This coming week I’m attending a conference of the National Network of Estate Planning Attorneys (NNEPA) in Cleveland, Ohio.  I know that many of you might say that the thought of attending a series of seminars for an entire week all about estate planning and tax sounds like as much fun as a box of rocks.  But for me it’s exactly what I want to do.  The NNEPA is the oldest and one of the biggest groups of attorneys dedicated to making sure that all its members are exceeding their clients’ expectations.  That means being on the cutting edge of tax law changes and drafting strategies.

More than that, I’m excited about attending because of a promise that I made to myself.  I said that I would never just do the Minimum Continuing Legal Education (MCLE) required by the California Bar.  The California Bar requires that all attorneys complete 25 hours of MCLE every three years.  That’s a little over 8.3 hours a year.  By the end of next week I’ll have done 55 hours for 2009.  Yes, that’s over 6 ½ times what most other attorneys do.

Why do I study so much?  Well it all goes back to the fact that this is my firm.  I’m not just looking to get people in and out so that I can sell them documents and never see them after.  I’m looking to be their personal family lawyer for life.  I study harder because that means when my clients call, I’ll know how best to counsel them.  Frankly it also means that if I can’t answer the question, then at least I’ll know how to get them to the person who can answer it.  In the end, it’s all about exceeding expectations.

Most estate planning attorneys tell you a lot about what they’ve done professionally, who’s money they’ve saved, what schools they’ve gone to and that’s about it.  Next, they jump into what you should do with your money and family (usually in that order).  In my opinion, that doesn’t make me feel warm and fuzzy.  If I’m letting someone into the deepest recesses of my life and telling them the whole truth, well I want to know a bit more about them too.  So here we have it.  Keep reading and eventually I’ll tell you everything about me!

When I started Chhokar Law Group, P.C. I decided that I was going to have a different type of law firm.  Why?  Because I can … I’m in charge.  That means that if we fail or succeed, I’m taking the blame and in turn the credit.  It’s simultaneously, terrifying, frustrating, enlightening and invigorating.  A lot of people have asked me how I could even think about starting my own shop in this “recession.”  Well the answer is really simple … I love coming to work everyday.   I wonder how many of those people asking me the question can say the same thing.  I love what I do, I’m passionate about how I do it and I adore the people I work with every single day.  It may be scary and hard but it’s also oh so much fun.

So my promise to you here and now is that my firm is not your average law firm and nor will it ever be!