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About the Role

Spears & Shelf, LLP, a woman-owned trust and estate firm, seeks a senior paralegal to lead client experience and manage estate planning, trust administration, and probate matters. This new leadership position offers autonomy, partner support, and predictable hours for real work-life balance, allowing attorneys to focus on legal work while you serve as the primary client contact for non-attorney questions.

Responsibilities

Lead the client experience from first call to final deliverable.
Supervise staff and outside service providers.
Keep every estate planning, trust administration, and probate matter on schedule.
Keep legal projects on track so attorneys can focus on legal work.
Serve as the go-to resource for client questions that do not require an attorney.
Maintain an overview of all client matters.
Oversee intake and new client setup.
Keep every client informed on matter status and next steps.
Field routine client questions and loop in attorneys as needed.
Initiate and manage the drafting process for estate planning documents.
Track project progress for estate planning documents.
Answer drafter questions regarding estate planning documents.
Check estate planning drafts for completeness before attorney review.
Coordinate deeds, signings, notarizations, binders, and trust funding follow-up.
Supervise trust administration paralegals to keep deliverables on schedule.
Run internal tracking meetings to manage project progress for trust, incapacity, and probate administration.
Coordinate appraisals, annual letters, and other third-party needs for trust, incapacity, and probate administration.
Flag staffing needs and adjust allocation as caseloads grow.
Maintain firm forms, checklists, and project-tracking systems.
Manage outside paralegals, notary, deed, and accounting service providers.

Requirements

At least 5 years of law firm paralegal experience, with substantial work in estates and trusts.
Deep working knowledge of estate planning documents (revocable trusts, wills, powers of attorney, health care directives) and the trust administration process.
Probate experience is a plus.
Experience supervising staff, managing vendors, or running a practice workflow is a strong plus.
Takes ownership of projects, enjoys building systems, and follows through without needing constant direction.
Looking for a long-term role with a stable, growing firm.
Communicates with warmth and clarity, especially with clients facing a death or incapacity in the family.
Leads staff with calm, collaborative confidence.
Detail-oriented and highly accurate.
Holds others accountable to deadlines and quality of work.

Skills

Estate planning
Trust administration
Probate
Client relationship management
Project management
System building
Process improvement
Staff supervision
Vendor management
Communication
Attention to detail

Location

San Francisco, CA

Work Type

Full-Time
In-Office

Experience Level

Senior
5+ years

Salary/Compensations

$115,000 to $135,000

Benefits

Discretionary year-end bonus
Medical insurance with a firm premium contribution
50% of dental paid
Vision available
401(k)/profit-sharing plan with a 100% match on contributions up to 4% of salary
Paid time off
40 hours of paid sick time each year
13 paid holidays
Paid office closure between Christmas and New Year's
Firm-paid notary and paralegal certification fees

About the Company

Spears & Shelf, LLP, is a woman-owned trust and estate firm in San Francisco built on exceptional client service, a collaborative team, and real work-life balance.
A profitable, systematized firm where your work is visible and valued every day.
Opportunities for professional growth as the firm continues to expand.

Equal Opportunity

Spears & Shelf, LLP is an equal opportunity employer.
We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, California, or local law.
Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.