I am a partner with Fitzwater Law. My practice consists of estate planning and administration, including the preparation of wills and trusts, gift and estate tax planning, special needs planning, and the administration of trusts and probate estates.Estate planning and administration is the only area of law out there for me. There is no other area of law in which I would rather practice. Over the years I have discovered that my job typically consists of equal parts teaching, counseling and lawyering. Tellingly, teaching and psychology were the other careers I considered before deciding on law. I feel incredibly fortunate to have found a career that blends all of my passions. Estate planning is truly my vocation.I pride myself on being approachable, down to earth, and willing to answer any questions my clients may have. I invest in learning about my client’s whole story which enables me to represent my client more effectively and often allows us to develop a relationship which is just as friendly as it is professional. It is important to me that my clients know that I am on their side. My job is to help consolidate my clients’ concerns into concrete problems with tangible solutions, to craft proper wording, sometimes to play devil’s advocate, and always to ensure that my clients leave my office understanding their documents.I am a Southeast Portland/Gresham native, and a graduate of Jesuit High School. I majored in English at Whitman College in Walla Walla, Washington and received my J.D. from the University of Oregon School of Law in Eugene, Oregon, where I earned a Statement of Completion in the area of Tax Law. Before graduating from law school, I served as a law clerk in the office of the Washington Attorney General.