Meet Our New Attorney, Eric Smith
Q: Why did you decide to practice law?
I took an internship class at UC Irvine while I was rehabilitating from shoulder surgery and was randomly placed in a solo practitioner’s law office. I really enjoyed the experience and the opportunity to help people that practicing law provided. From there, I sought out distinct legal experiences to confirm that practicing law was what I wanted to do with my life. Once I knew that it was for me, I applied to law school and never looked back.
Q: What's something unique about you?
I originally went to UCI to play soccer. If I didn’t get hurt and require shoulder surgery, I might not be an attorney. Without the injury, I wouldn’t have had the time to take the internship class, which sparked my interest in the law.
Q: Why specialize in estate planning?
Estate planning became deeply personal for me this last year because my family suffered the loss of a loved one without an estate plan in place. I experienced first-hand just how hard it is for a family to try to navigate the legal process while grieving. Simply put, I don’t want other families to go through that.
Q: What do you want prospective clients to know about you?
I would like clients to know that I am very excited to specialize in estate planning. This area of the law lends to personal and meaningful work, and I am thrilled to be able to help people make their estate plans and provide families peace of mind. I am thankful for the opportunity that Barbur Law has given me to help make a difference in the lives of others.
Q: Would you say that today it's more important than ever to have a will?
Estate planning has always been important. The pandemic, however, has reinforced just how unpredictable life can be. With all of life’s unpredictability, it is critical to have a plan in place so that you and your loved ones have peace of mind, and your wishes are followed. Not planning is not an option.
Q: What is the future of estate planning?
My hope is that more importance gets placed on estate planning – that it becomes one of those things that everyone has from a relatively early age and makes changes to as life dictates. There is a common misconception that estate planning is only for the wealthy, but time and time again we have seen that that isn’t the case; estate planning is for everyone.