Presentation: Becoming a Trust & Estate Lawyer

A discussion on career paths that can contribute to closing the racial wealth gap.

February 12, 2021 | 12:30 - 1:30 PM | Free Online Presentation

A diverse panel of trust and estate professionals share stories about their career path.

 Moderator, ACTEC Fellow Sarah Moore Johnson or Birchstone Moore LLC

 Panelist, Vanesa Browne of Bessemer Trust

 Panelist, ACTEC Fellow Stephanie Perry of Pasternak & Fidis, PC

 Panelist, Kalimah White of TD Wealth Management

Learn about the Trusts and Estates profession, pathways to entry and success, and the need for diverse lawyers in the field. This career can impact social justice by building, keeping, and leveraging wealth in families and communities.

Resources 

• J. Franklyn Bourne Bar Association - An association committed to legal excellence, community service, and the advancement of African American minorities in the legal profession. Their membership consists primarily of African American attorneys who live and/or work in Prince George's and Montgomery counties in Maryland.
• Summer Scholars Pipeline Program of the Montgomery County, MD Bar Foundation for second year law students.
• Association of Black Estate Planning Professionals an organization committed to enhancing diversity in our profession as well as closing the racial wealth gap. (Panelist Kalimah White is on the board of this organization.)   
• The ACTEC Foundation Law Student Writing Competition  
• American Bar Association (ABA) Student Membership
• ABA Law Student Writing Competition
• ABA Fellows Program 
• ABA Real Property, Trust and Estate Law Section
• Virtual National CLE Conference
• African American Attorney Network
• Washington, DC Estate Planning Council
• The Maryland State Bar Association (MSBA) connects and empowers the legal profession through ongoing support and advocacy. They help members at every stage of their careers and serve the entire legal profession across Maryland and beyond. The MSBA offers free memberships to law students. Join the MSBA for free and then join the Estate and Trust Section (also free to law students) and register to attend E&T Study Group programs (free to Section members). The E&T Study Group has monthly lunchtime programs that may be of interest to students.
  • MSBA Section of Estate and Trust, chaired by ACTEC Fellow Anne W. Coventry, shares a regular newsletter. Anne recommends reading the article (beginning on p.6) written by Portia and Robin Wood, of Wood Legal Group, about "The Role of Estate Planning and the Legal Profession in Closing the Racial Wealth Gap." 

Additional Information

Planning for a Diverse and Equitable Future is a monthly video series created by The American College of Trust and Estate Counsel’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusivity Committee. ACTEC considers the historical, continuing, and devastating impact of institutionalized racism against people of color in our society to be a humanitarian, rather than a political issue.

This series strives to educate by discussing issues surrounding racism and offer recommendations to combat inequality.

More Resources for Students

• Learn about an inspiring program supported by The ACTEC Foundation that promotes estate planning in communities needing it most - The Commons Law Center. 
• Resources for Trust and Estate Law Students
• More information about The American College of Trust and Estate Counsel
• ACTEC Fellow Directory