Base Salary: $120,000 – $140,000 (based on years of experience)
Bonus: Annual discretionary performance bonus — total compensation can reach $200,000+ for strong performers
Retirement: 401(k) with profit sharing (firm contributes regardless of your contribution level)
Additional Benefits: Health, dental, and vision insurance; paid time off
Note: Bonus is pro-rated for mid-year starts and is paid annually after Christmas. The firm does not have a formal billable hour requirement — the expectation is simply to stay busy, and there is no shortage of work.
What we're looking for:
We need an estate planning attorney with 2-4 years of post-JD experience in trust and estate administration who is ready to take on substantive client work from day one. You should be comfortable advising on estate, gift, and property tax issues, drafting estate planning documents, and working collaboratively with senior shareholders. An LLM in Taxation is preferred but not required.
What you'll do:
- Handle trust and estate administration matters, advising clients on complex estate, gift, and property tax issues
- Draft trusts, wills, powers of attorney, and other estate planning documents for a diverse client base
- Work closely with senior estate planning shareholders to manage and grow client relationships
- Take on increasing responsibility as part of a succession plan from a retiring senior shareholder who is actively transitioning her book of business
- Advise clients on California tax law matters and coordinate with corporate/M&A teams where estate planning intersects with business transactions
- Contribute to a collegial, collaborative practice group that is actively growing to meet high client demand
Lewitt Hackman is an award-winning, full-service law firm established in 1969 in the San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles. For over 55 years, the firm has served clients across a broad range of practice areas including estate planning, trust and estate administration, corporate law, mergers and acquisitions, business and civil litigation, intellectual property, environmental law, employment, real estate, family law, health care, and tax planning.
The firm is financially strong with robust books of business and a solid client base that keeps attorneys consistently busy — in fact, the estate planning group is currently turning away work due to demand. Lewitt Hackman has built a strong reputation in the Southern California legal community for delivering sophisticated legal services while maintaining a genuinely collegial and supportive work environment.
Culture & Values:
- Collegial and respectful: The firm prides itself on being a genuinely nice place to work. Senior leadership sets the tone — there are no "yellers" and attorneys at all levels treat each other with professionalism and respect.
- Merit-based advancement: The firm recognizes and rewards talent. There are no artificial barriers to partnership — attorneys who perform and contribute are given real opportunities to advance to shareholder status. A recent senior counsel was promoted to shareholder in just 3-4 years.
- Work-life balance: While attorneys are expected to stay busy, the firm explicitly discourages burnout. Billable hours typically run 1,600-1,800 per year, well below BigLaw norms, with no formal billable floor in offer letters.
- Long-tenured professionals: Many attorneys and staff have been with the firm for years, reflecting a stable and satisfying work environment.
- Flexibility earned through trust: The firm values in-person collaboration initially, but attorneys who demonstrate fit enjoy significant flexibility in their schedules.
Team size
50 employeesFounded
Website
www.lewitthackman.com/Company locations
Lewitt Hackman is a place where attorneys genuinely enjoy working together. The firm's Executive Director, who has been with the firm for 10 years, describes the culture as one built on mutual respect and professionalism — starting from the managing shareholders down through every level of the organization.
What it's like to work here:
- No yellers, no egos: Senior leadership sets a collegial tone. Attorneys are described as "bright, brilliant, and nice people" who treat each other with genuine respect.
- Manageable workload: Billable hours average 1,600-1,800 per year — significantly below BigLaw expectations. The firm actively discourages burnout and doesn't impose a formal billable floor.
- Real growth opportunities: The firm is in "next generation" mode, with senior attorneys looking to step back and pass client relationships to emerging professionals. Promotion to shareholder is merit-based with no artificial barriers.
- Stability and longevity: Many attorneys and staff have been with the firm for years, reflecting a work environment that people genuinely want to stay in.
- Professional support: Associates receive legal assistant and paralegal support, with ratios varying by seniority and practice area needs.
The firm is actively building its next generation of leaders and looking for like-minded professionals who want to find a long-term home where they can grow their careers in a supportive, professional environment.