At the age of 10, I attended a graduation ceremony at The John Marshall Law School. The vaulted ceilings, wood paneling, and fancy graduation gowns left an indelible mark on my young mind, sowing the seeds of my future as a lawyer.

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Fast forward to 1978, the year I graduated from that very same law school (now known as the University of Illinois Chicago School of Law), passed the bar exam, obtained my law license and became a full-fledged lawyer. My joy of accomplishment was tempered by the realization that I wanted nothing to do with courtrooms, legal battles, litigation, intense negotiations, and exhaustive legal research. What to do?

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In my first job after becoming a lawyer I worked as a staff attorney in a government agency.  After about 4 years I decided that I wanted more from my career. I became a Series 7 financial advisor at a large brokerage. After 8 years of building a retail book of business, I spent most of the summer of 1990 hobbled by pertussis, more commonly known as whooping cough. Upon recovery, I found myself at a crossroads and decided to change professions again.

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I hung my shingle as a sole practitioner, equipped with little more than determination, a shoestring budget and hardly a clue as to how I would earn a living, but set up my legal shop in the perfect spot—a shared office suite populated by other attorneys.

For about 2 years, I was a general practitioner, taking various client matters that came my way: traffic court, real estate closings, personal injury, a dispute over a wedding dress that went to trial (ugh!) and a few wills. I plugged away, weathered the initial challenges, and with the help of others, my destiny soon came into view.

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Fortunately, lawyers in my suite began to refer estate planning work to me. Seeing that I was handling these matters well, they were kind enough to give me tips, answer my questions and point me in the right direction. I found joy in helping people in a low-key setting and felt comfortable talking with clients about their families and finances. I attended numerous estate planning seminars and obtained the necessary tools to focus my law practice on estate planning. Word spread when satisfied clients referred their friends, family and financial advisors. I had found my legal niche!!

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One situation I encountered early in my career was seeing an acquaintance at a funeral and being greeted with “Hey, I gotta come see you about doing my will.” My reply would be along the lines of “Let’s do it. I’ll call you tomorrow,” only to be told “I’m not ready yet.” This happened countless times in various iterations, and I began to see their various delays as disingenuous, even if not intentionally so. The word “procrastination” stuck in my mind and saw the light of day in 2004 when my first book, The Procrastinator’s Guide to Wills and Estate Planning was published. Accompanying The Procrastinator’s Guide were seminars, radio, TV appearances and book signings. Community education became my passion.

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A decade or so later, I began a new book, culminating in Not Dead Yet, so plan your estate (NDY), reflecting my belief that the need for an appropriate level of estate planning is practically universal. Although I felt that my messaging was strong, it would only help those who hear it, understand it and act on it. This is where the 2024 edition of NDY is unique. In addition to an updated 192-page written tutorial and guide, NDY features a separate and new full-story arc 90-page comic/graphic novel, which visually presents nightmare estate situations visually in a way intended to resonate with those readers who prefer learning through storytelling, looking at pictures and relating their own needs to the characters’ experiences.

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Meanwhile, the original Eric G Matlin, P.C. that I started in 1992 grew into Matlin Law Group, PC (MLG). From the beginning, my approach and that of MLG emphasized family dynamics, preserving family relationships, and enhancing legacies. MLG professionals and staff strive to make the estate planning representation transparent and accessible, with complimentary estate plan meetings combined with flat fee estate plan pricing for most clients. MLG has helped thousands of clients with their estate planning, often advising two and three generations of families, working with them and their other advisors to ensure that the clients’ affairs are in order.

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As of January 1, 2024, my role as Owner and Partner of MLG transitioned to “Founder-Of Counsel” when I transferred ownership of the firm to Johannah Hebl and Mary Vanek, with whom I was partners prior to 2024. In my “Of Counsel” capacity, I no longer advise clients, but continue to consult with partners, associates and staff as needed. I also serve as a community ambassador of the MLG operation, helping ensure that the MLG mission, to “Compassionately guide families through life’s transitions with professionalism and sensitivity,” continues for years and generations.

 

MLG, located in Northbrook, Illinois, is licensed in Illinois, Wisconsin, Florida and Minnesota. MLG represents individuals and families in estate planning, along with trust, probate, and guardianship estate administration matters.

 

The 2024 print and Kindle editions of Not Dead Yet so plan your estate, and the 2023 print edition of The Procrastinator’s Guide to Wills and Estate Planning are available at Amazon.com (easy links at the top of this page) or stop by MLG and pick up a free print copy of either book (by appointment only).

 

To submit comments or questions relating to NDY; request an interview or media appearance; arrange a book signing and/or estate planning seminar for your organization or group of friends, leave a voicemail at (312) 547-1059 or email eric@ericmatlin-ndy.com.

 

To make an appointment for a complimentary estate planning consultation with an MLG attorney or inquire about meeting with an MLG attorney regarding other potential estate-related representation, contact MLG directly at (847) 770-6600 or info@matlinlawgroup.com Mention NDY! 

 

You can also explore the Matlin Law Group website at www.matlinlawgroup.com. 

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Please note that inquiries via phone, email or through the Matlin Law Group website do NOT create a client-lawyer relationship.​