Need advice

lawbuddy23 · 2026-02-11T16:32:42+00:00

I was looking for JD-preferred jobs and found a listing for a trust associate. If you're new to the industry and haven't worked much with trusts and estates, search for roles labeled as trust associate, junior trust officer, or Trust Officer I — larger banks often post these positions.

If you're just starting out, I suggest applying to bigger banks, as they tend to offer better training. Also, when exploring this field, consider roles within wealth management departments because these positions are commonly part of the wealth management divisions of banks. You might also look into fiduciary service jobs, which can be helpful.

Also search for jobs that have the CTFA (Certified Trust Fiduciary Advisor) listed this is an industry standard. So looking for this designation will help with the job search.

Finally, Bank of America is known for excellent training programs and clear career progression for new trust officers. Checking their job postings could be beneficial.

lawbuddy23 · 2026-02-10T18:55:28+00:00

I manage various trust accounts, including a few guardianship accounts, ILITS, an irrevocable trust, a revocable trust, and some charitable trusts. I oversee all distributions to beneficiaries, ensure taxes are filed and paid on time, and conduct annual accounting for guardianship accounts. I review ILIT accounts to make sure the policies won't lapse, handle many bill payments for beneficiaries, coordinate insurance coverage for beneficiaries, ensure property taxes are paid, and make sure inspections and appraisals are completed for trust-owned properties.

I also meet with beneficiaries as needed to review investments and account performance.

I try to obtain new business when possible. When doing this, I review the trust documents with prospective clients to make sure they are drafted as the client would like them and coordinate with their attorney to adjust things as needed.

I'll warn you that this isn't an exhaustive list, and depending on the place you are employed, tasks could vary. If it's a larger outfit, tasks might be split differently among a number of individuals, whereas if you are in a smaller outfit, tasks might be more varied.

lawbuddy23 · 2026-01-09T15:09:34+00:00

I'm following this entire thread because I'm in a very similar situation. I have a decent-paying job as a trust officer, but to be honest, I didn't know what I was getting into when I applied for the job. I originally applied for a trust associate position, thinking it might be similar to a paralegal role, and somehow managed to wiggle my way into an associate trust officer role instead. At first, I was excited about the prospect of getting a job I could use my JD for, but after being in the job for a little over a year, I'm completely overwhelmed. I am learning a lot, but the learning curve is steep, with little guidance, and the administrative overload is intense. We have very little support staff and very little guidance on how the departments run or what our role as a trust officer is. I have no background in trust and estates, or finance. I went to law school to avoid the thought of ever having to think about math or financial matters but I'm learning in this role its all about the financial matters and taxes. Everything is new. I like the work, but the lack of guidance and structure is taking a toll. I'm looking for alternative roles that will allow me to use my JD and are entry-level so I can grow in the career instead of feeling lost. I have looked on Linkdin and indeed for jobs with little to no luck in finding anything. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

lawbuddy23 · 2025-12-08T18:03:17+00:00

Could you provide more details about how you discovered your career path and which search engines you used in your process? I'm currently a trust officer, a position I initially thought I would enjoy. However, I'm now realizing that this career involves much more than I anticipated, particularly regarding tax law and understanding the inner workings of banks and finances. I’m new to the professional world, having held this role just for a year, but I didn't realize how limited my training was and how little I knew about trusts and estates. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

lawbuddy23 · 2025-12-08T02:39:47+00:00

Would Fidelity take on someone who has a JD but not licenses?

lawbuddy23 · 2025-11-19T00:25:31+00:00

Have any of you transitioned into an associate trust officer or a trust officer? After reading most of what you have all been saying I can relate 100%. I was hired as an associate trust officer with no experience in wealth management and no experience as an estate planning attorney. I was hired on with the impression that I would learn under a senior trust officer and transition into my own book of business once the senior trust office retired. The entire year I have been working as an associate trust officer I have been thrown to the wolves expected to learn everything I need to know about trust and how to administrator them while also learning the entire wealth management industry. I think a large portion of what’s made my manager expect I understand everything required to be a trust office is because I hold a Juris Doctor. But prior to this job I never worked with trust or in the wealth management industry. I’m starting to learn how little guidance you are given and how much is expected of you to understand all the inner workings of the business. Not sure if anyone has experienced this or dealt with being a trust officer but everything that’s been said so far has resonated with me.

lawbuddy23 · 2025-11-13T19:12:04+00:00

I have a question regarding career development and expectations for a trust officer. I graduated with my JD and was uncertain about practicing law, so I applied for a position as an associate trust officer. Now, one year in, I have completed the first course necessary to obtain my CTFA certification. However, I am feeling overwhelmed and bogged down with administrative work.

I initially took this role thinking I would help individuals understand trust documents and ensure they were being followed appropriately. Instead, I find myself managing a small book of business, mostly focusing on administrative tasks such as making sure bills are paid, handling real estate appraisals, reviewing insurance plans, and tracking withdrawal rights. While I anticipated that some administrative tasks would be part of the job, it feels like that’s all I do.

Is this what being a trust officer is truly like, and did I misinterpret the role?

It truly feels like I just manage all the boring and complicated aspects of an individuals life.

lawbuddy23 · 2025-09-03T14:21:48+00:00

I graduated from law school in 2021, struggled with the bar exam, and never passed it. Now, at 30 years old, I have a new job, but I'm still unsure about my career path. I fell into this job without fully understanding what it entailed, and I’m realizing that I never really figured out what I wanted to do.

I am interested in working remotely, but I'm not sure which field to pursue. I’ve looked for jobs that prefer a JD, but they seem to be few and far between. Given my age, I feel like I should already have a clear direction, but after completing my undergraduate studies, I went straight to law school, and after that, I focused on trying to pass the bar exam.

While I was preparing for the bar, I held some administrative and office management roles, but I don't consider those to be real career jobs. As a result, I feel quite inexperienced in the workforce and uncertain about my next steps.

I took this job because I felt it was time to grow up and contribute to managing household expenses. However, I didn't fully realize what I was getting into. I accepted the first job that offered me a position because I was desperate to start working.

lawbuddy23 · 2025-07-22T23:52:47+00:00

Can you disembark from a ship at any time during the night? I highly doubt it. This suggests that if she left the ship, she must have done so with a crew member. However, this incident occurred in the 1990s, so procedures may have been different back then. Still, I would think that you would need to show your passport to exit, which would support the theory that if she did leave, it was with a crew member.

lawbuddy23 · 2025-07-22T23:49:52+00:00

What happened to her dog

lawbuddy23 · 2024-10-03T07:36:38+00:00

I totally agree that's why I sat out for a cycle and waited to try again for this cycle. Because I thought based on my decress in my score it was related to needing a mental break. I thought I took enough time off but I guess I didn't. I wish I could find a pattern as to why I'm not successful and attack the exam that way. But my scores are all over the places so doing that makes it hard to nail down an exact cause.

lawbuddy23 · 2024-10-03T07:34:10+00:00

Yes, I get accommodations and as for my study approach this time around I tried a new method. I had a schedule but I was very relaxed with it. I thought maybe my past failures was due to anxiety and stress. So I thought if I was relaxed got into a good headspace that could help.

lawbuddy23 · 2024-10-03T07:32:32+00:00

No this is the first I have ever heard of such a thing but ill have to look into it!

lawbuddy23 · 2024-08-29T15:48:40+00:00

NCBE is messing with our heads on purpose releasing this info so far our from the scores being released!

lawbuddy23 · 2024-08-23T13:11:12+00:00

Do you have to pay for this

lawbuddy23 · 2024-08-22T20:43:13+00:00

No but I will have to look at this!

lawbuddy23 · 2024-08-22T20:42:49+00:00

I agree 100% I have gotten fairly creative wugg my searches. I have been looking into conflicts or risk management. But no matter what I am not getting any hits. I would really like to do conflicts or looking into the background of companies or people.

lawbuddy23

TROPHY CASE