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Trusts and Estates Clinic

Learn to counsel clients about their estate planning needs by drafting wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and medical directives.

Students working in a legal clinic.

Gain Experience with Our Trusts and Estates Clinic

Students enrolled in the Trusts and Estates Clinic represent clients who need non-tax estate planning. They may prepare client letters, wills, trusts, durable powers of attorney, life insurance and retirement plan adjustments, advance medical directives, and other life planning strategies. Our students learn how to interview and counsel clients, gather information about family needs and property ownership, and draft and execute formal documents.

Gain real-world exposure by joining one of the best law schools for estate planning and trusts in the Pacific Northwest. Build your resume, gain hours of experience, help clients and the community, and stand out from other new attorneys.

“In the Trusts and Estates Clinic, students get to dive into real work that truly matters. They gain confidence in their skills as lawyers, while our clients benefit from legal help that gives them peace of mind about the future."
Susan Cook

Prepare for a Future in Trusts and Estates

Prepare for a career that navigates the complexities of estate planning, wills, trusts, and more. Willamette Law students have the unique opportunity to draft and execute essential documents while working with real-world clients. Students work directly with clients and navigate a variety of legal documents. The guidance of an experienced professional will round out your legal knowledge.

Our clinic focuses on representing underserved communities, such as the tribal elders at the Confederated Grand Ronde Tribe.

Professor Susan Cook speaking to a classroom of law students

Additional Information

Trusts and estates are legal structures used in estate planning to manage and distribute assets during a person’s lifetime or after death. They help individuals ensure that their wealth and possessions are passed on according to their wishes.

A will, also known as a last will and testament, is a formal legal document that outlines how a person's assets and property should be distributed after their death. It allows individuals to choose who will inherit their possessions, nominate a guardian for minor children, and make other important decisions about their estate.  After the individual dies, the executor must take the will to court and engage in a probate process.

A trust is a legal entity that holds and manages assets for recipients, allowing for probate avoidance and controlled distribution. Trusts often provide a smoother and faster path for assets to be transferred and passed along after death. A trust can be created during life or after death and is managed by a trustee. An estate consists of all assets a person owns at death and must go through probate before distribution. It is managed by a personal representative and exists only after death.

Practicing trusts and estates law requires education, experience, and coursework. The first step is to earn your Juris Doctor (J.D.) through an accredited law school. Take classes related to wills, trusts, estates, tax law, and elder law to build a strong foundation. Acquire experience through internships, clinics, and clerkships related to estate planning and probate law.

Next, you'll need to be admitted to the bar. Students can either pass the bar exam or complete an alternative licensing program. Oregon offers the Supervised Practice Portfolio Examination, which requires 675 hours working under an experienced attorney and a work portfolio. Students can also complete 100 of these hours during law school in the form of legal clinics or externships.

Consider working at a law firm or starting your own practice to work in trusts and estates law. Network with those in trusts and estates law, participate in pro bono work, or consider additional certification, education options, and membership opportunities.

Other Clinics at Willamette

We put hands-on learning at the forefront of our law program. Bolster your resume and gain real-world experience directly through our available law clinics. Learn more about the other ways students can gain practical clinical experience.

Criminal Defense Clinic Immigration Clinic Law Clinic Program

Willamette University

School of Law