InternshipAt — Century Trusts & Estate Planning, PC
Experience working in a collaborative law office helping clients with their estate planning needs.
They may acquire a range of valuable legal knowledge and practical skills, including: Legal Knowledge: Understanding of Estate Planning Instruments: Familiarity with wills, trusts (revocable and irrevocable), powers of attorney, advance health care directives, and related documents. Probate and Trust Administration: Knowledge of the probate process, trust funding, and duties of executors and trustees. Tax Implications: Basic understanding of estate, gift, and generation-skipping transfer tax considerations in planning. Asset Protection and Succession Planning: Awareness of strategies used to preserve assets and transfer wealth effectively. Practical Skills: Document Drafting: Experience preparing and reviewing legal documents such as wills, trusts, and powers of attorney. Client Communication: Improved ability to communicate with clients with empathy and professionalism, especially when discussing sensitive family and financial matters. Legal Research and Writing: Ability to conduct research on relevant state and federal laws and draft memos, summaries, or client letters. Attention to Detail: Skill in reviewing complex documents and ensuring accuracy and compliance with legal standards. Administrative Competence: Familiarity with filing procedures, calendaring deadlines, organizing client files, and managing case-related documentation. Professional Development: Ethical Considerations: Exposure to issues of confidentiality, fiduciary duty, and the ethical responsibilities of estate planning attorneys. Team Collaboration: Experience working with attorneys, paralegals, and administrative staff in a professional legal setting. Problem-Solving: Development of analytical thinking and the ability to propose tailored solutions to meet client goals. This internship prepares students for future legal careers by giving them firsthand insight into both the technical and human aspects of estate planning practice.
They typically receive a combination of formal and hands-on training designed to build both legal knowledge and practical skills. Training may include: 1. Orientation & Office Procedures Overview of the firm's structure, mission, and client service standards Training on confidentiality, file management, calendaring, and document handling Instruction on using legal practice software (e.g., Clio, WealthCounsel, HotDocs, or MS Office) 2. Legal Document Familiarity Guided review of common estate planning documents such as: Revocable and irrevocable trusts Last wills and testaments Durable powers of attorney Advance health care directives Trust transfer deeds and property schedules Explanation of when and why each document is used 3. Drafting & Document Preparation Step-by-step training on drafting standard estate planning documents under supervision Instruction on tailoring templates to fit specific client needs and fact patterns Practice editing documents for accuracy and clarity 4. Legal Research & Writing Supervised legal research assignments on estate, probate, or tax issues Training in writing research memos, case summaries, or client correspondence 5. Client Interaction & Professionalism Observation of client meetings (with permission) to learn effective communication Coaching on professional demeanor, note-taking, and follow-up Training on how to handle sensitive discussions around incapacity, death, or family conflict 6. Probate & Trust Administration Procedures Instruction on California probate timelines and required forms (e.g., petitions, notices) Overview of trustee duties and trust administration timelines Hands-on experience with court filings or trust asset inventories (if applicable) 7. Feedback and Supervision Regular check-ins with supervising attorneys or paralegals Constructive feedback on assignments and performance Opportunities for Q&A and mentorship throughout the internship This mix of guided learning and practical experience helps interns build confidence and develop competencies relevant to a future legal career, particularly in trusts, estates, and elder law.
Please email Ashby@CenturyTrusts.com and Lisa@CenturyTrusts.com that you are interested and why.
| Hours | Duration |
|---|---|
| 8 | hours per week |