Lav Chhabra counts himself lucky; he loves wills and estates. Though humble at heart, it is no surprise this passion translated to Lav’s recent recognition as the College of Law’s Best Graduating Student in Wills and Estates. The prize is sponsored by de Groots Wills and Estates Lawyers.
“I am pleasantly surprised to receive this award,” said Lav. “I have a very supportive wife, which really helped me to commit to early morning study sessions, keep up with weekly readings, and attend conferences alongside full-time work. I studied alongside very knowledgeable professionals, so it’s equally humbling to be recognised.”
Viewing the law as a profession
“In my view, the practice of law is about the law,” said Lav. “The business side of things, although important, is still secondary. I’ll never forget the partners who have helped shape the lawyer I am today. Now that I have started my own practice, it’s my time to help expand the experience of our junior lawyers - and I look forward to this.”
Lav started his career in commercial law, wills, and estates. Early on, he found he enjoyed the personal aspects of working with clients in wills and estates matters.
“Whether it was working with clients to best achieve their goals for wealth preservation and succession, or assisting them through the difficulties involved in wills disputes, I enjoyed it all. I can honestly say that I am one of the lucky lawyers, genuinely passionate about what I do.”
Learning shaped by healthy, practical discussions
This passion led him to further study, so he could specialise his knowledge in a structured way.
“Since the start of my studies, I realised the College’s teaching model and learning environment was different from other tertiary institutions,” said Lav. “The focus was not exclusively on theory, but on how the law applied in practice, through relevant case scenarios. Students were encouraged to discuss their work-related legal issues which promoted healthy discussions between students. Assignments focused on real-life, practical issues. This made you feel that you could apply what you learned from the course in real-time at work. It’s helped me to deliver better client service and be a better lawyer.”
Providing flexible appointments and pay-by-installments
While lockdown restrictions affected his work, Lav counts himself fortunate.
“We adopted a paperless practice last year,” said Lav. “That decision proved very beneficial, particularly in these circumstances.
“We are using video conferencing facilities to interact with clients, but given the nature of the work, there are risks involved. This is most notably in relation to undue influence and testamentary capacity. So, we are taking additional measures to ensure that such risks are addressed.
“We have also adopted more flexible hours; we take after-hours meetings to help clients juggling work and home-schooling duties,” said Lav. “We’re also offering the option to pay by installments.
“Many people are under significant economic and mental stress as we consider how to manage the impact of lockdown,” said Lav. “We’re mindful of this. We have prioritised maintaining regular contact with our clients and providing timely updates.
“I believe it is important, now more than ever, to take extra efforts to support clients, practice compassion, and demonstrate that we as legal practitioners can adapt to the challenges of this new global climate.”