Senior Associate Attorney

If you would like to know a bit more about this opportunity, or are considering applying, then please read the following job information.

EHC is a women-owned Bay Area law firm specializing in trust and estate litigation. We're smart, quick-witted, and funny, and we take no-nonsense efficiency seriously. We genuinely enjoy working together. Most of our employees have been with us for 5+ years, which either means we're doing something right or they're all too comfortable with our coffee setup and snacks. (It's both.)

Our commitment to work-life balance is genuine, not lip service. We understand that sustainable, excellent legal work requires attorneys who have full lives outside the office—whether that's coaching a mock trial, training for a marathon, or finally learning to make decent sourdough. While minimal evening and weekend work is occasionally necessary to meet court deadlines and client needs, this is the exception rather than the rule.

We operate out of a modern office in Novato with cutting-edge technology in our mostly paperless practice. Our tech stack would make a BigLaw IT department jealous, minus the soul-crushing hours. Our attorneys and staff reside throughout the Bay Area, including Marin, Sonoma, San Francisco, and Alameda counties, which speaks to our genuine commitment to flexible work arrangements.

The team comprises passionate and effective legal advocates who are recognized as experts in our field by estate planners, mediators, and courts. We have high ethical and moral standards and are committed to civility in the practice of law—even when opposing counsel makes it challenging. We genuinely care about our clients and about each other.

• The Work :

Let's be honest : trust and estate litigation is uniquely challenging work, and it's not for everyone. (Hence the lawyer joke requirement in the application—we need to know you have a sense of humor about this profession.)

Our cases involve families in crisis—siblings fighting over inheritances; adult children concerned about elder financial abuse, beneficiaries disputing trustee actions. We also represent professional fiduciaries who themselves are navigating the emotional complexities of the families they serve, and non-profit organizations and foundations who are beneficiaries of donors' estates or trusts. Additionally, we handle contested conservatorship and guardianship matters, with a deep commitment to protecting vulnerable adults and children.

While this position will focus on disputed matters in court, our firm also handles administration of estates, trusts, conservatorships, and guardianships that involve challenging family situations. You'll be part of a team with deep expertise across both contentious and non-contentious matters.

You'll work with clients navigating grief, betrayal, and difficult family relationships. This work requires not just legal skill, but genuine empathy, emotional intelligence, and the ability to counsel clients through some of the most difficult periods of their lives. Our clients range from individual family members to professional fiduciaries to charitable organizations—each with their own needs and challenges.

If you're energized by helping people through family conflict, protecting those who cannot protect themselves, and advocating for clients doing important fiduciary work, this could be the right fit. If the phrase "family drama" makes you want to run for the hills, this is probably not your practice area. (And that's totally okay—see the first attorney who left us. No hard feelings.)

Are you a highly skilled and driven litigator passionate about achieving exceptional results? We are actively seeking an experienced Senior Associate Attorney to join our team. If you possess the following qualities, we'd love to hear from you :

1. Research, Writing, and Analytical Excellence : You can demonstrate a consistent track record of producing written work product that includes a statement of facts, legal analysis, and argument and has been filed in court. We value clear, concise, persuasive writing that is devoid of legalese. If your writing style involves phrases like "pursuant to" and "hereinafter," we need to talk. If you can explain complicated trust law in a way that makes clients feel informed rather than intimidated, we should definitely talk.

2. Case Management and Litigation Experience : Hands-on experience working up cases from start to finish, investigating facts, handling written discovery, conducting depositions, and collaborating with experts. You should be able to explain your process and provide examples of how it developed over time. Trial preparation and experience are highly valued. A competitive spirit is a plus—we like to win, but we play fair and stay classy.

3. Familiarity with Legal Tech : Proficiency in using legal technology such as Clio, Office 365 (Word, Excel, Outlook), Adobe Pro, Relativity, and Westlaw (or similar systems) is a must. Our firm is primarily paperless, and tech-savvy attorneys thrive in our modern practice. Experience managing e-discovery is highly valued. If you're the person your friends call when they can't figure out their phone, even better.

4. Personality Fit and Practice Area Commitment : We appreciate authenticity, transparency, directness, a great sense of humor, and vibrant energy. We're looking for someone who's genuinely drawn to trust and estate litigation specifically—not just any litigation position. You should be able to articulate why this work appeals to you and demonstrate a long-term commitment to this field.

You need to be highly comfortable with public speaking and managing emotionally charged client situations. You should thrive working with families in conflict and be growth-minded with a genuine desire to build a stellar reputation as a trust and estate litigator. Intelligence, wit, and the ability to think on your feet are essential. So is being a good human who works well with others.

• Job Responsibilities :

Litigation Strategy and Case Management

• Conduct factual and legal research and analysis and use it to develop litigation plans and case strategies designed to meet each client's stated goals.
• Draft file-ready petitions, complaints, pleadings, motions, legal briefs, declarations, and other documents related to settlement, mediation, and trial.
• Manage all aspects of litigation, including discovery, depositions, hearings, and trials.
• Collaborate with senior attorneys to develop litigation plans and objectives.
• Client Representation
• Meet with clients to assess their needs and provide legal advice.
• Advocate for clients' interests in court proceedings, negotiations, and settlement discussions.
• Build strong client relationships based on trust, professionalism, and effective communication.
• Keep clients informed about case developments and provide timely updates.

Client Counseling in High-Conflict Matters

• Guide clients through emotionally charged family disputes with empathy and professionalism.
• Manage client expectations in cases involving grief, betrayal, and broken family relationships.
• Maintain appropriate boundaries while providing compassionate representation.

Legal Research and Writing

• Stay current with relevant laws, regulations, and legal precedents.
• Conduct thorough legal research to support case strategies and arguments.
• Prepare well-written, concise, and persuasive legal briefs, memos, and correspondence.

Collaboration and Teamwork

• Collaborate with a team of attorneys and paralegals to deliver comprehensive legal services.
• Provide mentorship and guidance to junior attorneys and paralegals.
• Assist senior attorneys in sophisticated and high-profile cases.
• Participate in firm-wide initiatives and contribute to the development of best practices.
• Qualifications :
• Juris Doctorate from an ABA-accredited law school.
• Admission to the California bar and in good standing.
• Minimum of 5 years of litigation experience in California State Courts.
• Preferred but not required : strong knowledge of trust law, estate planning, probate procedures, and fiduciary responsibilities.
• Demonstrable interest in this practice area. You should be able to articulate why you're pursuing a career in trust and estate litigation specifically. "I need a job" is not a compelling answer. "I find meaning in helping families navigate these difficult situations" is.
• Excellent legal research, writing, and analytical skills.
• Demonstrated experience in managing all phases of litigation, including trial preparation and courtroom advocacy.
• Ability to work independently and efficiently while handling a substantial caseload.
• Exceptional attention to detail and organizational skills.
• Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate directly and effectively with clients, colleagues, and opposing counsel.
• Demonstrated commitment to professionalism, ethics, and client service.
• Thoughtful consideration of location and logistics : Our office is in Novato. While our court appearances are concentrated in Marin County Superior Court, we practice in courts throughout the Bay Area and California. Remote court appearances are acceptable and common for most matters, with in-person attendance required primarily for critical pre-trial and post-trial hearings and trials. We offer significant flexibility—including the possibility of fully remote work after an initial onboarding period for the right candidate. However, you must be able to reliably attend in-person client meetings, critical court appearances, depositions, and team meetings as needed.
• To Apply :

Submit your resume and a cover letter addressing : (1) why you are specifically interested in trust and estate litigation (not just litigation generally), (2) your experience handling emotionally challenging client situations or family conflict, (3) how you've considered the logistics of this position—including our Novato office, court appearances throughout California (primarily in the Bay Area), and the need for occasional in-person attendance—and whether this arrangement works for your long-term plans, (4) examples demonstrating the qualities listed above, and (5) your best lawyer joke.

Please also provide at least two samples of your written work that you personally drafted and that were filed in court. (If you're thinking "I'll just submit something my colleague wrote that I edited," don't. We can tell. We're lawyers.)

Job Type : Full-time

Pay : $200,000.00 - $250,000.00 per year

Benefits :
• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Parental leave

Experience :

• Litigation : 5 years (Required)

License / Certification :

• Bar (Required)

Work Location : Hybrid remote in Novato, CA 94945