Certus Legal Group, Ltd. is a Tier 1 estate planning and business succession law firm built around thoughtful, creative counsel and deep client relationships. Our clients are engaging, accomplished people who want to understand what they’re doing and why — and they value attorneys who can communicate clearly without hiding behind jargon or legalese.
We are seeking an attorney who is
intellectually curious and motivated by the work and its impact — someone who wants to grow into a sophisticated, highly trusted advisor to successful individuals, couples, families, and closely held business owners.
The Opportunity
A Boutique Platform Doing “Big Law” Work — Outside of the “Big Law” Environment
We are a boutique law firm focused on estate planning, trust and estate administration, business succession, and family office work. We operate with a collegial culture based on respect and shared commitment to a high-quality client and work experience. Our smaller environment and singular practice focus allows for a very different feel and flexibility than can be found in larger, full-service law firms.
The State of Our Practice and Growth
Our practice has grown significantly with high-net-worth clients and increasingly in the family office space — relationships that are deeper, more complex, and more advisory in nature. Our next attorney will experience traditional and higher-end estate planning work, with opportunity for family office work and exposure dependent on interest and aptitude. The success of our senior partners also affords opportunities to serve clients directly and assume client responsibility fairly quickly. In other words, this is not a static role — it’s a growth track.
Location
This position is being posted for our Milwaukee office. We do, however, offer a great deal of flexibility to work hybrid/remote. Therefore, candidates who are or would be based outside of the Milwaukee area or outside of Wisconsin will be considered.
Mentorship, Coaching, and Direct Access
You will work closely with
one or more of our well-respected senior attorneys on active matters from the outset. We believe strongly in mentoring, coaching, and encouraging attorneys to flourish personally and professionally. You'll get consistent feedback on writing, analysis, strategy, problem solving, client-centric plan design, and client communication.
At the same time, we do
not micromanage. We hire professionals and trust them — which means the right person will have:
- initiative and follow-through,
- ownership of deadlines and work quality, and
- a genuine desire to understand the more complex aspects of planning.
What You’ll Do
Depending on your experience, you’ll handle a mix of responsibilities such as:
- Drafting and reviewing estate planning documents (including complex trust structures and wealth transfer strategies)
- Advising clients and coordinating with other advisors (CPA, wealth management, fiduciary, insurance, etc.)
- Participating in and leading client meetings over time, with increasing responsibility
- Managing matters independently as you grow, while receiving support and feedback
- Contributing to sophisticated planning work for high-net-worth families and more complex advisory engagements
Work Structure
We do
not operate with rigid billable hour requirements because we believe that the billable hour structure negatively impacts both client and attorney experience. Rather, we focus on fostering excellent client relationships and getting high-quality work done.
That said, this is a professional role that isn't a standard 9 to 5 workday expectation. Workloads also vary with client needs and time of year. During busier periods (e.g., tax season and concentrated planning windows), you should expect to flex upward when needed. There is plenty of flexibility throughout, though, and having a life outside of the office is something we want for all team members.
What We’re Looking For
We are flexible on years of experience (ideal is
4+ years), as we are far more focused on long-term fit and capability.
Core traits we value:
-
Intellectual curiosity and a desire to understand “why,” not just execute tasks
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Strong judgment and analytical thinking
-
Tight, clear writing and attention to detail
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A client-service mindset grounded in clarity, empathy, and professionalism
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Comfort working in a boutique environment that rewards initiative and ownership
Experience in trusts & estates / tax / business law is helpful — but we will consider candidates with strong fundamentals and the right mindset who want to grow into the practice.
Compensation and Structure
At Certus, we are intentional about how we structure work experience, culture and compensation. Just like we look for long-term, positive relationships with our clients, we have established a platform where smart, creative, attorneys who care about the work and those they serve can build meaningful, long-term practices and be rewarded for the value they contribute.
You will see that play out in compensation for the role that is competitive base salary based on experience, capability, and fit for the long-term. We have a strong performance-based component that directly rewards client development and the ability to take ownership of work inside the firm. This leads to meaningful upside as your practice develops and responsibilities grow. In short, you can build a career here that is very rewarding professionally and financially.
Qualifying employees will have the opportunity to participate in:
- 401k Plan with 3% contribution from the firm
- Long Term Disability Plan
- Group Life Insurance
How to Apply
Please send:
- a resume,
- a writing sample (something that reflects your natural writing style), and
- a short note on what you’re looking for long-term in your practice.
Email submissions and any questions about the position can be sent to
info@certuslegalgroup.com.
