Michael O’Connor recently joined RIW as an associate in the Trusts & Estates Group. His practice includes estate planning, estate administration, trust administration, and estate tax returns.
Why did you become a lawyer?
I always knew I liked to write and present an argument, so I have always considered going to law school. But, because I also loved math, when applying to colleges, I was set on working in finance. I attended the University of Miami and took a wide range of business classes. While I enjoyed my financial courses, interestingly, I found myself most drawn to the legal courses required for my degree, where I learned the basics of contract and property law. After my freshman year, I decided to apply to law school and began studying for the LSAT. I then graduated a year early from undergrad to begin my legal education because I knew this was exactly what I wanted to do.
Tell us about your career path.
Coming from a financial background, I love working with Excel and finding solutions to complex financial issues. I wanted to find a legal practice area that allowed me to utilize those skills. So, I went into law school planning to practice real estate and land use law. But during my summer internship at RIW, trying out many different areas of law, I found myself more drawn to work in the Trusts & Estates group. I loved reviewing our clients’ financial records to assess the optimal trusts for them and to work with their financial advisors to help reach their goals. Beginning to learn the tax ramifications of various estate planning strategies, it felt like the perfect blend of the writing and math skills that I have been searching for.
Then, during my final year at Boston University School of Law, I decided to enroll in a dual-degree program to concurrently obtain my J.D. and LL.M. in Taxation. Over the course of that year, I continued working at RIW as a Law Clerk for the T&E Group. This experience was instrumental in confirming my belief that this is the perfect area for my practice.
Tell us about your practice.
I work closely with the members of the Trusts & Estates Group on all aspects of estate planning, estate administration, trust administration and estate tax returns. I love that I can obtain such a wide range of experiences, as honing my skills in any one of these areas allows me to become better at the others.
What do you love most about what you do?
When it comes to estate planning, what is most gratifying is that I can help clients think through strategies to optimize their and their family’s wealth, ensuring that their goals are met for generations to come. In the context of estate administration, it is also incredibly fulfilling to offer advice to clients in what can be a stressful and overwhelming time in their lives. Overall, what draws me to Trusts & Estates is that it is a very personal area of law. I am honored that clients feel they can trust me with such intimate details about their lives and be confident I will do everything in my power to help meet their needs.
Why did you choose this firm?
When I interviewed for my summer internship, I knew that this would be a firm that cared deeply about my development as an attorney. It’s a place that feels collegial, warm and inviting while also being sophisticated in its work. The people here are truly so friendly, and I am very happy to begin my legal career in such an environment.
Tell us a fun or surprising fact about you.
I grew up in a rural part of Florida where I owned four dogs, five guinea pigs, eight hamsters, two turtles, ten goldfish, four lizards, and a rabbit (that I won at a county fair). I would love to have a farm someday!
What do you do in your free time?
I love to watch reality television, play video games, go to the gym, explore new parts of the city, and recently, I have been getting into pickleball.
