IN THE PROFESSION
When the State Bar Must Step In: Why Lawyers Need a Succession Plan
HON. KENYA JOHNSON Fulton County Probate Court chloe. scott @ fultoncountyga. gov
WILLIAM DALLAS NESMITH III State Bar of Georgia billn @ gabar. org
Imagine this scenario: Lily Lawyer is a successful solo practitioner in Atlanta, Georgia. Her clients love her compassionate personality and thorough advocacy. One day, when rushing to court, an inattentive driver hits her while she is crossing the street, and Lily dies on the spot. Then, the office phone rings. And rings. And rings. The office voicemail fills up. Emails go unanswered. Clients call the State Bar – and an expensive, disruptive, and deeply distressing process begins.
We all know that tragedies happen. But we all operate under the quiet assumption that nothing will happen to us. Ironically, most lawyers are excellent planners. We draft wills, trusts, buy-sell agreements, and succession plans for clients every day. But many small and solo
10 JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2026