This essential, practical workshop is designed to give legal assistants, paralegals and junior lawyers the knowledge, confidence and hands‑on skills needed to effectively support a Wills and Estates practice. You will develop a clear understanding of file management and common file issues, enabling you to add immediate value to your team and work with greater assurance.
You will gain practical insight into core practice and procedure, along with a strong foundation in drafting key documents. Learn best‑practice approaches to managing client needs, addressing common issues and responding to client concerns with confidence and professionalism. With cross‑border estate matters becoming increasingly common, you will also build an understanding of how to identify and navigate interstate and federal complexities.
To ensure the learning is immediately transferable to your role, the workshop includes drafting examples and sample clauses, equipping you with real‑world tools and precedents you can confidently apply in practice straight away.
Tuesday, 23 June 2026
Description
Attend and earn 3 CPD units including:
2 units in Substantive Law
1 unit in Professional Skills
This program is applicable to practitioners from all States & Territories
3.00pm to 3.15pm Afternoon Tea
Professional Skills
3.15pm to 4.15pm File Management
- Relevant considerations in Will preparation
- Common drafting practices
- Using Will precedents effectively
- Codicils
- Execution – Wills and Powers of Attorney
- Revocation
- Wills storage
- Keeping up-to-date
- Initial letters and final letters
- Using Instruction sheets and checklists
- Cross jurisdiction formalities
- Provide drafting examples and sample clauses appropriate for use or adaptation in multiple jurisdictions
4.15pm to 5.15pm Common File Issues
- Testamentary capacity issues
- Undue influence
- Urgency
- Executor's duties and commissions
- Trustees
- Costing
- Family law issues – marriage, divorce, separation and Wills
- Blended family considerations
- Vulnerable beneficiaries
- Compare how family provision claims differ across states, including eligibility and time‑limit variations
- Overview of reseal requirements and managing estates with interstate assets as cross‑border matters increase
Your Facilitator:
Greg Russo, Principal Solicitor, Greg Russo Law; Accredited Specialist in Wills and Estates; Chairperson of the LIV Specialist Accreditation Education Advisory Committee and LIV Wills & Estates Advisory Committee; Leading Wills Estates and Litigation Lawyer and a Leading Wills, Estates and Succession Planning Lawyer, Doyle's Guide 2026 and recognised by Best Lawyers 2026 in Trusts and Estates
2.00pm to 3.00pm Estate Essentials
- Identify critical Will clauses
- Understand the difference between “estate” and “non-estate” assets
- Examine the differences between a “standard” Will and one incorporating testamentary trusts, including:
- discretionary trusts
- rights of residence
- capital protected trusts
- protective trusts
- superannuation proceeds trusts
- special disability trusts
- Explore common Will clauses, including:
- gifts to beneficiaries – including pets, shares in companies, real estate
- Options for dealing with digital assets
- succession of control of trusts and self-managed superannuation funds
- non-estate assets and adjustments
- overseas assets and estate administration
- Look at the different types of powers of attorney and when each one is used
- Examine intestacy and the implications of someone dying without a valid Will
- Understand the definition of “domestic partners” and the consequences
- Highlight some of the challenges in managing crossborder estates.
Presenters
Greg Russo, Principal Solicitor, Greg Russo Law; Accredited Specialist in Wills and EstatesGreg Russo has almost 30 years’ experience in succession planning, administration and litigation and is one of Victoria’s most experienced and respected succession law solicitors. Greg is an LIV Wills & Estates Accredited Specialist, a chairperson of the LIV Specialist Accreditation Education Advisory Committee, a board member of the Mount Eliza Community Bank, a member of STEP, and is recognised in Doyle’s Guide, in Victoria, as a Leading Wills and Estates Litigation Lawyer and a Leading Wills, Estates and Succession Planning Lawyer. With a background in pure mathematics, Greg not only understands the implications of planning decisions on future taxation, SMSF, trust and estate administration, he is also able to break down complex concepts and structures logically and explain options to clients in a way that empowers them to take positive action and ownership for their decisions. Greg teaches both mathematics and law, regularly presents CPD succession events to solicitors, accountants and other professionals in Victoria, Queensland, and online.
