The Section on Real Property, Probate and Trust Law shall take as its province the development and practical working of the law relating to real property in all its aspects and to decedents' and trust estates and guardianships.
P.A. Bylaws, Article VI, Section 657
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Featured Member: Slade R. Miller
What inspired you to pursue a career in law, and how did you choose your specific practice area?
I suppose it was the old fashion way … my dad is an attorney. My parents had four children and ultimately three of us ended up being attorneys. When I was a child, my dad would discuss cases that he was dealing with in a very general sense. He would outline the scenarios and try to demonstrate to his children how to think logically and strategically about solving a problem that involves people with different goals and points of view. At that point in his practice, he was more of a general practitioner.
As far how I chose this area of law, I was exposed to it through my dad’s practice. Over time it made up a larger and larger part of his general practice and it was at that stage of his career when I joined his practice. It was the area that I enjoyed the most. For me, it gives me a sense of purpose to try to help people navigate estate planning issues and to work through the issues associated with probate and trust administration and how to hopefully. It involves the same skill set that I was unknowingly honing as a child.
In what ways has your involvement with the Real Property, Probate, and Trust Law Section benefited your professional development?
I have always been at a small law practice, at best there has only ever been one or two other attorneys that practice full time. Through the Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section you have the ability to access so much material and other practitioners that are thoughtful and willing to act as a sounding board.
As an example, I have been utilizing the ListServ for the two or so years. The participation in it by the members is quite robust. Even when the scenario or questions do not directly relate to something you are currently dealing with, it is so incredibly useful. I learn about something new or I am exposed to a new scenario every single week.
What advice would you give to young attorneys or law students just starting their legal careers?
It can be very rewarding to be an attorney, but you must develop a life beyond practicing the law. I struggle with that, and I did not start on it early enough. As a result, I have habits that are hard to break (getting to the office early, leaving late, coming in on the weekends, scheduling late meetings etc.) I over identify with my work and tend to put other areas of my life on the back burner because I think there will always be time for those areas later.
That is not a long-term recipe for happiness or for good health. Eventually, the vast majority of us will retire or stop practicing the law in a manner that is all consuming. When that time comes you need to be able to pivot to the other areas of your life so that you can continue to lead a fulfilling meaningful life.
What do you find most rewarding about your work as an attorney?
I think what I find the most rewarding is having the opportunity to make a positive difference in the lives of people. I think every person has the ability to leave an impact on other people. Around 18 years ago I was going through a tough time as I lost someone that I was quite close to. I was having a particularly bad day (it was my first year of law school, so those days tended to stack up on me) and a person that I did not know was simply nice in a passing interaction. It took all of 10 seconds but it made a difference to me on that day. I still remember it nearly 20 years later. As a result, I try to remember that even the small gestures can have an impact on others.
As attorneys, we have a tremendous opportunity to be impactful in a positive way in the lives of the people we run into, and we have the privilege of being able to help them solve things (they are not always “problems”) that they most often are not able to solve on their own.
What do you enjoy doing in your free time when you are not practicing law?
Well … as I said earlier, I do not have the most balanced life. I am doing my best to change that. That being said, my wife and I have one child and while I do find the law rewarding the comparison to being a father is like a candle to the sun. Spending time with him, listening to how he thinks and watching his mind work as he connects the dots of life is a blast.
Past Featured Members
Welcome to the Real Property, Probate, and Trust Law Section! We are thrilled to have you engage with our vibrant Section! Whether you are new to our Section or a long-time member, we welcome you to share your passion for real property, probate, and trust law.
Our Section is dedicated to fostering professional growth, providing valuable resources, and offering a platform for insightful discussions and networking. I encourage you to join our active listservs , write an article for our newsletter, participate in our pro bono life planning clinic , listen to our Section’s “Death and Dirt” podcast, check out our Member Spotlight, attend an event , and add your thoughts and opinions to pending legislation impacting real property, probate, and trust law. Your active participation and engagement will not only enhance your professional development but also contribute to the collective knowledge and success of our community.
We look forward to your contributions and hope to see you at our upcoming events!
Justin H. Brown
Chair, Real Property, Probate, and Trust Law Section
Pennsylvania Bar Association
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