
• Assume and develop relationships with an established client portfolio transitioning from a retiring shareholder.
• Provide strategic advice to high-net-worth individuals, families, business owners, and other clients.
• Draft and review sophisticated estate planning documents and related legal instruments.
• Advise clients regarding trusts, estates, wealth transfer, succession planning, and related tax considerations.
• Develop comprehensive estate planning strategies tailored to each client's financial, family, and business circumstances.
• Work collaboratively with attorneys, tax professionals, financial advisors, and other professional advisors.
• Maintain strong, long-term relationships with clients and their families.
• Participate in client meetings and serve as a trusted legal advisor.
• Identify opportunities to expand and strengthen existing client relationships.
• Contribute to the continued growth and development of the firm's estate planning practice.
• Mentor and collaborate with junior attorneys and other members of the legal team.
• Maintain high standards of legal work, professionalism, responsiveness, and client service.
• Meet the firm's annual billable-hour expectations while maintaining a sustainable workload.

Required Qualifications

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from an accredited law school.
• Active membership and good standing with the California State Bar.
• Significant experience practicing estate planning law.
• Strong technical knowledge of sophisticated estate planning and wealth transfer matters.
• Experience advising high-net-worth individuals, families, and/or business owners.
• Demonstrated ability to manage complex client relationships independently.
• Strong legal writing, drafting, analytical, and communication skills.
• Ability to take ownership of client matters from initial consultation through implementation.
• Strong interpersonal and relationship-management skills.
• Ability and interest in assuming an established client portfolio.
• Desire to build a long-term career with a path toward shareholder/partnership.

Ideal Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate is a senior-level estate planning attorney who is technically strong, client-focused, and interested in becoming a long-term leader within an established practice.

This opportunity is particularly well suited for an attorney who wants the economics and career trajectory of a partnership-track role without the pressure of having to immediately generate their own book of business.

We're Looking For Someone Who:

• Has substantial experience in estate planning.
• Is comfortable advising sophisticated and high-net-worth clients.
• Can independently manage complex estate planning matters.
• Has strong client relationship and communication skills.
• Is interested in taking over an established client portfolio.
• Wants a realistic path toward shareholder.
• Values long-term client relationships over transactional practice.
• Is collaborative and enjoys working as part of a team.
• Has strong business judgment and an entrepreneurial mindset.
• Can develop trust with clients and their families.
• Wants to grow within a stable and financially strong firm.
• Values a professional environment without the traditional BigLaw burnout culture.

Succession Opportunity

A significant component of this role is the transition of an established client book from a retiring shareholder.

The firm has existing clients and work ready for the successful candidate, meaning there is no requirement to bring an existing book of business.

The attorney will have the opportunity to:

• Transition established client relationships.
• Build trust with clients over time.
• Become the primary attorney responsible for those relationships.
• Retain and expand the transitioning client portfolio.
• Develop additional business organically through client relationships and referrals.
• Establish a long-term foundation for shareholder-level responsibility.

This is a genuine succession opportunity rather than a general promise of future business development.

Shareholder Path

The firm offers a clear and merit-based path toward shareholder for the right attorney.

The firm's recent promotion of a senior counsel to shareholder within approximately 3–4 years demonstrates that advancement is achievable for attorneys who establish themselves within the practice.

Candidates interested in long-term ownership and leadership should view this as an opportunity to become an integral part of the firm's future rather than simply another senior associate or counsel position.

Billable Hours & Work-Life Balance

The annual billable target is approximately 1,600–1,800 hours.

The firm does not operate around the expectation of consistently exceeding 2,000 billable hours, making this an attractive opportunity for attorneys seeking a more sustainable long-term practice environment.

The firm places an emphasis on maintaining a professional workload while continuing to provide sophisticated legal work and meaningful opportunities for advancement.

Work Environment

The firm offers a collegial, collaborative environment with a team of experienced and long-tenured attorneys.

The culture is designed to encourage collaboration rather than internal competition, and attorneys are expected to work together to provide exceptional client service.

The role is initially expected to be primarily on-site, allowing the attorney to establish relationships with colleagues and clients and demonstrate cultural fit.

Once established within the firm, attorneys have access to greater flexibility, including remote work days and flexible scheduling.

Compensation & Benefits

Base Salary: $200,000 – $350,000 annually
Employment Type: Full-Time
Work Arrangement: Hybrid
Billable Target: Approximately 1,600–1,800 hours annually
Shareholder Path: Available for the right candidate
Retirement: 401(k) with profit sharing, including firm contributions regardless of employee contribution, based on applicable plan terms

Location & Schedule

Location: Encino, California

Work Arrangement: Hybrid

Candidates should be comfortable working on-site initially and transitioning to greater flexibility after establishing themselves within the firm.

Why Join

This is a particularly attractive opportunity for an experienced estate planning attorney who wants to combine sophisticated legal work with a real succession and shareholder opportunity.

The successful candidate will have the opportunity to:

• Step into an established client book from a retiring shareholder.
• Build meaningful, long-term relationships with existing clients.
• Avoid the pressure of needing to bring an established book of business.
• Pursue a genuine path to shareholder.
• Work within a financially strong and established law firm.
• Handle sophisticated estate planning matters.
• Maintain a more sustainable 1,600–1,800 billable-hour target.
• Work with experienced, collaborative attorneys.
• Build a long-term leadership role within the estate planning practice.
• Receive a 401(k) with profit sharing, including firm contributions regardless of employee contribution, subject to plan terms.
• Gain increased flexibility after establishing fit within the firm.

Candidate Profile: What We're Not Looking For

This opportunity is best suited for attorneys who are committed to estate planning as a long-term practice area.

Candidates may not be the right fit if their experience consists primarily of:

• General corporate or transactional practice without substantial estate planning experience.
• Limited experience advising sophisticated or high-net-worth clients.
• Attorneys seeking a short-term lateral move without interest in long-term firm involvement.
• Candidates who require an immediate fully remote arrangement.
• Attorneys who are primarily interested in high-volume billable-hour environments.
• Candidates who are not interested in eventually taking on significant client relationship and leadership responsibilities.

Confidential Search

This position is being presented by Global Placement Firm on behalf of a confidential client. Additional client and firm information will be shared with qualified candidates during the recruitment process.