Trusts and estates attorney recruiters
We recruit estate planning, probate, and trust litigation attorneys for regional firms and private client boutiques. Tell us your target location and practice focus, and we will walk through compensation ranges and billable expectations.
- Clients include Am Law 200 firms, regional multi-practice firms, and private client boutiques.
- Posted associate base ranges of $110,000 to $150,000 at about one to five years.
- Client firms operate across 19 states and the District of Columbia.
- Strictly confidential and at no cost to you. The hiring law firm pays our fee.
- 650+
- Lawyers at firms ITG recruits trusts and estates attorneys for
- 19
- States, plus DC, where those firms have offices
- 1,600
- Low end of billable targets we've seen, below most litigation
- Am Law 200
- to planning and probate boutiques
Why trusts and estates attorneys work with ITG
We work with estate planning, trust administration, and probate litigation attorneys evaluating moves across the country. Our client firms employ more than 650 lawyers combined across 19 states and the District of Columbia.
- Law firm caliber
- We work with Am Law 200 practices, regional full-service firms, and dedicated trusts and estates boutiques. Most of the roles are planning and administration; some are contested probate and trust litigation.
- Recent placements
- Placement details are anonymized, and we share them only with permission.
- What hiring partners screen for
- Planning groups focus on independent drafting and tax return preparation, while litigation teams evaluate hearing and trial records. We review these expectations with you before introducing your file.
- Where our pay data comes from
- Compensation figures come from ITG recruiting data for law firm clients and direct interviews with practicing attorneys. The ranges are what firms posted; the interview figures are what attorneys earn now or asked for in a next role.
Trusts and estates attorneys we have placed
Placement records are anonymized to protect attorney and law firm confidentiality, and we share specific details only with permission.
- An estate planning attorney joined a California firm.
What do trusts and estates attorneys make in 2026?
Trusts and estates hiring spans Am Law 200 firms, regional multi-practice firms, and specialized boutiques. In roles we've recruited for, posted associate base ranges ran $110,000 to $150,000 at about one to five years. In candidate interviews from February 2024 to September 2026, the median current base salary across all experience levels was $125,000.
Target salaries reported by attorneys increase with experience. The median base asked for in a next role sits at $100,000 for one to three years, $141,000 for four to seven years, $150,000 for eight to twelve years, and $180,000 at thirteen or more years. Contested probate and trust litigators asked for higher base pay than estate planners did, though the litigators interviewed brought more practice experience.
The trusts and estates attorneys we interview cluster in Texas, California, Boston, Florida and Atlanta. Most of the roles we recruit for are planning and administration, and some are contested probate and trust litigation.
Billable targets in trusts and estates practices run 1,600 to about 1,900 hours, lower than most litigation practices. For analysis across firm models, see our review of law firm billable hours. Work arrangements are mostly in office, with some hybrid schedules in litigation practices and none fully remote, as detailed in our guide to remote and hybrid attorney jobs. Regional firms offer modest annual bonuses, while some boutiques combine performance bonuses with origination credit.
Hiring partners screen planning candidates for drafting depth and experience preparing fiduciary and estate tax returns. Some firms prefer a CPA or a tax LLM. Probate litigation roles look for depositions, hearings and trial experience on issues like capacity, will challenges and fiduciary removal.
| Experience | Base pay |
|---|---|
| 1 to 5 years, posted by hiring firms | $110,000 to $150,000 |
| 1 to 3 years, median asked for | $100,000 |
| 4 to 7 years, median asked for | $141,000 |
| 8 to 12 years, median asked for | $150,000 |
| 13+ years, median asked for | $180,000 |
| Median current base, all levels (interviews) | $125,000 |
| All lawyers, all employers, U.S. mean (BLS) | $185,840 |
Posted range: roles ITG recruited for, 2025 to 2026. Medians asked for: the base trusts and estates attorneys told ITG they'd want in a next role, interviews February 2024 to September 2026. As of October 2026.
How we got these numbers: Figures reflect ITG recruiting data for law firm clients from 2025 to 2026 and attorney-reported figures from interviews conducted between February 2024 and September 2026. Data from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 covers all lawyers across all employer types, including government, in-house and small-firm lawyers.
Updated
What trusts and estates hiring partners screen for
Direct drafting and administration experience
Firms look for attorneys who draft full estate plans and handle estate and trust administration start to finish. Most associate roles ask for two to five years or three or more, and senior and counsel roles ask for about 10 to 15.
Tax depth and credentials
Planning groups screen for income and estate tax knowledge and experience preparing fiduciary and estate tax returns. Some want a tax LLM or a CPA, and large firms want cross-border experience for high-net-worth work.
Contested probate and litigation mechanics
Litigation roles ask for contested probate and trust experience, including depositions and trials, on issues like capacity and fiduciary removal.
Bar admission and office location
Firms want bar admission in the office's state. Most roles are in office, so firms look for candidates who live nearby.
Leaving a solo estate planning practice to join a firm
Some solo planners want a salary instead of uneven flat-fee work. Firms evaluating them look at drafting and tax depth. For senior and partner hires, firms prefer a portable book of business that transfers into the practice.
Many solo planners have never tracked billable hours, yet law firm targets run from 1,600 to about 1,900 hours. Common deal-breakers for transitioning solo attorneys include base salary cuts, long in-office commutes, and roles that mix estate planning with family law.
File transfers and practice sales must satisfy professional conduct rules. ABA Model Rule 1.17 governs the sale of a law practice, while Rule 1.16 in paragraph (d), covers surrendering papers and property the client is entitled to when representation ends. Check your state's version of each rule. This isn't legal advice.
Why trusts and estates attorneys change firms
Small firms cap some trusts and estates attorneys: flat pay, no path to equity, and often no benefits or bonus plan. Others are the only associate, with no paralegal or mentor. Some leave when a planning partner retires or leaves and the work goes elsewhere.
Litigation pulls people in both directions. Planners pulled into contested work want out, and probate litigators who feel pigeonholed want broader work. Others want larger, more complex high-net-worth estates.
Common deal-breakers include roles mixed with family law, a cut in base and relocation without a pay bump. Planners coming out of flat-fee practice also balk at high billable requirements, since many have never tracked hours.
Open trusts and estates positions
Each firm is confidential. We name the firm before anything about you is shared, and we don't share résumés or names without your permission.
Ask about these positionsReal recruiters who know the legal market.
You work with one person who specializes in your practice and keeps your search confidential.
Common Questions
What is the typical trusts and estates associate salary?
Do probate litigators earn more than estate planners?
Do trusts and estates associates have billable hour requirements?
Are there remote trusts and estates jobs?
What credentials do trusts and estates law firms screen for?
Can a solo estate planning attorney transition to a law firm?
How much does it cost to use a legal recruiter?
Will my current law firm know I am speaking with a recruiter?
Talk to a recruiter who knows your market
Tell us what you practice and what you'd want in a next seat. A recruiter will reach out, usually within one business day. It's confidential and free, and we don't share résumés or names without your permission.