March 24, 2009 -- USF law students with an interest in estate planning joined alumni and estate planning practitioners for a networking reception hosted by Christina Gallagher Nelson '88, partner at Greene Radovsky Maloney Share & Hennigh LLP; Visiting Professor John Osborn; and the USF Estate Planning Society. The Jan. 27 event took place at Greene Radovsky Maloney Share & Hennigh LLP in San Francisco.

Osborn, faculty advisor to the Estate Planning Society, said the event was designed to expose students to estate planning law and provide an opportunity for students to interact with practitioners in the field.

Charles Riffle '72, an estate planning attorney and shareholder at Aaron, Riechert, Carpol & Riffle, APC, and Susan Kaye, a founding partner of the family law firm Kaye • Moser • Hierbaum LLP, spoke to students about estate planning career choices and the skills, abilities, and resources needed to succeed in this practice.

"We were very lucky...to have two stellar estate attorneys who are committed to the profession, practice with the highest level of integrity, and represent different (areas) of trust and estate law," Estate Planning Society President Janice Jentz 3L said. "I think the event was very successful in that it built a bridge between students and the working community and facilitated a discussion about the life and career of a trust and estate attorney."

Event participants also discussed the establishment of an estate planning advisory board comprised of practitioners to help organize externships and provide academic direction to students interested in estate planning careers. To learn more about the Estate Planning Society, contact Jentz at janice.jentz@gmail.com.