Description

Counsel:

Hybrid - option to work from home every Friday

FMDT is looking for Counsel to join the leadership team of FMDT.  We are looking for a candidate with a strong dedication to serving the disability community in Maryland.  

Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer, the Counsel assists the CEO with the day-to-day management of the services offered by FMDT to further our mission. If you are experienced in trust and estate planning and administration, with additional experience in guardianships, we invite you to apply to help us make a positive impact on the lives of our clients and their families!  

This is a great opportunity for an experienced, hands-on attorney looking to make a difference and enjoy a work-life balance.  Our ideal candidate thrives in working in a fast-paced, organized, and collaborative environment.  

This is a hands-on, roll-your-sleeves-up legal position.  Sound interesting?  Please keep reading! 

Key Priorities and Responsibilities:

• Provide accurate, relevant, and timely advice to the CEO and FMDT staff on legal matters, including but not limited to review and interpretation of program-related documents, to ensure compliance with documentation, laws, regulations, etc.
• Draft, review, and negotiate various documents and agreements.
• Manage and mitigate legal risks by contributing to the design and implementation of FMDT policies, procedures, resources, and training materials for FMDT staff.
• Assist the trust administration team and other staff members with transfer of assets into trust and other fiduciary accounts; review and approval of disbursements; review and approval of all required reporting documents; and other related matters as needed
• Manage litigation, including collaboration with outside counsel as approved by the CEO.
• Conduct initial and follow-up consultations with prospective clients, attorneys, and any other persons involved in each prospective trust account or other program.
• Sustain FMDT’s business by building, retaining, and growing trusted relationships with clients, attorneys, and other people involved with each program, via ongoing communication; maintaining a thorough understanding of client needs, interests, concerns, goals, options; etc.
• Collaborate with the trust administration team, staff accountant and outside accountants (as determined by CEO) for each pooled or non-pooled trust and all other services, regarding grantor letters and any/all tax returns needed.
• Supervise and train FMDT’s paralegal(s)/legal assistant(s) and other legal support staff in accordance with the Maryland Attorneys’ Rules of Professional Conduct.
• Provide training for other staff members as needed, regarding documents and management for trusts and other services.
• Assist CEO with the performance evaluation for FMDT staff, as requested by the CEO.
• Seek advice and assistance from outside counsel, as approved by the CEO.
• Prepare presentations and other materials for the Board, as directed by the CEO.
• Prepare and deliver educational presentations to various groups, as directed by the CEO.
• Adhere to the Maryland Attorneys’ Rules of Professional Conduct and take all necessary action to ensure continued good standing with the Court of Appeals of Maryland and eligibility under FMDT’s legal/professional liability and errors and omissions insurance policies.
• Maintain updated knowledge and continued learning, in areas such as legislative changes; and legal specialties including care planning for individuals with disabilities, estate planning and management, guardianships, probate, trust administration of all types (revocable trusts; special needs trusts; pooled and non-pooled; etc.), wealth management and preservation, conflict of interest and ethics, asset protection, and other topics related to all FMDT services.

Requirements

What We're Looking For:

• Juris Doctorate from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association
• Licensed to practice law in Maryland and in good standing with the Supreme Court of Maryland.
• 10+ years of experience as an attorney focusing on estate and trust planning and administration.
• Experience working with guardianships.
• Proficiency in MS Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook) and trust administration software/technology tools.
• Experience working with special needs planning, elder law, or disability-related matters is strongly preferred.
• Eligible to qualify for coverage under FMDT’s legal/professional liability and errors and omissions insurance policies.
• Proficiency in MS Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook).
• Able to perform in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment.
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to prioritize.
• Experience in a nonprofit or mission-driven organization is a plus.
• Knowledge of public benefit programs such as SSA, SSI, SSDI, Medicare, Medicaid, and waiver programs in the context of their support for trust beneficiaries (preferred).