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: Rich Raiders
What inspired you to pursue a career in law, and how did you choose your specific practice area?
I was working as an environmental engineer for a mid-sized chemical company working in advocacy and rulemaking back when we were implementing the Clean Air Act, RCRA amendments, and several other sweeping environmental statutes. While it took 20 years to implement the 1990 Clean Air Act amendments, I was facing the question of what my next act would be around 2007 and decided to go to law school while working in industry. I started law school in August 2008, which everyone remembers was the beginning of the financial meltdown. After four years of law school, I graduated from Temple in 2012 with no job prospects whatsoever, so, after moving into an environmental management job at a pipeline, stayed there till 2014 and launched into practice. Learn on the fly.
I fell into my current practice mix, using my various education to cobble together a career. I never knew that that surveying class I took as a 17-year-old freshman Petroleum Engineering student at West Virginia University would come in handy till I started reading and writing deeds, working through boundary disputes, ejectment actions, and private roads actions, and helping clients navigate wetlands issues. But all those years later I use those skills all the time. From there I found my way into dealing with land use matters in estate matters, where I navigated into Orphans’ Court litigation focusing on land use issues. I still do a bit of environmental engineering, which seems to fit into the mix on some very specific real estate transactions.
In what ways has your involvement with the Real Property, Probate, and Trust Law Section benefited your professional development?
The biggest part is the people. A while back I worked with a certain well-known Section member on settling an easement issue and realized just how big of a deal it was to know who I was working with and how we actually had something in common in the Section. Just that commonality made that transaction go so much more smoothly and saved all of our clients a lot of headache and some legal fees. As a solo, having a group to learn from and bounce questions off really helps my practice. There’s always more to learn in what we do. The newsletters highlight things I’d often never think of.
What advice would you give to young attorneys or law students just starting their legal careers?
First, get to know people. Jump in, the water’s fine. Get to know people. The vast majority of lawyers will answer questions for you. You can learn, share, and find out that the people you encounter in this profession are, by and large, professionals who care about what they do and about the profession of law. Meet people. Meet the judges. Listen and learn. Engage. Though it may not be in your area, take a few court appointments and meet different people and see different perspectives. I got my start in pipeline easements at a local bar mixer. Turned out to be a big part of my practice for five years when big pipeline projects came through. Try stuff. You might like it.
What do you find most rewarding about your work as an attorney?
Matters are puzzles waiting to be solved. Sometimes you have the right puzzle pieces, sometimes someone threw those pieces away but you don’t know that until you get into the matter. The most rewarding part of this journey is being able to tell a client that we accomplished something. I reach out to thank as many of the various actors who helped achieve the goal as I can when we wrap up work on a matter.
What do you enjoy doing in your free time when you are not practicing law?
Two large dogs (Louisiana Catahoula Leopard Dog and Texas Blue Lacy Dog) occupy my house, contribute large quantities of fur, household security, and motivation to walk a minimum of two miles a day. I have a 19th century National Register house that needed a lot of help when I bought it ten years ago. Been a decade now, it’s sort-of getting done. At least the interior is now passable, though projects remain. You may find me upside-down on some roller coaster somewhere (hope Kennywood gets Steel Curtain operating) or traveling to wherever my significant other picked this time.
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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