Meet Michele Davis, Practice Area Leader in Wills & Estates

Michele Davis fell in love with wills, estates and succession law right away. Graduating into the GFC, she joined a firm in need of help with their wills and estates department - and she hasn’t looked back. We caught up with Michele to discover what she finds so rewarding about the field, and how the College’s practical approach to specialisation can make all the difference for lawyers carving out their niche.

What inspired you to become a lawyer? 

As simple as it sounds, I wanted to become a lawyer to help people. When I first started studying, I didn’t know how I was going to help people, but I knew, no matter what area of law I fell in love with, I would find a way to achieve this goal!

You left high school early. How did you get into law?

I never finished high school. I left half way through year 12, so I went to TAFE to complete the requisite education to gain entry to my law degree. What I’ve learned is that anything is possible; your career is what you make of it. Never give up and follow your passion. If you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life :-) 

How did you come to specialise in Wills, Estates and Succession Law?

I practice exclusively in wills, estates and succession law. Throughout my early career (and even as a law student), I worked within real property and conveyancing teams which were wonderful skill sets to employ in my career as a succession lawyer. I became qualified right around the Global Financial Crisis and was fortunate enough to find my first role as a lawyer in a suburban firm needing help in their wills and estates department. I absolutely fell in love with the work and never looked back!

What do you love most about what you do?

I love the human side of what I do. I enjoy helping people, particularly when they need it the most. It is very humbling to help someone in what is likely to be the worst time in their lives (either planning for end of life or helping them to administer the estate of a deceased loved one). Yes, it can be taxing, but it’s also incredibly rewarding.

How do you stay up to date with wills and estates?

There are a plethora of case studies that are relevant to advising my wills and estates clients. I’m regularly reviewing new judgments that are delivered by the Courts regarding how certain elements of claims are being taken into account and how the Court is exercising its discretion in relation to certain civil claims that are relevant to my clients decision-making process. For example, I am always reading cases of wills being contested to help me advise those of my clients who are worried about this. This helps me to deliver modern advice to clients as the law is so frequently evolving. I often use these practical examples and case studies as a way to give context to legal issues for clients to appreciate why it’s relevant to them.

Why do you think it’s so important to learn from practising lawyers?

I think practitioners offer an insight into the practice law that is incredibly unique. Practitioners are able to give real-life examples of situations, scenarios and client types that are often difficult to comprehend in purely theoretical learning. As everyone loves a ‘story’, the context that practitioners can provide is invaluable to learning as an early career lawyer all the way through the life-long learning experience that is being a lawyer.

How does online learning and real-life exposure benefit College of Law students?

Students can certainly expect real-life exposure and insight into being a lawyer. Students have the opportunity to be curious, ask questions and be provided with varying degrees of experiences and insights from all types of lawyers with all types of backgrounds and experiences. I love that the College offers learning remotely. It gives students the ability to work and study in a complementary and flexible way. Having practical and online workshops with lecturers give students the ability to apply what they’re learning in their modules in a real, engaging and exciting way and with skills they can apply right away in their practice! With exceptionally skilled practising lawyers lecturing and guiding students, there really is no comparison with a ‘traditional’ university.

What kind of real-world, practical assessments or exercises can students expect to undertake in the Wills & Estates program?

Oh, just heaps! Letters of advice, memos to internal colleagues with identification of legal issues and proposed approaches to matters, drafting court documents (including probate and letters of administration) and wills. Even preparing and presenting presentations for community groups about key wills and estates issues that us lawyers often are asked to provide for our communities.

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