Legal Assistant – Estate Planning & Estate Administration
Harrison LLP
Full-time
On-site
Chicago, Illinois, United States
$7,500,085,000 - $7,500,085,000 USD yearly
Legal Assistant – Estate Planning & Estate Administration
Harrison LLP is a national law firm specializing in private wealth planning. The Firm’s services extend to the natural interplay between estate planning, business succession, matrimonial law, and related affinity practices. Founded in 2003, Harrison LLP focuses on providing sophisticated legal advice, exceptional client service, and innovative solutions.
The Firm’s Chicago office is seeking an experienced and highly organized Legal Assistant. This position provides direct support within a fast-paced Estate Planning and Estate Administration practice and requires someone confident, proactive, and comfortable managing substantial workflows. The ideal candidate is self-directed, professional, and capable of thriving in a busy environment. Success in the role requires adaptability, strong communication, and the ability to manage competing priorities. Legal Assistant experience in the Trusts and Estates area is preferred.
What You Will Do:
- Provide full-service legal assistant support to attorneys, as assigned.
- Manage calendaring, meeting scheduling, reminders, and deadline tracking.
- Maintain electronic and physical file systems, ensuring accuracy, organization, and compliance.
- Prepare, revise, and proofread correspondence, engagement letters, and client-facing materials.
- Assist with estate plan execution processes, including witnessing, notarizing when applicable, and scheduling signing appointments.
- Handle attorney time entry, billing assistance, and expense reporting.
- Convert handwritten attorney notes into clear, actionable work product and task lists.
- Serve as a primary point of contact for clients with professionalism and discretion.
- Proactively seek feedback and clarify expectations to ensure alignment with each attorney’s preferred working style.
- Build collaborative, respectful working relationships with supported attorneys and broader support teams.
- Communicate clearly when priorities shift or conflicts arise, offering solutions and managing expectations.
- Adapt to differing attorney preferences, including technology comfort levels, pace, and communication styles.
What You Will Need:
- 2+ years of legal assistant experience.
- Ability to work four days per week in the Chicago office; one day can be remote.
- Ability to work efficiently in a fast-paced, high-volume environment.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Comfortable receiving constructive feedback; maintains composure and professionalism.
- Strong organizational skills with an effective system for managing multiple competing deadlines.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office and legal practice management systems.
- Anticipates needs and takes ownership of tasks.
- Fosters trust through proactive communication, reliability, and professionalism.
What Would Be Nice To Have:
- Trusts and estates experience, including estate planning, private client, or high-net-worth legal practice areas.
- Bachelor’s degree.
Target Salary Range: $75,000 – $85,000 annually. Compensation decisions depend on a wide range of factors including but not limited to experience and training, and other job-related factors permitted by law. This role will also be eligible for an annual discretionary variable incentive bonus.
Benefits: Harrison LLP offers a comprehensive benefits package including personal time off, Firm paid holidays, medical/dental/vision insurance, and 401(k).
Harrison LLP is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.
Harrison LLP will not accept unsolicited resumes through or from search firms or staffing agencies for this role. All unsolicited resumes will be considered the property of Harrison LLP, and the Firm will not be obligated to pay a placement fee.