Galen Griepp designated Certified Specialist in Estate Planning
Galen Griepp has been awarded a prestigious certification by State Bar of California.
Law firm founding partner Galen F. Griepp has been awarded the designation of Certified Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law, by the California Board of Legal Specialization.
Galen has been in practice since 1971, and is an author of Looking Ahead With Living Trusts, a consumer guide to estate planning. He has written numerous articles, spoken through the Southland, and has developed courses for the State of California Department of Continuing Education, which are offered for professional development. He also teaches and customizes programs for consumers and numerous professional and community groups in the greater Los Angeles area.
Galen holds a B.A. from Claremont McKenna College, a J.D. from Loyola University School of Law, and an LL.M. degree in taxation from Golden Gate University. In 1992 he left his partnership in a large Los Angeles firm to found Griepp and McRee, in Pasadena.
Attorneys are only permitted to identify themselves as a Certified Specialist in California if they have satisfied strict requirements. Out of approximately 150,000 active attorneys in the State, only 664 have achieved the status of Certified Specialist in Estate Planning – an elite group of practitioners – equal to less than one-half of 1% of all California attorneys.
The State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization bestows the title of Certified Specialist to attorneys who:
- Take and pass an extensive written examination;
- Demonstrate a high degree of expertise in their specialty field;
- Fulfill stringent comprehensive education requirements; and
- Receive favorable evaluations by attorneys and judges familiar with their work.
Over the past nine years, Galen’s practice has been exclusively devoted to estate planning and related matters. He began the rigorous specialization process in 1999, achieving certification in September of this year.
In 1994 he was honored by the National Network of Estate Planning Attorneys, as one of its outstanding members. He has been awarded for his work as a Superior Court Arbitrator and as an arbitrator for the American Arbitration Association, as well as for his many contributions to various community and professional groups.
Among those he has contributed time and expertise to are: Hillsides Home for Children; California AIDS Ride; Los Angeles Archdiocese; American Cancer Society; Multiple Sclerosis Society; St. Francis School; Pilgrim School; Pasadena Waldorf School; Gael Blair Academy; Japanese-American National Museum; League of Women Voters; Rotary International; Kiwanis Club; Optimist Club.
He has designed and presented estate planning programs to a range of interest groups, including Sanwa Bank, Wells Fargo Bank, American Express Financial Services, Fidelity Funds, New York Life, Charles Schwab and Pacific Bridge Insurance.
Despite a busy professional schedule, Galen still finds time to enjoy his family and is very proud of his two lovely and smart daughters, Ravenna and Romy!
