Career Deep Dives: Trust and Estates Litigation Attorney
The legal field offers a multitude of specialization opportunities. Trusts and estates offer one potential path of specialization.
Here, we walk the curious through the details of work as a trusts and estates litigation lawyer. We’ll cover the education you need, essential certifications and continuing education, and the traits shared by successful attorneys in this specialization.
Education for Trusts and Estates Litigation Attorneys
Early-career trusts and estates litigation attorneys frequently find they benefit from taking classes and seminars on estate law during law school. These include the trusts and estates overview course many law schools offer, as well as focused classes on trusts, estate law, and related issues.
In addition, classes on the finer points of litigation prepare these attorneys for the courtroom. In-depth work on the rules of evidence, civil procedure, and trial preparation is often beneficial.
Certifications and Continuing Education for Trusts and Estates Litigation
If you opted to skip trusts and estates classes or settled for the minimum requirements in civil procedure or evidence, don’t worry. Certifications and continuing education in this field are available in many US states, both for lawyers and for non-legal professionals.
Many state bar organizations offer certificate programs or practice area sections on trusts and estates and on litigation. The State Bar of Michigan’s Institute of Continuing Legal Education (ICLE), for instance, offers a Probate and Estate Planning Certification Program. These offerings allow you to connect with other trusts and estate attorneys, building your professional network as well as teaching you essential knowledge and skills.
Other organizations offer related credentials as well. The Certified Trust and Estate Specialist (CES) offering is a self-study certification offered by the Institute of Business and Finance. These certifications can help you learn more about the field and sharpen your knowledge.
Is Trusts and Estates Litigation Right for You?
Every legal practice area appeals to some personalities more than others, and trusts and estate litigation is no exception. Attorneys who thrive in this practice area tend to share certain traits, including:
- Critical and logical thinking.
- All litigators need to be able to sort critical details from non-essential information. This skill is particularly valuable for trusts and estate litigators, who must focus on key details within sprawling, comprehensive estate paperwork.
- Communication skills.
- All attorneys need great communication skills; for trusts and estates litigators, these skills can make or break a case. If you can express yourself clearly in writing and communicate key details verbally to a wide range of audiences, trusts and estates litigation may be a good fit.
- Empathy.
- Emotions can run high in trusts and estates work. If a family is in court over an estate plan, their relationships are already strained. Lawyers who can listen and show compassion can often succeed where others fail.
- Perseverance.
- Trusts and estate litigators may spend months or years on one case. Perseverance is a must for success.
If this list of traits resonates with you, trusts and estates litigation might be a good fit.
Want to explore your career options in the legal field? Check out our available positions or contact Avata Partners today!
