Deciding how to handle assets and personal wishes is one of the most significant decisions clients face. Estate planning attorneys provide the legal expertise and support needed to help individuals organize their affairs, draft wills and trusts, and prepare for the unexpected. As you build your skills in this area, tools like estate planning software can help you stay organized and prepared for the unique needs of every client.
If you like the idea of guiding families through these important decisions and protecting their legacies for generations to come, estate planning law might be for you. Let’s take a look at what this practice area involves and how you can make it your specialty.
What Does an Estate Planning Lawyer Do?
Estate planning lawyers help clients make decisions about how to manage and distribute their assets, both during their lives and after they pass away. Their work often includes preparing legal documents such as wills, trusts, and powers of attorney. Often, estate planning lawyers collaborate with financial advisors, accountants, and other professionals to ensure a client’s estate plan fits into their overall financial strategy.
Some of the more common tasks estate planning lawyers do in their day-to-day, beyond document preparation, include:
- Creating detailed estate plans that reflect a client’s specific goals.
- Explaining how different legal options could affect a client’s family.
- Helping clients properly title assets like real estate or investments.
- Offering strategies to reduce taxes on inheritance and gifts.
- Providing suggestions on how to choose beneficiaries for different financial accounts.
- Assisting with healthcare directives and planning for long-term care.
- Representing clients and their families in probate court when disputes or complications arise.
Overall, this kind of work is about offering practical solutions to deeply personal and emotional issues. The combination of legal knowledge and interpersonal skills makes estate planning a challenging but highly rewarding area of law.
Steps to Becoming an Estate Planning Attorney
Whether you’re on your way to becoming an attorney or considering transitioning into estate planning, here are the basic steps you’ll have to follow:
1. Lay the Foundation of Education, Law School, and the Bar Exam
If you’re not a lawyer yet, the journey begins with earning a bachelor’s degree. Law schools accept students from a range of academic backgrounds, but studying subjects like finance, accounting, or legal studies can give you a strong foundation for estate planning.
Once you’ve completed your undergraduate education, prepare for the Law School Admission Test (LSAT), a critical step in applying to law schools. Dedicate time to studying, as your LSAT score plays a big role in determining your options for law school admission.
Once admitted to law school, you’ll spend three years working toward your Juris Doctor (JD). In your first year, you’ll cover general legal principles, but the second and third years offer opportunities to specialize. Focus on courses like tax law, family law, real estate, and, of course, estate planning. Practical experience, like participating in clinics or internships focused on estate law, is invaluable.
After earning your JD, you’ll need to pass the bar exam in the state where you want to practice. Since estate planning heavily involves state-specific rules, it’s important to develop a solid understanding of the laws and regulations in your jurisdiction.
2. Look into Advanced Certifications and Continuing Education in Estate Planning
Once you’ve passed the bar, the learning doesn’t stop there. Pursuing advanced certifications, such as becoming a Certified Estate Planner (CEP®) through the National Institute of Certified Estate Planners, can enhance your credentials. If you’re transitioning from one practice area to estate planning, engage in CLE courses and attend estate planning seminars to bridge knowledge gaps and learn about current laws and practices.
3. Build a Professional Network with Variety
Networking is essential for growing your estate planning practice, whether you’re new to the field or making a career shift. Joining organizations like the American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys or local bar association sections focused on estate law connects you with peers who can share insights, provide mentorship, and refer clients. Attending events and participating in forums hosted by these groups can keep you informed about industry trends and best practices.
It’s equally important to expand your connections beyond the legal world. Building relationships with financial advisors, accountants, and insurance professionals creates opportunities for collaboration and referrals. These experts often work with individuals who need estate planning services, making them valuable partners in growing your client base.
How Long Does It Take to Become an Estate Planning Attorney?
The timeline varies depending on your pace, but most lawyers take about seven years to complete their education. That includes four years for an undergraduate degree and three years of law school. Additional time may be needed for bar exam preparation and earning optional certifications.
What’s a Typical Estate Planning Attorney Salary?
The salary for an estate planning attorney can depend on several factors, including their experience, location, and the size of the firm they work with. As of December 2024, the average annual salary for estate planning attorneys in the United States is around $168,238, with most earning between $147,459 and $186,476. Of course, individual circumstances and market conditions can cause salaries to fall outside this range.
How Are Estate Planning Attorneys Paid?
Estate planning attorneys typically use several different fee structures, depending on the services provided, the complexity of the estate, and client preferences.
Many estate planning attorneys charge flat fees for specific services, such as drafting a will, creating a trust, or preparing a comprehensive estate plan. This structure is common because the work is predictable and usually takes the same amount of time and effort with each client.
Hourly rates are less common in estate planning but are sometimes used for cases involving ongoing consultations or highly customized planning. For example, if a client needs estate tax advice that requires significant research or has a unique family situation, hourly billing might make more sense.
Is Estate Planning Right for You?
Estate planning law requires a mix of legal acumen, empathy, and attention to detail. It’s an ideal field for attorneys who value building long-term relationships and helping clients address deeply personal concerns.
Success in this field also means staying efficient and organized while managing multiple clients and their unique needs. Thankfully, using legal technology can help you streamline all of this work. Platforms like PracticePanther support estate planning attorneys with features like customizable document templates, automated workflows, and comprehensive case management. These features simplify the administrative side of your practice so you can prioritize building trust and delivering excellent results.
If you’re ready to explore how technology can enhance your estate planning practice, sign up for a free demo of PracticePanther today and see how it can help you grow.
