Why Our Membership Matters for Our Clients
At Bier Law, we’ve built our practice around a simple idea:
Clients shouldn’t have to choose between a warm, personal relationship and the highest level of legal sophistication.
Through our membership in the American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys, they don’t.
What the American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys Is — and Isn’t
The American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys is a national, invitation-based professional organization for attorneys who focus their practices on estate planning.
It is not:
— A marketing association
— A pay-to-join directory
— A generic legal networking group
Membership requires:
— A formal application and vetting process
— A demonstrated focus on estate planning
— Ongoing, rigorous continuing legal education
— Active participation in a nationwide professional community
Not every attorney is eligible — and not every applicant is accepted.
Why Academy Membership Is Meaningful (and Rare)
In California, attorneys are required to complete 25 hours of continuing legal education every three years to remain in good standing.
As member of the American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys, we commit to something far more demanding:
— 36 hours of continuing legal education every year
— Focused specifically on estate planning, tax planning, probate, and related fields
This means our work is constantly informed by:
— Changes in the law
— Evolving strategies
— Emerging risks and opportunities
— Real-world case studies from across the country
It’s a level of ongoing education and accountability that goes well beyond standard requirements.
A Nationwide Estate Planning Brain Trust — Applied Locally
One of the greatest benefits of Academy membership is collaboration.
As members, we have access to a nationwide network of experienced estate planning attorneys who:
— Regularly share strategies and insights
— Collaborate on complex or unusual issues
— Workshop planning techniques before they ever reach clients
That means when we’re designing your plan, we’re not working in a vacuum.
You get the benefit of:
— National perspective
— Collective experience
— and strategies that have been tested and refined far beyond a single office
All while still working with a local firm that knows you personally.
How Academy Membership Enhances Your Estate Plan
Our Academy membership strengthens what already makes Bier Law different.
It allows us to:
— Draft stronger, more thoughtful estate planning documents
— Anticipate issues before they become problems
— Design plans that reflect best practices nationwide
— Stay ahead of legal and tax changes
— Bring deeper insight into complex family and financial situations
In short, it helps ensure your plan isn’t just legally valid — but well designed.
Boutique Estate Planning, Backed by National Expertise
Many firms offer either:
— A large, impersonal operation, or
— A small, personal practice with limited resources
Bier Law is intentionally built to offer both:
— A hands-on, compassionate, boutique client experience
— Supported by a nationwide professional network and robust continuing education
This combination allows us to deliver planning that is both deeply personal and exceptionally well-informed.
A Higher Standard of Estate Planning — By Choice
We choose to maintain Academy membership because it aligns with how we already practice:
— Thoughtful
— Thorough
— Collaborative
— and committed to ongoing learning
It’s one more way we hold ourselves to a higher standard — not because we have to, but because our clients deserve it.
Academy Disclaimer: The Academy is a membership organization of estate planning attorneys and provides educational and practice management resources to members. The Academy is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting, or other professional services. An Academy member is not an employee nor an agent of the Academy. The Academy does not certify or test the competency of any attorney who is a member of the Academy.
