Trusts & Estates Paralegal

Oak, Elm & Birch LLP is seeking an experienced paralegal to support the firm's Trusts & Estates practice at our Hartford office. The practice is led by Winona Thorpe and handles multi-generational wealth transfer, charitable structuring, estate administration, and fiduciary-litigation matters for Connecticut high-net-worth families, business founders, and private foundations.

What the role covers

• Connecticut probate court filings, including fiduciary accountings and inventory filings.
• Federal estate tax return (Form 706) preparation support — gathering valuation backup, building asset schedules, coordinating with the firm's Tax group on GST issues.
• Connecticut succession tax filings.
• Trust administration workflow: distributions, trustee change documentation, beneficiary communications under attorney supervision.
• Document assembly using the firm's estate-planning forms, under attorney review.
• File management in the firm's iManage document system.

Required experience

• Five or more years of paralegal experience in a trusts and estates practice at a law firm or trust department.
• Working knowledge of Connecticut probate court practice and procedure.
• Federal 706 preparation experience.
• Strong attention to detail and documented ability to manage concurrent deadlines across multiple estate matters.

Preferred experience

• Paralegal certificate from an ABA-approved program.
• Experience with iManage and with estate-planning document-assembly software.
• Prior work in a firm serving high-net-worth clientele where matters routinely involve coordinated tax, corporate, and charitable-gift structuring.

Team

The role reports to Winona Thorpe and works alongside the group's senior paralegal and three T&E associates. The position is full-time, in-office, at 280 Trumbull Street.