Associate Attorney- Estate Planning

Job Title: Estate Planning Attorney

Location: Carlsbad Village, CA (Office-based, not remote)    

Position Type: Full-Time

At AC Howard Law, we are dedicated to providing compassionate legal services that honor our clients' emotional and financial needs during life’s most challenging transitions. Our mission is to secure and protect families—from cradle to grave—by crafting thoughtful legal documents with expertise and empathy. Be fulfilled with your law degree and lead with your heart on sensitive family-centered legal matters.  Use your Type-A attention to detail productively and see the fruits of your efforts with hugs from happy clients.

We believe estate planning isn't just about a pretty binder, it’s about human connection. We dive deep into real conversations: protecting beloved fur-babies, preserving cherished family heirlooms, and helping families navigate the logistics of illness, hospitalization, and peace of mind. Our goal is for every client to walk out after signing their plan with a genuine smile of relief and maybe even a little sadness that their meetings with you are ending.

If you want to use your legal prowess to genuinely care for people during life's biggest milestones, we’d love to meet you.

• Real Purpose & Impact: Be the trusted guide and go-to resource for diverse families of all shapes and sizes, with a deep focus on serving and empowering the LGBTQ+ community.
• Client-First Culture: Say goodbye to billable-hour burnout where volume triumphs over value. Here, your success is measured by candidate quality, client trust, and personal connection.
• Growth & Leadership: Play a direct, key role in expanding our footprint and reputation across North County San Diego as THE most trusted legal partner for over 600 past served clients.

• Counsel & Guide: Host warm, empathetic consultation and design sessions with clients, listening to their unique stories, values, and family dynamics.
• Craft Comprehensive Plans: Draft and tailor estate plans, trusts, wills, powers of attorney, and healthcare directives with precision and heart.
• Build Relationships: Serve as a compassionate anchor for clients during family emergencies, unexpected health crises, or complex life transitions.
• Support Probate and Trust Administration Cases:  Review the work of paralegals handling no-contest probate proceedings, and fill-in for other attorneys handling trust administration.  
• Community Engagement: Serve as an ambassador for our firm, expanding our presence within North County San Diego and the LGBTQ+ community.

• Licensed Attorney: Active bar license in good standing (California).
• Estate Planning Experience: Demonstrated one year experience in high volume estate planning.
• High Emotional Intelligence (EQ): Exceptional listening skills, empathy, and the ability to make complex legal concepts clear, approachable, and comforting to clients.
• Community-Minded: A passion for advocacy, inclusive legal practices, and building lasting relationships.

• Salary Range: $130,000 – $160,000 (commensurate with experience)
• Paid Time Off (PTO) & Paid Holidays
• 401K Match
• Free parking and 10 blocks from the beach, ground-floor ADA compliant suite.
• If it interests you, learn more about surrogacy and  adoption (family building) and prenuptial agreement drafting and marriage settlement agreement reviews (non-litigation, limited-scope family law).