Category: News Feeds

JOHANNESBURG,
South
Africa
–
Bellarmine
Chatunga
Mugabe,
the
youngest
of
the
late
President
Robert
Mugabe’s
children,
was
arrested
in
South
Africa
on
Thursday
charged
with
attempted
murder
for
allegedly
shooting
his
gardener.

Police
were
called
to
an
address
in
Hyde
Park,
Johannesburg,
following
reports
of
a
shooting.

They
found
a
23-year-old
man
bleeding
from
a
gunshot
wound
and
he
was
rushed
to
hospital
where
his
condition
was
described
as
critical.

Mugabe,
28,
and
another
man,
33,
were
arrested.

Gauteng
police
spokesperson
Dimakatso
Nevhuhulwi
said
they
had
recovered
a
spent
cartridge
and
a
dog
unit
had
been
called
to
help
them
locate
the
gun
used
in
the
shooting.

“The
victim
is
a
gardener
and
apparently
he
did
not
come
to
work
for
sometime
and
there
was
an
altercation
regarding
that.
The
victim
was
shot
once,”
Nevhuhulwi
told
journalists
at
the
scene.

Mugabe
was
arrested
twice
last
year
in
Zimbabwe,
once
for
disorderly
conduct
at
a
police
roadblock
and
for
assault
in
the
incident
after
he
allegedly
led
a
group
of
men
armed
with
AK47
rifles
to
assault
illegal
gold
panners
who
were
encroaching
into
their
farm
in
Mazowe.

His
brother,
Robert
Jnr,
also
has
a
string
of
arrests
in
South
Africa
including
assault,
drugs
possession
and
malicious
damage
to
property.

Sarah
had
everything
figured
out.
After
35
years
of
practice,
she
retired
at
63
with
a
solid
financial
plan.
Her
portfolio
was
positioned
correctly,
her
withdrawal
strategy
was
tax-efficient,
and
she’d
even
mapped
out
her
Social
Security
claiming
strategy.

What
she
didn’t
figure
out?
Medicare
enrollment.

When
Sarah
finally
enrolled
at
65,
she
discovered
something
that
made
her
stomach
drop:
because
she’d
missed
her
Initial
Enrollment
Period
by
a
few
months,
she’d
be
paying
an
extra
$67
per
month
in
Part
B
penalties.
That’s
over
$800
annually.

Forever.

For
a
lawyer
who’d
spent
her
career
mastering
complex
legal
concepts
and
advising
clients
on
intricate
matters,
this
felt
particularly
frustrating.
I
see
variations
of
this
story
more
often
than
I’d
like
to
admit.

The
reality
is
that
Medicare
can
be
confusing
for
even
the
sharpest
of
minds.

Parts
A,
B,
C,
D.

Medigap.

IRMAA.

Enrollment
periods
that
overlap
but
have
different
rules.

Penalties
that
compound
over
time.
It’s
a
bureaucratic
maze
that
makes
tax
code
look
straightforward.

Getting
this
wrong
has
the
potential
to
cost
you
thousands
of
dollars
annually
throughout
retirement.
So
let’s
cut
through
the
confusion
and
focus
on
what
actually
matters
for
your
planning.

One
last
item
before
we
dive
in:
This
is
a
comprehensive
Medicare
guide,
and
it’s
a
lot
to
cover
in
one
sitting.
If
you’d
rather
get
the
highlights,
you
can
subscribe
to
our

Money
Meets
Law
newsletter
anytime.
We’ll
be
sharing
a
streamlined
Medicare
guide
with
subscribers
over
the
next
few
weeks.

Medicare
Basics:
The
Quick
Overview

I’ll
try
not
to
bore
you
with
a
comprehensive
Medicare
101
lesson.
You
can
read
the
government
pamphlets
if
you
want
that
level
of
detail.
Here’s
what
you
need
to
know:

Part
A
(Hospital
Insurance)
–
Usually
premium-free
if
you
worked
40+
quarters.
Covers
hospital
stays,
skilled
nursing
facilities,
hospice
care.

Part
B
(Medical
Insurance)
–
Requires
a
monthly
premium
(standard
is
$202.90
in
2026,
but
we’ll
talk
about
why
you
might
pay
much
more).
Covers
doctor
visits,
outpatient
care,
preventive
services.

Part
D
(Prescription
Drug
Coverage)
–
Separate
drug
coverage
with
multiple
plan
options.
You
choose
a
private
insurer’s
plan.

Part
C
(Medicare
Advantage)
–
An
alternative
to
Original
Medicare
that
bundles
A+B+D
through
private
insurers.
Think
of
it
as
Medicare
through
an
HMO
or
PPO.

Medigap
(Medicare
Supplement
Insurance)
–
Fills
coverage
gaps
in
Original
Medicare.
These
are
standardized
plans
sold
by
private
insurers.

The
fundamental
decision
you’ll
make:
Original
Medicare
(Parts
A+B)
+
Medigap
+
Part
D,
OR
Medicare
Advantage
(Part
C).
We’ll
get
to
which
makes
sense
for
you
shortly.

But
first,
let’s
talk
about
timing
—
because
this
is
where
uninformed
lawyers
make
expensive
mistakes.

The
Critical
Enrollment
Periods
(Where
Mistakes
Happen)

Initial
Enrollment
Period
(IEP)

Your
Initial
Enrollment
Period
is
a
7-month
window:
the
three
months
before
your
65th
birthday
month,
your
birthday
month
itself,
and
the
three
months
after.

Let’s
say
you
turn
65
in
June.
Your
IEP
runs
from
March
1st
through
September
30th.

Enrolling
during
the
first
three
months
of
your
IEP
means
your
coverage
starts
on
the
first
day
of
your
birthday
month.
Waiting
until
your
birthday
month
or
after
can
delay
when
your
coverage
begins.

If
you
miss
this
window
entirely
—
that’s
when
you
trigger
the
permanent
penalties
Sarah
faced.
For
every
12-month
period
you
could
have
had
Part
B
but
didn’t
enroll,
you
pay
an
extra
10%
on
your
Part
B
premium.
Forever.

The
Part
B
penalty
might
not
sound
devastating
at
first
—
10%
of
$202
is
only
about
$20
monthly.
But
remember,
Medicare
premiums
increase
over
time.
That
10%
penalty
grows
with
every
premium
increase
for
the
rest
of
your
life.
Over
a
25-year
retirement,
we’re
talking
thousands
of
dollars
in
unnecessary
costs.

Special
Enrollment
Period
(SEP)
–
The
Working
Lawyer
Exception

If
you’re
working
past
65,
things
get
a
bit
more
nuanced:

If
you’re
still
working
AND
have
group
health
coverage
through
an
employer
with
20
or
more
employees,
you
can
typically
delay
Part
B
enrollment
without
penalty.
When
you
finally
retire,
you
get
an
8-month
Special
Enrollment
Period
to
sign
up.

But
—
and
this
is
critical
—
solo
practitioners
and
lawyers
in
small
firms
need
to
pay
attention.
If
your
firm
has
fewer
than
20
employees,
your
group
coverage
likely
doesn’t
count
as
“creditable
coverage”
for
delaying
Medicare
enrollment.
You
might
need
to
enroll
at
65
regardless
of
your
employer
coverage.

Let’s
look
at
an
example
of
how
this
may
play
out.
A
retiring
lawyer
elects
COBRA,
assuming
it
will
neatly
bridge
the
gap
to
Medicare
at
65.
COBRA
can
be
helpful
for
that
purpose
if
you
retire
at
or
before
65.
But
because
it’s
continuation
of
employer
coverage,
some
retirees
assume
it
also
counts
as
creditable
coverage
for
delaying
Medicare
Part
B.
It
doesn’t.
That
misunderstanding
often
isn’t
discovered
until
later
—
when
penalties
show
up
and
the
“strategy”
turns
out
to
be
an
expensive
mistake.

If
you’re
working
past
65,
get
a
certificate
of
creditable
coverage
from
your
insurer.
Keep
this
documentation.
You’ll
need
proof
that
your
delay
was
legitimate.

The
Part
D
Prescription
Drug
Trap

Even
when
delaying
Medicare
Part
B
is
appropriate
due
to
employer-sponsored
health
coverage,
Part
D
may
still
be
necessary
if
that
plan
does
not
offer
creditable
prescription
drug
coverage.

Going
without
creditable
prescription
drug
coverage
for
63
consecutive
days
or
longer
triggers
a
permanent
penalty:
1%
of
the
national
base
beneficiary
premium
for
every
month
you
went
without
coverage.

This
penalty
might
seem
small
initially
—
we’re
talking
a
few
dollars
per
month.
But
like
the
Part
B
penalty,
it’s
permanent
and
grows
with
premium
increases
over
time.

Calculation
Example:

Number
of
months
without
coverage
×
1%
×
current
year’s
national
base
premium
=
your
monthly
penalty.

And
yes,
this
compounds.
If
you
miss
Medicare
Part
D
enrollment
for
2
years,
you’re
paying
roughly
24%
more
than
the
standard
premium.
Forever.

The
IRMAA
Problem
(Common
with
Lawyers)

IRMAA
stands
for
Income-Related
Monthly
Adjustment
Amount.
It’s
Medicare’s
way
of
saying,
“You
made
good
money,
so
you’re
going
to
pay
more
for
coverage.”

The
Two-Year
Look-Back

Your
2026
Medicare
premiums
are
based
on
your
2024
Modified
Adjusted
Gross
Income
(MAGI)
from
your
tax
return.
This
two-year
look-back
creates
a
unique
problem
for
a
retiring
lawyer.
Your
high-earning
years
as
a
practicing
attorney
directly
affect
your
early
retirement
Medicare
costs.

Let
me
show
you
what
this
looks
like
in
2026
for
married
couples
filing
jointly.

If
your
2024
MAGI
was:

MAGI Range	Part B Monthly Premium	Part D Monthly Surcharge
≤ $218,000	$202.90	$0
$218,001 – $274,000	$284.10	$14.50
$274,001 – $342,000	$405.80	$37.50
$342,001 – $410,000	$527.50	$60.40
$410,001 – $749,999	$649.20	$83.30
> $750,000	$689.90	$91.00

For
single
filers,
these
thresholds
are
roughly
half.

Notice
the
jump
from
the
standard
$202.90
premium
to
$284.10
once
you
cross
$218,000
in
MAGI.
That’s
an
extra
$974
annually
per
person.
For
a
married
couple,
you’re
looking
at
an
additional
$1,948
per
year
just
for
crossing
that
first
threshold.

The
Roth
Conversion
Conflict

For
those
that
follow
my
work,
you
know
that
I
often
write
about

tax-smart
Roth
conversions
as
a
potential
means
of
lowering
lifetime
taxes
within
tax-deferred
accounts.
But
as
it
relates
to
Medicare
premiums,
these
conversions

can
increase
them.

They
count
as
income
for
IRMAA
purposes.

This
creates
a
genuine
planning
dilemma.
You
might
execute
a
Roth
conversion
in
2024
that
saves
you
thousands
in
taxes
over
your
lifetime.
But
two
years
later,
in
2026,
that
conversion
income
could
push
you
into
a
higher
IRMAA
bracket,
increasing
your
Medicare
premiums
for
that
year.

This
doesn’t
mean
you
shouldn’t
do
Roth
conversions.
It
just
means
you
need
to
be
strategic
about
the
timing
and
size
of
your
conversions,
especially
in
the
years
immediately
before
Medicare
enrollment.

The
window
between
retirement
and
age
65
might
be
your
best
opportunity
for
larger
Roth
conversions
—
you’re
no
longer
earning
W-2
income,
but
you’re
not
yet
subject
to
IRMAA
surcharges.

Life-Changing
Event
Appeals

There
is
good
news:
you
can
appeal
your
IRMAA
determination
if
you’ve
experienced
a
“life-changing
event”
that
reduced
your
income.

Qualifying
events
include:

• Marriage
• Divorce
  or
  annulment
• Death
  of
  a
  spouse
• Work
  stoppage
  or
  reduction
• Loss
  of
  income
  from
  income-producing
  property
• Loss
  or
  reduction
  of
  certain
  kinds
  of
  pension
  income

“I
retired”
absolutely
counts
as
a
life-changing
event.

If
you
retire
in
2024
and
your
income
drops
significantly,
you
can
file

Form
SSA-44
to
request
a
reduction
in
your
2026
IRMAA.
You’ll
need
documentation
showing
the
life-changing
event
and
your
new
expected
income.

This
is
one
area
where
being
proactive
pays
off.
Don’t
just
accept
the
IRMAA
bill—if
your
circumstances
changed,
file
the
appeal.

Medicare
Advantage
vs.
Medigap:
The
Real
Decision

This
is
the
choice
that
actually
matters
for
your
long-term
retirement
healthcare
strategy,
and
there’s
no
universal
right
answer.
The
decision
depends
on
your
health
status,
travel
habits,
risk
tolerance,
and
how
you
think
about
insurance
generally.

Medicare
Advantage
(Part
C)

Medicare
Advantage
plans
are
offered
by
private
insurers
and
replace
Original
Medicare
entirely.
Think
of
them
as
Medicare
delivered
through
an
HMO
or
PPO
structure.

The
upside:

• Lower
  monthly
  premiums
  (many
  plans
  are
  $0
  premium)
• Built-in
  maximum
  out-of-pocket
  limits
  (Original
  Medicare
  has
  no
  cap)
• Often
  includes
  extra
  benefits
  like
  dental,
  vision,
  hearing
• Prescription
  drug
  coverage
  typically
  included
• One
  card,
  one
  plan,
  simpler
  administration

The
downside:

• Network
  restrictions
  —
  you’re
  limited
  to
  certain
  doctors
  and
  hospitals
• Prior
  authorization
  requirements
  for
  certain
  services
• Plans
  can
  change
  benefits
  and
  networks
  annually
• Less
  flexibility
  if
  you
  travel
  frequently
  or
  split
  time
  between
  locations
• May
  have
  copays
  for
  each
  service

Medicare
Advantage
is
a
good
fit
for
lawyers
who:

• Are
  comfortable
  with
  managed
  care
  and
  network
  restrictions
• Primarily
  stay
  in
  one
  geographic
  area
• Want
  predictable,
  lower
  monthly
  costs
• Don’t
  mind
  navigating
  prior
  authorization
  processes
• Are
  generally
  healthy
  and
  don’t
  anticipate
  frequent
  specialist
  visits

Original
Medicare
+
Medigap

This
is
the
traditional
approach:
Original
Medicare
(Parts
A
and
B)
plus
a
supplemental
Medigap
policy
to
fill
coverage
gaps,
plus
a
standalone
Part
D
prescription
drug
plan.

The
upside:

• Complete
  freedom
  to
  see
  any
  doctor
  or
  specialist
  who
  accepts
  Medicare
  (which
  is
  most
  of
  them)
• No
  referrals
  needed
  for
  specialists
• No
  network
  restrictions
  —
  perfect
  if
  you
  travel
  or
  maintain
  multiple
  residences
• Coverage
  is
  consistent
  and
  doesn’t
  change
  annually
• More
  predictable
  costs
  once
  you
  know
  your
  premiums

The
downside:

• Higher
  monthly
  premiums
  (Medigap
  policies
  typically
  cost
  $150-$350+
  monthly
  depending
  on
  location
  and
  plan)
• No
  built-in
  out-of-pocket
  maximum
  (though
  Medigap
  covers
  most
  costs)
• Three
  separate
  pieces
  to
  coordinate
  (Medicare,
  Medigap,
  Part
  D)
• Slightly
  more
  administrative
  complexity

Original
Medicare
+
Medigap
is
a
good
fit
for
lawyers
who:

• Travel
  frequently
  or
  maintain
  residences
  in
  multiple
  locations
• Want
  maximum
  flexibility
  in
  choosing
  providers
• Have
  complex
  health
  conditions
  requiring
  multiple
  specialists
• Prefer
  predictable
  costs
  and
  comprehensive
  coverage
• Can
  afford
  higher
  monthly
  premiums
  for
  peace
  of
  mind

The
Medigap
Underwriting
Window
(Critical
Timing)

You
have
a
6-month
Medigap
open
enrollment
period
that
begins
the
first
month
you’re
both
65
or
older
AND
enrolled
in
Medicare
Part
B.

During
this
window,
insurance
companies
cannot:

• Deny
  you
  coverage
  based
  on
  health
  conditions
• Charge
  you
  more
  due
  to
  pre-existing
  conditions
• Make
  you
  wait
  for
  coverage
  of
  pre-existing
  conditions

If
you
miss
this
window,
insurers
in
most
states
can
use
medical
underwriting.
If
you’ve
developed
health
issues,
you
might
face:

• Coverage
  denial
• Significantly
  higher
  premiums
• Exclusions
  for
  pre-existing
  conditions
• Waiting
  periods

This
is
why
the
“I’ll
just
start
with
Medicare
Advantage
and
switch
to
Medigap
later
if
I
don’t
like
it”
strategy
can
backfire.
You
might
not
be
able
to
get
Medigap
coverage
later,
or
you’ll
pay
substantially
more
for
it.

If
you’re
on
the
fence,
my
advice
is
to
start
with
Medigap
during
your
guaranteed
issue
period.
You
can
always
switch
to
Medicare
Advantage
later
without
underwriting.
But
going
the
other
direction
gets
complicated.

The
most
popular
Medigap
plan
is
Plan
G,
which
covers
nearly
everything
except
the
Part
B
deductible
($283
in
2026).
Plan
N
is
also
worth
considering
if
you’re
comfortable
with
small
copays
in
exchange
for
lower
premiums.

Strategic
Considerations
for
Lawyers

If
You’re
Retiring
Before
65

Retiring
before
Medicare
eligibility
creates
a
coverage
gap
you’ll
need
to
address:

COBRA
–
You
can
continue
your
employer
coverage
for
up
to
18
months.
It’s
expensive
(you
pay
the
full
premium
plus
up
to
2%
administrative
fee),
but
it
maintains
continuity
until
Medicare
enrollment
at
age
65.

ACA
Marketplace
–
Depending
on
your
state
and
income,
marketplace
plans
can
be
competitive.
If
you’re
managing
your
taxable
income
strategically
in
early
retirement,
you
might
qualify
for
subsidies.

Spouse’s
Coverage
–
If
your
spouse
is
still
working
with
good
employer
coverage,
this
might
be
your
best
option.

Part-Time
Work
–
Some
firms
offer
continued
health
benefits
for
of-counsel
or
part-time
attorneys.
This
could
be
valuable
if
you’re
pursuing
a
phased
retirement.

The
key
is
ensuring
you
don’t
have
a
gap
in
creditable
coverage
that
triggers
Medicare
penalties
later.

If
You’re
Working
Past
65

First,
confirm
your
coverage
is
actually
creditable.
Ask
your
HR
department
(or
your
own
records
if
you’re
self-employed)
for
a
certificate
of
creditable
coverage.
You’ll
need
this
documentation
when
you
eventually
enroll
in
Medicare.

For
small
firm
owners
and
solo
practitioners:
You
probably
need
to
enroll
in
Medicare
at
65
even
if
you’re
still
working.
The
employer
size
matters
for
creditable
coverage,
and
self-employed
coverage
typically
doesn’t
qualify.

For
partners
in
larger
firms:
Verify
that
your
partnership
insurance
actually
counts
as
group
coverage.
Some
partnership
arrangements
are
structured
in
ways
that
don’t
meet
Medicare’s
definition
of
employer
group
coverage.

Keep
detailed
records.
When
you
eventually
enroll
during
your
Special
Enrollment
Period,
you’ll
need
to
prove
your
delay
was
legitimate
to
avoid
penalties.

Coordination
with
Health
Savings
Accounts

If
you’ve
been
using
an
HSA
as
part
of
your
retirement
strategy,
enrolling
in
Medicare
ends
your
ability
to
contribute.

This
can
get
tricky.
Medicare
Part
A
coverage
is
retroactive
up
to
six
months
from
when
you
apply
(or
back
to
when
you
first
became
eligible,
whichever
is
shorter).

This
means
you
should
stop
HSA
contributions
six
months
before
you
plan
to
enroll
in
Medicare
to
avoid
an
IRS
penalty
for
contributing
to
an
HSA
while
covered
by
Medicare.

But
don’t
worry,
you
can
still
withdraw
from
your
existing
HSA
tax-free
for
qualified
medical
expenses,
even
after
enrolling
in
Medicare.
Many
retirees
effectively
use
their
HSA
as
a
tax-free
healthcare
ATM
throughout
retirement.

Geographic
Considerations

Medigap
premiums
vary
significantly
by
location.
The
same
Plan
G
policy
might
cost
$180
monthly
in
one
state
and
$280
in
another.

Medicare
Advantage
plan
availability
and
quality
also
differs
dramatically
by
county.
Some
areas
have
excellent
MA
plans
with
broad
networks;
others
have
limited
options.

If
you’re
considering
relocation
in
retirement
—
perhaps
moving
to
a
lower
cost-of-living
area
or
closer
to
family
—
factor
Medicare
costs
and
plan
availability
into
your
decision.
This
is
one
of
those
details
that
seems
minor
until
you’re
locked
into
expensive
coverage.

Common
Mistakes
I
See
Lawyers
Make

1.
Assuming
they
can
“figure
it
out
later”
 Medicare
has
strict
deadlines
and
permanent
penalties.
This
isn’t
an
area
where
you
can
afford
to
procrastinate.
Start
researching
at
least
a
year
before
you
turn
65.

2.
Treating
Medicare
like
employer
insurance
 Medicare
is
fundamentally
different.
The
enrollment
rules,
coverage
options,
and
costs
operate
on
completely
different
principles
than
the
employer
insurance
you’ve
had
your
entire
career.

3.
Not
accounting
for
IRMAA
in
Roth
conversion
planning
 Those
tax-efficient
Roth
conversions
can
trigger
higher
Medicare
premiums
two
years
later.
You
need
to
coordinate
your
tax
planning
with
your
Medicare
timeline.

4.
Enrolling
in
Part
A
while
still
contributing
to
an
HSA
 This
is
an
IRS
violation
that
can
result
in
penalties
and
taxes
on
your
HSA
contributions.
Stop
contributing
six
months
before
enrolling.

5.
Choosing
Medicare
Advantage
without
understanding
network
restrictions
 The
$0
premium
looks
attractive
until
you’re
traveling
and
need
care
outside
your
network,
or
you
want
to
see
a
specialist
who
isn’t
in-network.

6.
Missing
the
Medigap
underwriting
window
 Health
issues
can
develop
quickly.
If
you
miss
your
guaranteed
issue
period,
you
might
not
be
able
to
get
Medigap
coverage
later
—
or
you’ll
pay
significantly
more
for
it.

7.
Forgetting
about
Part
D
 Even
if
you
don’t
take
many
prescriptions
now,
you
still
need
creditable
drug
coverage
to
avoid
permanent
penalties.
Your
medication
needs
will
likely
increase
as
you
age.

Your
Action
Timeline

Three
Years
Before
65

• Understand
  how
  your
  current
  financial
  strategy
  (Roth
  conversions,
  income
  timing)
  will
  affect
  IRMAA
• Maximize
  HSA
  contributions
  while
  you
  still
  can
  —
  this
  is
  your
  last
  window
• Research
  Medigap
  premiums
  in
  your
  area
  to
  understand
  what
  you’ll
  be
  paying
• If
  you’re
  planning
  to
  relocate
  in
  retirement,
  factor
  Medicare
  costs
  into
  your
  decision

One
Year
Before
65

• Get
  certificate
  of
  creditable
  coverage
  if
  you’re
  planning
  to
  delay
  enrollment
  past
  65
• Estimate
  your
  Modified
  AGI
  for
  IRMAA
  planning
  —
  look
  at
  your
  projected
  income
  two
  years
  post-retirement
• Review
  your
  prescription
  drug
  needs
  to
  help
  with
  Part
  D
  plan
  selection
• Decide
  between
  Medicare
  Advantage
  and
  Original
  Medicare
  +
  Medigap
• If
  choosing
  Medigap,
  research
  which
  plan
  (Ex.
  G
  vs.
  N)
  makes
  sense
  for
  your
  situation
• Set
  calendar
  reminder
  to
  stop
  HSA
  contributions
  if
  enrolling
  in
  Part
  A
  (six
  months
  before)

Three
Months
Before
65

• Enroll
  during
  your
  Initial
  Enrollment
  Period
  —
  don’t
  wait
  until
  the
  last
  minute
• Stop
  HSA
  contributions
  if
  enrolling
  in
  Part
  A
  (six
  months
  before
  to
  be
  safe)
• Finalize
  your
  Medicare
  Advantage
  plan
  selection
  or
  choose
  your
  Medigap
  +
  Part
  D
  combination
• Set
  up
  automatic
  premium
  payments
  to
  avoid
  coverage
  lapses

At
65

• Confirm
  your
  coverage
  started
  and
  you
  have
  your
  Medicare
  card
• Keep
  documentation
  of
  all
  enrollment
  confirmations
• Set
  calendar
  reminders
  for
  Annual
  Enrollment
  Period
  (October
  15
  –
  December
  7)
  to
  review
  your
  coverage
• File
  IRMAA
  appeal
  if
  your
  income
  dropped
  due
  to
  retirement

Ongoing

• Review
  your
  coverage
  annually
  during
  the
  Annual
  Enrollment
  Period
• Monitor
  your
  prescription
  drug
  needs—your
  Part
  D
  plan
  might
  need
  adjustment
• Keep
  track
  of
  IRMAA
  brackets
  if
  your
  income
  is
  near
  a
  threshold
• Reassess
  Medicare
  Advantage
  vs.
  Medigap
  if
  your
  health
  or
  travel
  situation
  changes
  significantly

The
Bottom
Line

Medicare
planning
isn’t
sexy.
It
doesn’t
have
the
same
appeal
as
discussing
investment
returns,
Roth
conversions,
or
tax
optimization
strategies.
But
getting
this
wrong
can
cost
you
thousands
of
dollars
annually
throughout
retirement
—
money
that
could
fund
travel,
hobbies,
or
time
with
family.

The
good
news
is
that
unlike
some
aspects
of
retirement
planning,
Medicare
has
clear
rules
and
definite
deadlines.
You
just
need
to
understand
what
they
are
and
plan
accordingly.

Start
researching
now,
even
if
you’re
still
several
years
from
65.
Understand
the
enrollment
periods,
decide
between
Medicare
Advantage
and
Medigap
during
your
guaranteed
issue
window,
coordinate
with
your
HSA
strategy,
and
plan
for
IRMAA
if
you’re
a
higher
earner.

If
you
found
this
Medicare
breakdown
helpful,
you’ll
love
my
weekly
newsletter

Money
Meets
Law.
It’s
designed
for
lawyers
who
want
thoughtful,
no-nonsense
guidance
on
retirement,
tax,
and
investment
planning
decisions
that
actually
matter.

Over
the
next
few
weeks,
we’ll
be
offering
subscribers
a
curated
Medicare
guide
that
brings
all
of
this
information
together
in
one
clean,
organized
resource
—
plus
ongoing
insights
each
week.

You
can
opt-in
(or
out)
at
any
time
here.

Additional
Resources:

Medicare.gov

AARP
Medicare

Medicare
And
You
Book

New
York
Times:
Medicare’s
Private
Option
is
Gaining
Popularity,
and
Critics

DISCLOSURE:

The
information
in
this
article
is
not
intended
as
tax,
accounting,
retirement
or
legal
advice,
as
an
offer
or
solicitation
of
an
offer
to
buy
or
sell,
or
as
an
endorsement
of
any
company,
security,
fund,
or
other
securities
or
non-securities
offering.
This
information
should
not
be
relied
upon
as
the
sole
factor
in
an
investment
making
decision
or
your
decision
to
retire.
Medicare
rules
and
premiums
change
annually;
consult
Medicare.gov
or
a
licensed
insurance
agent
for
current
information.

---

David
Hunter,
CFP®
is
a
CERTIFIED
FINANCIAL
PLANNER™
and
owner
of First
Light
Wealth,
LLC,
a
financial
planning
&
wealth
management
firm
with
a
unique
focus
on
serving
attorneys
nationwide.
David
has
over
a
decade
of
experience
helping
clients
build
financial
plans
and
has
been
featured
in
publications
such
as
Attorney
at
Work,
ThinkAdvisor,
MarketWatch,
Financial
Planning,
and
InvestmentNews.
David
also
writes
weekly
to
attorneys
in
his
popular Money
Meets
Law newsletter.
For
more
about
David,
visit firstlightwealth.com/lawyers or
connect
with
him
on LinkedIn.

In
an
era
defined
by
global
interconnectedness,
understanding
international
law
is
no
longer
optional
for
today’s
legal
thinkers
—
it’s
essential.
International
law
provides
the
frameworks
that
govern
how
nations
interact,
resolve
disputes,
protect
human
rights,
and
address
transnational
issues
like
climate
change,
trade,
and
security,
shaping
everything
from
treaties
to
courtroom
decisions
across
borders.
For
current
and
aspiring
law
students,
engaging
with
international
legal
principles
introduces
them
to
the
skills
necessary
to
navigate
a
world
where
legal
boundaries
are
increasingly
global
rather
than
purely
domestic,
preparing
them
to
advocate,
negotiate,
and
innovate
on
the
world
stage.

The National
Jurist’s
preLaw
magazine recently
released
its
specialty
ranking
of
the
best
law
schools
for
international
law
on
its
International
Law
Honor
Roll,
highlighting
schools
for
the
strength
of
their
programs.
Here’s
the
methodology
that
was
used:

preLaw
magazine
grades
law
schools
based
on
the
breadth
of
their
curricular
offerings.
The
scores
are
figured
as
follows:
30%
for
a
concentration,
24%
for
a
clinic,
12%
for
a
center,
12%
for
an
externship,
9%
for
a
journal,
8%
for
a
student
group,
5%
for
a
certificate
and
added
value
for
additional
offerings.

Without
further
ado,
according
to
preLaw
magazine,
these
are
the
law
schools
that
earned
A+
grades
for
their
international
law
programs
(listed
in
alphabetical
order):

• Berkeley
  Law
• Cardozo
  School
  of
  Law
• Case
  Western
  Reserve
  University
• Fordham
  University
• Georgetown
  University
• LMU
  Loyola
  Law
  School
• Rutgers
  Law
• Santa
  Clara
  University
• UCLA
  School
  of
  Law
• University
  of
  Miami
• University
  of
  Michigan
• University
  of
  Washington
• Vanderbilt
  Law
  School
• Washington
  and
  Lee
  University

Click here to
see
the
rest
of
the
Honor
Roll.

Congratulations
to
all
of
the
law
schools
that
made
the
cut
for
this
important
ranking.

Top
law
schools
for
international
law
[preLaw
magazine
/
National
Jurist]

---

Staci
Zaretsky is
the
managing
editor
of
Above
the
Law,
where
she’s
worked
since
2011.
She’d
love
to
hear
from
you,
so
please
feel
free
to email her
with
any
tips,
questions,
comments,
or
critiques.
You
can
follow
her
on Bluesky, X/Twitter,
and Threads, or
connect
with
her
on LinkedIn.

“Write
what
you
know”
is
one
of
those
often
thrown-around
cliches,
but
how
many
of
us
actually
do
it?
Whether
you
parlayed
legal
careers
into
cooking
on
TikTok,
posting
on
OnlyFans,
or
leaving
the
IRS
to
sell
hotdogs,
there
is
a
book’s
worth
of
stories
in
most
of
us.
A
trial
attorney
took
the
plunge
and
authored
a
book
that
pulls
on
his
knowledge
as
an
attorney.

Mysuncoast
has
coverage:

A
Tampa
trial
attorney
with
a
seven-decade
legal
career
has
released
a
legal
thriller
about
justice,
corruption
and
a
man
facing
death
row.

Bennie
Lazzara,
who
also
writes
under
the
pen
name
B.M.
Reade,
published
“The
Jury
Is
Back,”
set
on
Anna
Maria
Island.
Lazzara
began
his
career
as
a
prosecutor
exclusively
handling
first-degree
murder
cases
and
later
transitioned
into
criminal
defense
work.

The
novel
follows
Sammy
Carrara
Jr.,
a
former
Tampa
native
turned
charter
boat
captain
on
Anna
Maria
Island,
who
is
accused
of
first-degree
murder
after
being
pulled
back
into
drug
smuggling.
Set
in
late-1970s
Florida
during
“reefer
madness,”
the
story
follows
prosecutors
pushing
for
execution
in
Florida’s
electric
chair
while
Sammy
insists
he’s
being
framed.

The
story
takes
its
name
from
what
a
bailiff
usually
says
to
let
the
attorneys
know
that
the
jury
is
ready
to
render
a
decision.
Much
better
title
than
alternatives
like
“Get
your
ass
back
in
here!”
and
“Ding!
Verdict
is
done!”

If
you’re
a
law
student
looking
for
an
excuse
to
slack
on
your
class
readings
and
learn
Crim
Law
by
osmosis,
this
is
the
book
for
you!
If
you
really
want
to
gamify
it,
you
could
mark
off
all
of
the
satisfied
elements
of
crimes
and
highlight
proof
of
mens
rea
in
your
favorite
color.
And
if
you’re
from
the
area,
you’ll
recognize
the
names
of
the
bars
and
beaches.
Anything
to
keep
you
from
brushing
up
on

Regina
v.
Dudley
and
Stephens.

Lazzara
co-authored
the
book
with
his
son.
After
his
son
passed
away,
he
finished
it
in
his
honor.
If
the
story
is
half
as
thrilling
as
its
making
is
touching,
you’re
in
for
one
hell
of
a
read!

---

Chris
Williams
became
a
social
media
manager
and
assistant
editor
for
Above
the
Law
in
June
2021.
Prior
to
joining
the
staff,
he
moonlighted
as
a
minor
Memelord™
in
the
Facebook
group Law
School
Memes
for
Edgy
T14s
.
 He
endured
Missouri
long
enough
to
graduate
from
Washington
University
in
St.
Louis
School
of
Law.
He
is
a
former
boatbuilder
who
is
learning
to
swim, is
interested
in
critical
race
theory,
philosophy,
and
humor,
and
has
a
love
for
cycling
that
occasionally
annoys
his
peers.
You
can
reach
him
by
email
at [email protected]
and
by
tweet
at @WritesForRent.

Glen‑Peter
Ahlers,
a
law
professor
and
Interim
Associate
Dean
for
Information
Services
at
Barry
University
School
of
Law,
was
arrested
on
50
counts
of
unlawful
possession
of
materials
depicting
the
sexual
performance
of
a
child,
according
to
prosecutors
in
Orange
County,
Florida.

Barry
University
moved
quickly
to
distance
itself
from
the
allegations.
In
a
statement,
a
university
spokesperson
said,
“Barry
University
is
aware
of
the
arrest
of
a
member
of
our
law
faculty.
The
faculty
member
has
been
placed
on
immediate
administrative
leave
pending
further
review.
The
University
is
cooperating
fully
with
law
enforcement
authorities.”

At
Ahlers’s
first
court
appearance,
prosecutors
offered
details
that
only
made
the
allegations
more
disturbing.
While
the
charging
document
lists
50
counts,
prosecutors
indicated
that
the
scope
of
the
material
allegedly
found
was
far
larger.

“I
believe
it’s
only
50
counts,”
the
prosecutor
said
in
court.
“However,
it’s
alleged
there
were
hundreds
of
thousands
of
images
that
were
found
on
his
devices.”

Adding
to
the
gravity
of
the
allegations,
an
attorney
involved
in
the
proceedings
stated
that
“on
one
of
his
devices,
there
were
photos
of
female
students
from
certain
angles.”
According

to
reports,
Orange
County
deputies
searched
Ahlers’s
office
prior
to
his
arrest,
a
detail
that
will
undoubtedly
raise
serious
concerns
within
the
law
school
community,
particularly
among
students
who
trusted
the
institution
and
its
leadership.

Ahlers’s
defense
counsel
emphasized
mitigating
factors
in
arguing
bond,
noting
his
age
and
background.
“My
client
is
70
years
old.
He
has
no
prior
record
of
any
kind.
He’s
married,
he’s
a
citizen,
a
professional,
affidavit
says
cooperative
with
law
enforcement,
so
we’d
ask
the
state
to
take
those
into
consideration,”
his
attorney
told
the
court.

Ahlers
was
ordered
held
on
$100,000
bond,
set
at
$2,000
per
count.

---

Kathryn
Rubino
is
a
Senior
Editor
at
Above
the
Law,
host
of

The
Jabot
podcast,
and
co-host
of

Thinking
Like
A
Lawyer.
AtL
tipsters
are
the
best,
so
please
connect
with
her.
Feel
free
to
email

her
with
any
tips,
questions,
or
comments
and
follow
her
on
Twitter

@Kathryn1 or
Mastodon

@[email protected].

AI
is
rapidly
becoming
embedded
in
legal
workflows
—
from
contract
review
to
litigation
research,
 ediscovery,
and
compliance
monitoring. 

But
adoption
brings
unique
risks:
confidentiality,
privilege,
and
reliability. 

This
guide
from
our
friends
at
Filevine
outlines
six
areas
every
legal
team
should
assess
when
evaluating
AI
vendors,
along
with
practical
questions
to
ask
for
each. 

Built
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LOIS
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Legal
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that
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intelligence
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DNA
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your
legal
work.

Sign
up
here
to
get
the
guide.

  

BREAKING:
The
Department
of
Justice
did
a

totally
normal
thing
in
New
Jersey!

After
a
year
of
open
defiance,
where
“acting”
US
Attorney
Alina
Habba
and
Attorney
General
Pam
Bondi
threw
up
middle
fingers
and

shitposted
about
“rogue,”
“activist”
judges,
a
prosecutor
in
New
Jersey
decided
to
try
doing
stuff
the
regular
way.
For
a
treat!

.@USAttyHabba
has
been
doing
a
great
job
in
making
NJ
safe
again.
Nonetheless,
politically
minded
judges
refused
to
allow
her
to
continue
in
her
position,
replacing
Alina
with
the
First
Assistant.

Accordingly,
the
First
Assistant
United
States
Attorney
in
New
Jersey
has
just…

—
Attorney
General
Pamela
Bondi
(@AGPamBondi)

July
22,
2025

The
unexpected
gravitas
occurred
in
one
of
the
thousands
of
habeas
cases
currently

swamping
trial
courts.
The
Department
of
Homeland
Security
recently

discovered
that
8
USC
§
1225(b)(1)(B)(iii)(IV)

requires
mandatory
detention
of
asylum
seekers,
including
those
who
were
released
in
the
country
decades
ago
and
given
work
permits.
Hundreds
of
judges
across
the
country
—
but
not
the
Fifth
Circuit!
—
have

scoffed
at
this
discovery
and
ordered
DHS
to
either
grant
immigrants
a
bond
hearing
or
release
them.

But
DHS
just
…
keeps
doing
it,
forcing
immigrants
to
race
to
file
individual
habeas
claims
before
being
disappeared
to
a
gulag
in
Texas.
Virtually
every
district
court
in
the
country
is
straining
under
the
weight
of
dozens
or
hundreds
of
virtually
identical
habeas
petitions
which
require
immediate
judicial
attention.
The
problem
is
exacerbated
by
DHS’s
total
lack
of
interest
in
complying
with
court
orders.
That’s
what
caused
immigration
lawyer
Julie
Le’s

courtroom
crashout
in
Minnesota,
during
which
she
suggested
that
she’d
welcome
a
contempt
order
because
then
she
could
finally
get
a
rest
from
having
to
go
to
battle
with
ICE
every
day
to
get
it
to
follow
the
law.

In
Minnesota,
Chief
Judge
Schiltz
compiled
a

list
of
96
court
orders
violated
in
his
district
in
January
alone.
But
Judge
Michael
Farbiarz
of
the
District
of
New
Jersey
went
one
better
and
ordered
the
US
Attorney’s
Office
to
produce
the
list
itself.
On
February
5,
he
instructed
prosecutors
to
“enumerate
each
instance
in
which
the
Respondents
or
people
acting
on
their
behalf
violated
an
order
issued
by
a
judge
of
this
district
between
December
5,
2025
and
the
present.”

And
to
her
credit,
special
attorney
Jordan
Fox
complied.
In
a

declaration
which
has
not
yet
appeared
on
the
docket
but
was
obtained
by

Politico,
Fox
listed
56
violations
of
court
orders
in
547
immigration
cases,
including
removing
petitioners
from
New
Jersey,
failing
to
grant
timely
bond
hearings,
and
late
filings.
Notably
absent
was
an
indignant
suggestion
that
these
orders
were
illegal
or
represented
judicial
overreach.
In
fact,
Fox
thanked
Judge
Farbiarz
for
“the
opportunity,
as
a
senior
Department
of
Justice
official,
to
submit
a
declaration”
and
for
his
“recent
recognition”
in
a
separate
habeas
matter
that
her
office
is
trying
very
hard
to
comply
with
court
rulings
under
difficult
circumstances.

“I
understand
Your
Honor’s
concerns
about
these
extremely
important
issues
with
constitutional
implications,”
she

wrote.
“The
line
AUSAs
and
staff
of
the
Civil
Division,
their
supervisors,
the
Front
Office,
and
I
will
all
continue
to
ensure
full
compliance
with
court
orders.”

Alina
Habba
could
never!
Which
is
one
of
the
reasons
that
the
judges
in
the
district
refused
to
use
their
power
under

28
USC
§
546(d)
to
bless
her
continued
tenure
after
her
temporary
appointment
timed
out.
The
president’s
pugilistic
personal
lawyer
stuck
around
for
a
couple
months
LARPing
as
US
Attorney,
but
in
December
the
Third
Circuit
said
the
jig
was
up,
and
she
finally
flounced
out.

With
no
ability
to
install
an
interim
replacement,
Bondi
appointed
a

troika
of
three
normie
lawyers
to
run
the
US
Attorney’s
Office
in
New
Jersey.

Fox,
who
previously
served
as
chief
of
staff
to
Deputy
Attorney
General
Todd
Blanche,
supervises
the
Civil
and
Appellate
Divisions.
Although
she’s
only
five
years
out
of
law
school,
she’s
Bondi’s
pick
to
run
the
office
permanently.
The

New
Jersey
Globe
reports
that
Fox
has
been
negotiating
with
those
“rogue”
judges
to
appoint
her
under
§
546(d),
breaking
the
logjam
caused
by
Trump’s
refusal
to
nominate
someone
who
can
get
blue
slips
from
New
Jersey’s
two
Democratic
Senators.
Perhaps
this
explains
Fox’s
recent
professionalism.
Or
maybe
it’s
just
that
her
future
plans
involve
practicing
law
in
New
Jersey,
rather
than
earning
her
living
as
a
MAGA
courtier.

Whatever
the
reason,
Judge
Farbiarz

credited
her
filing
as
“careful,
thorough,
and
plainly
the
product
of
a
great
deal
of
work
by
a
great
many
professionals
at
the
United
States
Attorney’s
Office.”
But
it’s
not
going
to
end
the
inquiry!

“On
or
before
February
25
at
10:00am,
the
Respondents
shall
file
an
affidavit,
executed
by
a
senior
official,
detailing
the
procedures
that
are
in
place
(or
that
will
be
put
in
place
in
the
near-term)
to
ensure
that
court
orders
issued
by
district
judges
in
New
Jersey
are
timely
and
consistently
complied
with,”
Judge
Farbiarz
wrote.

He
opened
negotiations
by
suggested
that
DHS
might
agree

not
to
remove
anyone
with
a
pending
habeas
petition
from
New
Jersey,
since
every
judge
in
the
district
is
administratively
ordering
it
the
second
the
case
is
assigned.

Which
is
great
news
for
Fox!
All
she
has
to
do
to
land
her
dream
job
is
get
ICE
to
quit
breaking
the
law
and
defying
court
orders.

Easy
peasy!

Subscribe
to
read
more
at
Law
and
Chaos….

---

Liz
Dye produces
the
Law
and
Chaos Substack and podcast. You
can
subscribe
by
clicking
the
logo:

For
more
than
a
decade,
I’ve
written
on
LinkedIn
almost
every
day.
I
missed
a
few
here
and
there.
Trials
intervene.
Travel
intervenes.
Life
intervenes.

​But
mostly,
I
showed
up.

​I
began
writing
while
I
was
still
trying
to
figure
out
if
I
belonged
in
this
profession.
I
was
dealing
with
imposter
syndrome.
I
wondered
if
I
was
a
fraud.
I
wrote
to
clarify
my
thinking.
I
wrote
to
test
whether
I
had
learned
anything
worth
sharing.
I
wrote
to
help
young
lawyers
while
I
was
still
becoming
one.

​Over
time,
those
daily
posts
became
short,
direct lessons learned
in
courtrooms,
depositions,
client
meetings,
interviews,
conferences,
and
hard
conversations.

​Here
are
100
of
them.

​Not
theory.
Not
academic.
Just
what
works.

I.
Mindset:
The
Foundation
(1–15)

1. Work
hard.
No
substitute.

2. Discipline
beats
motivation.

3. When
it
gets
uncomfortable,
lean
in.

4. The
hard
path
usually leads somewhere
worthwhile.

5. Temporary
setbacks
are
not
permanent
verdicts.

6. Grit
is
staying
when
others
leave.

7. Doubt
is
normal.
Quitting
is
optional.

8. You
don’t
need
to
feel
ready.
You
need
to
start.

9. Build
habits,
not
hype.

10. You
are
not
behind.
You
are
building.

11. Effort
compounds.

12. Stay
curious.
Complacency
is
dangerous.

13. The
profession
is
demanding.
Rise
to
it.

14. You
don’t
grow
in
easy
seasons.

15. Show
up
—
especially
when
you
don’t
feel
like
it.

II.
Ownership:
Your
Name
Is On It
(16–30)

16. Your
cases
are
yours.

17. Delegate
tasks.
Never
delegate
accountability.

18. Read
everything
before
it
goes
out.

19. Verify
every
citation.

20. Deadlines
are
promises.
Keep
them.

21. Follow
up
without
being
asked.

22. Anticipate
problems
before
they
surface.

23. Keep
moving
files
forward.

24. Silence
from
you
creates
anxiety
for
clients.

25. A
missed
detail
can
undo
months
of
work.

26. If
something
feels
off,
check
it.

27. Assume
nothing.
Confirm
everything.

28. Preparation
reduces
stress.

29. Own
the
result
—
win
or
lose.

30. Learn
more
from
losses
than
wins.

III.
Courtroom
&
Litigation
Craft
(31–45)

31. Start
with
your
strongest
point.

32. Judges
want
clarity.

33. Simplicity
persuades.

34. Adapt
your
deposition
style
to
the
witness.

35. Sometimes
calm
wins
more
than
aggression.

36. Listen
more
than
you
speak.

37. Jury
selection
is
about
removing
risk.

38. Test
themes
early.

39. Stories
persuade
more
than
statutes.

40. Don’t
over-try
a
hearing.

41. Respect
the
court’s
time.

42. Professionalism
is a strategy.

43. Give
opposing
counsel
room
to
resolve.

44. Never
take
litigation
personally.

45. Prepare as
if
a trial
is
certain.

IV.
Professionalism
&
Reputation
(46–60)

46. Your
reputation
walks
into
the
room
before
you
do.

47. Be
the
steady
one.

48. Lower
the
temperature,
don’t
raise
it.

49. Pick
up
the
phone.
Tone
matters.

50. Confirm
agreements
in
writing.

51. Be
early.

52. Dress as it
matters.

53. Be
respectful
to
everyone
—
staff
included.

54. Send
thank-you
notes.

55. Praise
publicly.
Criticize
privately.

56. Avoid
email
wars.

57. Your
word
should
mean
something.

58. Return
calls.

59. Build
relationships
before
you
need
them.

60. Gratitude
builds
goodwill.

V.
Mentorship
&
Development
(61–70)

61. Seek
mentors
who
challenge
you.

62. Ask
how
they
think,
not
just
what
they
do.

63. Watch
how
good
lawyers
handle
pressure.

64. Learn
the
unwritten
rules.

65. Teach
what
you’ve
learned.

66. Pay
forward
practical
advice.

67. Invest
in
your
speaking
skills.

68. Start
small.
Improve
gradually.

69. Feedback
is
fuel.

70. Surround
yourself
with
people
better
than
you.

VI.
Career
Strategy
(71–85)

71. Decide
intentionally:
specialist
or
broad-based.

72. Reassess
your
goals
yearly.

73. Build
a
professional
presence
online.

74. Your
digital
footprint
matters.

75. Clients
research
you
before
calling.

76. Write.
It
clarifies
your
thinking.

77. Speak.
It
builds
credibility.

78. Network
consistently,
not
frantically.

79. Protect
your
integrity
at
all
costs.

80. Say
no
when
necessary.

81. Not
every
opportunity
is
your
opportunity.

82. Stay
financially
disciplined.

83. Invest
in
continuing
education.

84. Don’t
chase
titles.
Chase
competence.

85. Think
long-term.

VII.
Clients
&
Business
Judgment
(86–95)

86. Litigation
is
your
job.
It’s
your
client’s
stress.

87. Explain
risk
in
plain
language.

88. Early
evaluation
saves
money.

89. Create
workflows
that
reduce
chaos.

90. Communicate
before
being
asked.

91. Underpromise.
Overdeliver.

92. Be
practical,
not
theatrical.

93. Know
when
to
settle.

94. Know
when
to
try
the
case.

95. Always
protect
the
client’s
trust.

VIII.
Technology
&
Change
(96–100)

96. Embrace technology,
but supervise
it.

97. Verify
machine
output
before
relying
on
it.

98. Adapt
early
to
change.

99. Train
continuously.

100. Lawyers
who
evolve
will
outlast
those
who
resist.

Conclusion:
Why
I
Kept
Writing

​I
began
writing
because
I
was
searching
for
my
place
in
this
profession.
I
questioned
whether
I
truly
belonged.
I
wondered
whether
I
had
anything
worth
saying.

​Writing
daily
forced
clarity.
It
forced
discipline.
It
forced
reflection.

​Over
time,
that
habit
turned
into
something
larger
—
articles,
speaking
engagements,
conversations,
mentorship.

​You
don’t
have
to
wait
until
you
feel
established
to
contribute.
You
don’t
have
to
wait
until
you’re
certain.

​If
you
have
lived
through
a
deposition,
a
tough
client
call,
a
hard
loss,
a
demanding
partner
—
you
have
learned
something.

​Share
it.

​Write.
Mentor.
Teach.
Lead.

​You
may
think
you’re
just
adding
your
voice.

​You
may
be
helping
someone
find
theirs.

---

Frank
Ramos
is
a
partner
at
Goldberg
Segalla
in
Miami,
where
he
practices
commercial
litigation,
products,
and
catastrophic
personal
injury. You
can
follow
him
on LinkedIn,
where
he
has
about
80,000
followers.