4 answers
irene
Student
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
1
Question
Updated
2370 views
hi, current high schooler here. im thinking of becoming an estate planning lawyer. how is it like? any specific courses i should take?
Im thinking of being an estate planning lawywer.
questions:
-What are the struggles one will face in the long run.
-Is it actually worth it to be an estate lawyer? how are the work hours?
-What's the biggest downside of being an estate lawyer?
- What's something you wished someone had told you before you got in this profession?
Thank you for reading !! ⸜(｡˃ ᵕ ˂ )⸝♡
4 answers
Amber Lee
Tax Associate
84
Answers
New York, New York
Updated
Amber’s Answer
Hi Irene! I'm not an estate planning lawyer but have worked as a law clerk in a firm that specializes in that practice area in the U.S. I've also briefly practiced in estate administration in the U.S. Since you're based out of KL, I would strongly suggest that you seek out law students and practitioners in the area and ask for their advice on specific courses to take while you're in law school.
Practicing in estate planning and administration can be a rewarding experience. However, clients often come to you in a particularly vulnerable state--nobody likes to think about their own demise especially if they have young children or have other family members who are dependent on them, and they want to take affirmative steps while they are still living to ensure their loved ones are taken care of financially upon their passing. Clients also come from all sorts of backgrounds, and their family dynamics might demand special considerations during the planning process (e.g., perhaps the client is estranged from a child and would like to disinherit them or have blended families and do not wish to split their assets equally). As their lawyer, you will need to be extra sensitive to their needs as they are not always upfront about them, and you will have to provide legal advice while considering the various family dynamics at play. However, you should also take care not to be paternalistic by imposing your will upon your clients either. That's a tough balancing act you'll have to learn as an estate planning attorney.
If you are also engaged to help administer the estate upon your client's passing, you might encounter unhappy relatives who feel like they deserve a bigger share of the inheritance or are upset they did not receive an item that carries sentimental values (and would fight tooth and nail for it). This could all be emotionally draining for everyone involved--yourself included! But that shouldn't discourage you from pursuing this practice area. People need compassionate lawyers to help navigate difficult life stages after all.
As far as work hours go, I would imagine estate planning is not going to be as demanding as other practice areas since a lot of estate planning documents are pretty standard and would only require some basic math. I'm not sure about Malaysia, but in the U.S., we have drafting softwares that provide standard templates from which we can work as a starting point. You might encounter some complexities if you're also doing trust planning, and while I understand Malaysia does not currently have inheritance tax, there could be other tax implications that might arise.
As the other comment has pointed out, estate administrations in the U.S. can be a very long and drawn-out process--we're talking a year or more depending on the estate and how backlogged the courts are. However, I have heard the process is much faster in Malaysia. I was born and raised in KL and have heard probate should take only a couple months if no one is contesting the will, but that's something you could ask local practitioners to confirm.
I hope my answers were insightful. All the best in your future endeavors!
Practicing in estate planning and administration can be a rewarding experience. However, clients often come to you in a particularly vulnerable state--nobody likes to think about their own demise especially if they have young children or have other family members who are dependent on them, and they want to take affirmative steps while they are still living to ensure their loved ones are taken care of financially upon their passing. Clients also come from all sorts of backgrounds, and their family dynamics might demand special considerations during the planning process (e.g., perhaps the client is estranged from a child and would like to disinherit them or have blended families and do not wish to split their assets equally). As their lawyer, you will need to be extra sensitive to their needs as they are not always upfront about them, and you will have to provide legal advice while considering the various family dynamics at play. However, you should also take care not to be paternalistic by imposing your will upon your clients either. That's a tough balancing act you'll have to learn as an estate planning attorney.
If you are also engaged to help administer the estate upon your client's passing, you might encounter unhappy relatives who feel like they deserve a bigger share of the inheritance or are upset they did not receive an item that carries sentimental values (and would fight tooth and nail for it). This could all be emotionally draining for everyone involved--yourself included! But that shouldn't discourage you from pursuing this practice area. People need compassionate lawyers to help navigate difficult life stages after all.
As far as work hours go, I would imagine estate planning is not going to be as demanding as other practice areas since a lot of estate planning documents are pretty standard and would only require some basic math. I'm not sure about Malaysia, but in the U.S., we have drafting softwares that provide standard templates from which we can work as a starting point. You might encounter some complexities if you're also doing trust planning, and while I understand Malaysia does not currently have inheritance tax, there could be other tax implications that might arise.
As the other comment has pointed out, estate administrations in the U.S. can be a very long and drawn-out process--we're talking a year or more depending on the estate and how backlogged the courts are. However, I have heard the process is much faster in Malaysia. I was born and raised in KL and have heard probate should take only a couple months if no one is contesting the will, but that's something you could ask local practitioners to confirm.
I hope my answers were insightful. All the best in your future endeavors!
Thank you for your insight !! ദ്ദി(ᵔᗜᵔ)
irene
DENNIS BREEN
Lawyer
230
Answers
Cary, North Carolina
Updated
DENNIS’s Answer
Hi Irene: I have been a trial lawyer for over 40 years. Done only a few estates for friends and family.
Here are the struggles from my point of view:
a) most clients are elderly and getting accurate info from them can be an issue. Their memories are not always the best. Family members often get made because they think they are entitled to more than they are getting. The estate process is VERY slow. It's a ton of paperwork Getting all the proper papers filled out can be a nightmare.
b) Worth depends on your definition of worth! Can you make a lot of money? Depends on your clients. Hours - usually 9-5.
c) biggest downside is dealing with death all the time.
d) I got into the profession without any advice. I got into trial stuff by accident and found I loved it. Going through law school you'll find what you like and don't like. Goin with an open mind and you'll be fine.
Good luck - as a high school studentgo out and enjoy yourself. You are only young once. Go have fun!
Here are the struggles from my point of view:
a) most clients are elderly and getting accurate info from them can be an issue. Their memories are not always the best. Family members often get made because they think they are entitled to more than they are getting. The estate process is VERY slow. It's a ton of paperwork Getting all the proper papers filled out can be a nightmare.
b) Worth depends on your definition of worth! Can you make a lot of money? Depends on your clients. Hours - usually 9-5.
c) biggest downside is dealing with death all the time.
d) I got into the profession without any advice. I got into trial stuff by accident and found I loved it. Going through law school you'll find what you like and don't like. Goin with an open mind and you'll be fine.
Good luck - as a high school studentgo out and enjoy yourself. You are only young once. Go have fun!
Thank you so much for your reply Dennis !! (˶˃ ᵕ ˂˶)
irene
James Constantine Frangos
SOFTWARE ENGINEER SINCE 1972; NUTRITIONIST SINCE 1976.
7094
Answers
Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
Updated
James Constantine’s Answer
Good Day Irene!
Very well covered. This area of law can be very stressing to the practitioner. Particularly if your work involves lots of estate cases. Staying back late at night can lead to neurological issues, particularly burnout. This can lead to relationship breakdown too. To avoid burnout, people need good nutrition, rest and relaxation.
I worked as a contracted dietitian-nutritionist in the Australian outback and a private-practice D-N in a capital city. Most health practitioners avoid remote regions and stay in the cities. Hence the demand for health care practitioners is not satisfied in the outback.
So, a therapist in the outback can easily be overworked. A solicitor can experience this through sheer volume of work, too. Large volumes of estate work could be quite detrimental. In 1990, I consulted a solicitor who was burnt out. Her nutritional requirements were substantial, as was her symptomatology.
The human body relies on 102 nutrients to function at peak performance. That is evidenced by the stark improvement in academic results eventuating from nutritional repletion. The human brain is probably one of the most complex biochemical arrangements, which responds to the administration of nutrients from foods.
To avoid burnout, you require a high proportion of nutrient-dense foods, spread out, in small amounts so as not to steal blood circulation from the brain.
WATER
NEED 33 ML/KG BODY WEIGHT PER DAY [9.24 x 250ml cups for a 100kg (15 stone 10 pound) person]
LIGHT VEGETABLES
You also require alkaline metals from vegetables. Magnesium-rich foods will help stop burnout. Vegetables high in magnesium include Spinach, Swiss Chard, Lima Beans, Acorn Squash, Artichokes, Kale, Peas, Okra, Sweet Corn, and Potatoes. Even More Magnesium-Rich Vegetables:- Taro, Burdock Root, Nopales, Fireweed Leaves, Sweet Potato Leaves, Parsley, Purslane, Beet Greens, Garden Cress, Wakame Seaweed.
CARBOHYDRATES
LITTLE BITS ALL THROUGH THE DAY
An example is your selection of rice. Always select brown rice over white rice. Brown rice noodles - not white rice noodles. Try Millet Noodles, which are low glycemic index.
Vitamins: Brown rice noodles are rich in B vitamins, including thiamine (vitamin B1), riboflavin (vitamin B2), and niacin (vitamin B3). These vitamins are essential for energy production, cell metabolism, and nervous system function.
PROTEINS
LITTLE BITS ALL THROUGH THE DAY
Lean Meat, Poultry, Seafood [especially Oysters], Eggs, Cheese, Milk, Yoghurt.
OILS
Extra-Virgin Olive Oil [high polyphenol variety]
This form of nutritional manipulation can be done without pills. It is done by foods. It can elevate academic results to high distinctions [95%].
Similarly for work performance too. To get high Grade Point Averages and Perform Well at Work, we must adhere to the principles of very good nutritional intakes.
Nourish the Mind!
① No more than 2 hours between meals when studying or working. That ensures a steady supply of nutrients to the cerebellum.
② 33 milliliters per kilogram body weight per day water / green tea is an extremely powerful protective antioxidant.
③ Salads using vegetables like Artichokes, Asparagus, Aubergine, Bamboo shoots, Bean Sprouts, Beet Greens, Broccoli, Brussel Sprouts, Cabbage, Capsicum, Carrot, Cauliflower, Celeriac, Celery, Chard, Chilis, Chinese Veg Mix, Coffee, Collards, Courgettes, Cucumber, Dandelion, Endives, Garlic, Green beans, Herbal teas, Herbs, Kale, Leeks, Lettuce, Marrow, Mushrooms, Okra, Onion, Peppers, Pumpkin, Radishes, Rocket, Soup made from these vegetables, Soy beans, Spices, Spinach, Sprouts, Squash, Tea, Tomatoes, Tomato juice, Vegetable juice, Zucchini ad libitum.
These are not starchy, but have minerals like magnesium and potassium.
④ Use low glycemic index [GI under 55] carbohydrates up to 100 grams at a meal to ensure that the blood sugar is steady.
[breads, cereals, grains, pasta, fruit, legumes, starchy vegetables] Pumpernickel rye read is perfection like baked beans.
⑤ Use protein foods at each meal, 30 grams to 50 grams to supply amino acids to the brain, to make neurotransmitters.
[lean meat, poultry, crustaceans/fish/shellfish, egg, cheese, milk, yoghurt] Try vegetarian proteins too like peanut paste.
⑥ Approximately 25 grams lipids - highest polyphenol extra-virgin olive oil / olive oil spread / fish oil / cod liver oil.
[Better than Butter / Margarine].
SAMPLE MEAL: 1 SANDWICH MADE WITH BLACK PUMPERNICKEL RYE BREAD, RED SALMON, OLIVE OIL SPREAD, SALAD, BLACK OLIVES MINUS SEEDS; 2 CUPS OF GREEN TEA NO SUGAR.
REFERENCES:-
#1 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16014126/ (Nutrition and student performance at school Howard Taras 1)
#2 https://www.cmich.edu/news/details/how-important-is-nutrition-to-academic-success (How important is nutrition to academic success?)
#3 https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5746694/ (Associations between Dietary Intake and Academic Achievement in College Students: A Systematic Review Tracy L Burrows 1, Megan C Whatnall 1, Amanda J Patterson 1, Melinda J Hutchesson 1,*)
#4 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27599886/ (Is there an association between dietary intake and academic achievement: a systematic review T Burrows 1, S Goldman 1, K Pursey 1, R Lim 2)
#5 https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5746694/ (Associations between Dietary Intake and Academic Achievement in College Students: A Systematic Review Tracy L Burrows 1, Megan C Whatnall 1, Amanda J Patterson 1, Melinda J Hutchesson 1,*)
________________________________________________________________________________________
Very well covered. This area of law can be very stressing to the practitioner. Particularly if your work involves lots of estate cases. Staying back late at night can lead to neurological issues, particularly burnout. This can lead to relationship breakdown too. To avoid burnout, people need good nutrition, rest and relaxation.
I worked as a contracted dietitian-nutritionist in the Australian outback and a private-practice D-N in a capital city. Most health practitioners avoid remote regions and stay in the cities. Hence the demand for health care practitioners is not satisfied in the outback.
So, a therapist in the outback can easily be overworked. A solicitor can experience this through sheer volume of work, too. Large volumes of estate work could be quite detrimental. In 1990, I consulted a solicitor who was burnt out. Her nutritional requirements were substantial, as was her symptomatology.
The human body relies on 102 nutrients to function at peak performance. That is evidenced by the stark improvement in academic results eventuating from nutritional repletion. The human brain is probably one of the most complex biochemical arrangements, which responds to the administration of nutrients from foods.
To avoid burnout, you require a high proportion of nutrient-dense foods, spread out, in small amounts so as not to steal blood circulation from the brain.
WATER
NEED 33 ML/KG BODY WEIGHT PER DAY [9.24 x 250ml cups for a 100kg (15 stone 10 pound) person]
LIGHT VEGETABLES
You also require alkaline metals from vegetables. Magnesium-rich foods will help stop burnout. Vegetables high in magnesium include Spinach, Swiss Chard, Lima Beans, Acorn Squash, Artichokes, Kale, Peas, Okra, Sweet Corn, and Potatoes. Even More Magnesium-Rich Vegetables:- Taro, Burdock Root, Nopales, Fireweed Leaves, Sweet Potato Leaves, Parsley, Purslane, Beet Greens, Garden Cress, Wakame Seaweed.
CARBOHYDRATES
LITTLE BITS ALL THROUGH THE DAY
An example is your selection of rice. Always select brown rice over white rice. Brown rice noodles - not white rice noodles. Try Millet Noodles, which are low glycemic index.
Vitamins: Brown rice noodles are rich in B vitamins, including thiamine (vitamin B1), riboflavin (vitamin B2), and niacin (vitamin B3). These vitamins are essential for energy production, cell metabolism, and nervous system function.
PROTEINS
LITTLE BITS ALL THROUGH THE DAY
Lean Meat, Poultry, Seafood [especially Oysters], Eggs, Cheese, Milk, Yoghurt.
OILS
Extra-Virgin Olive Oil [high polyphenol variety]
This form of nutritional manipulation can be done without pills. It is done by foods. It can elevate academic results to high distinctions [95%].
Similarly for work performance too. To get high Grade Point Averages and Perform Well at Work, we must adhere to the principles of very good nutritional intakes.
Nourish the Mind!
① No more than 2 hours between meals when studying or working. That ensures a steady supply of nutrients to the cerebellum.
② 33 milliliters per kilogram body weight per day water / green tea is an extremely powerful protective antioxidant.
③ Salads using vegetables like Artichokes, Asparagus, Aubergine, Bamboo shoots, Bean Sprouts, Beet Greens, Broccoli, Brussel Sprouts, Cabbage, Capsicum, Carrot, Cauliflower, Celeriac, Celery, Chard, Chilis, Chinese Veg Mix, Coffee, Collards, Courgettes, Cucumber, Dandelion, Endives, Garlic, Green beans, Herbal teas, Herbs, Kale, Leeks, Lettuce, Marrow, Mushrooms, Okra, Onion, Peppers, Pumpkin, Radishes, Rocket, Soup made from these vegetables, Soy beans, Spices, Spinach, Sprouts, Squash, Tea, Tomatoes, Tomato juice, Vegetable juice, Zucchini ad libitum.
These are not starchy, but have minerals like magnesium and potassium.
④ Use low glycemic index [GI under 55] carbohydrates up to 100 grams at a meal to ensure that the blood sugar is steady.
[breads, cereals, grains, pasta, fruit, legumes, starchy vegetables] Pumpernickel rye read is perfection like baked beans.
⑤ Use protein foods at each meal, 30 grams to 50 grams to supply amino acids to the brain, to make neurotransmitters.
[lean meat, poultry, crustaceans/fish/shellfish, egg, cheese, milk, yoghurt] Try vegetarian proteins too like peanut paste.
⑥ Approximately 25 grams lipids - highest polyphenol extra-virgin olive oil / olive oil spread / fish oil / cod liver oil.
[Better than Butter / Margarine].
SAMPLE MEAL: 1 SANDWICH MADE WITH BLACK PUMPERNICKEL RYE BREAD, RED SALMON, OLIVE OIL SPREAD, SALAD, BLACK OLIVES MINUS SEEDS; 2 CUPS OF GREEN TEA NO SUGAR.
REFERENCES:-
#1 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16014126/ (Nutrition and student performance at school Howard Taras 1)
#2 https://www.cmich.edu/news/details/how-important-is-nutrition-to-academic-success (How important is nutrition to academic success?)
#3 https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5746694/ (Associations between Dietary Intake and Academic Achievement in College Students: A Systematic Review Tracy L Burrows 1, Megan C Whatnall 1, Amanda J Patterson 1, Melinda J Hutchesson 1,*)
#4 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27599886/ (Is there an association between dietary intake and academic achievement: a systematic review T Burrows 1, S Goldman 1, K Pursey 1, R Lim 2)
#5 https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5746694/ (Associations between Dietary Intake and Academic Achievement in College Students: A Systematic Review Tracy L Burrows 1, Megan C Whatnall 1, Amanda J Patterson 1, Melinda J Hutchesson 1,*)
________________________________________________________________________________________
A. Hampton
Attorney
15
Answers
Jackson, Mississippi
Updated
A.’s Answer
I love all the responses so far. I haven't handled many estate cases, but from the ones I have, I can say you spend a lot of time helping people prepare for death and loss. These are tough topics that most people try to avoid. Clients might put things off or get emotional, which can slow things down. Lawyers who work in this field full-time tell me it's not just about legal skills; it's about showing compassion, being patient, and listening well. You deal with sensitive family issues, grief, and the reality of death. You're not just writing documents; you're managing emotions, family conflicts, and sometimes resentment. Becoming an estate planning lawyer can be very rewarding, but it does come with its own challenges.
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