We recently connected with April Jackson and have shared our conversation below.

April , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

My grandfather died while I was in law school. Fortunately, he had a good life and he had a great death. The entire family was close enough to visit, he was lucid, and told us all how much he loved us. He let us know that he was ready to die.

His funeral was held on a sunny October day, and my uncle’s eulogy was a  beautiful tribute to all of the lives he’d touched in his 94 years. But by Thanksgiving, our family was splintered. Two of my aunts were in disagreement about how Grandpa wanted his children to split the inheritance. He had a will and a little bit of money in the bank.

Since I was taking Wills & Estates at the time, I could pinpoint where things had gone wrong. I became determined to save other families from the heartache that ours was going through. And that’s how I ended up doing estate planning. Because most estate planners also do probate matters, I added that to my practice, and I grew to include other related matters where I thought we could help families.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I’m April. I’m a Nashville native and elder millennial. I’ve wanted to be a lawyer since I was about ten. It took me a long time to come up with my firm’s name, because I wanted it to speak to who we are and who we serve. When people ask me who my ideal client is- it’s me! My friends and I are the (current) sandwich generation- busy with building our own lives while we help our parents and loved ones transition into retirement and beyond.

I knew that I wanted to do estate planning after my Grandpa died while I was in law school. The day after bar results came out, I got married.  Being the eldest daughter married to an only child, I knew that taking care of two sets of parents would fall to me and my husband if our parents needed help.  So what would that look like? What did I need to know?  Did they have the resources to bring in paid help (because I didn’t spend all that time in law school to not practice law)?

Fortunately, our parents are doing fairly well, but we’ve dealt with setbacks like everyone else. Even though I started out doing wills and probate, I’m so glad I was curious enough to expand my practice into conservatorships, Medicaid planning, and more. I’m more confident in my own future as a sassy old lady a la Golden Girls and my ability to help my loved ones.

When friends and family have hit difficult times, I’ve been so glad that my knowledge and connections have been able to help. As a firm, our goal is to help each individual age in a way that preserves their independence and quality of life while reducing the stress that is natural to every life transition.

I know that the idea of meeting with a lawyer is scary. We want to be the least scary type of lawyer. Most days you’ll find me in my home office in jeans and a t-shirt, with a Diet Coke listing to a spotify playlist that almost certainly includes Taylor Swift.

Today my firm, Graceful Aging Legal Services, PLLC, has an amazing team who helps me navigate helping our clients with estate planning, probate, conservatorships, Medicaid/TennCare assessments and applications, and other matters related to adulting and getting older.

How do you keep your team’s morale high?

1. When hiring, be honest about what you need and what you can provide. Include information in your job listings about wages, benefits available, hours expected, and company culture. Turnover is expensive and you don’t want to become known in your industry as an employer who isn’t honest about the work conditions.

2. Don’t micromanage. Treat your employees like adults. Give your team projects and deadlines. Support their personal and professional growth. As long as the work is getting done, and client needs are being met, then the how doesn’t matter as much as the fact that you’re not the one doing everything. Follow up on work and ask for updates so you know things are getting done. Provide guidance but teach your team how to work without you (so you can take that vacation one day!).

3. Ask for input, and say “yes” any time it makes sense. You hired these particular people for a reason. Get their perspectives on the business. Evaluate what makes sense and be confident in saying “yes,” “no,” or “not right now.”

4. Don’t be afraid to fire employees or clients. Be kind about it, but think of it as releasing them to find a better fit.

What’s been the best source of new clients for you?

Our best source of referrals is other professionals and past clients. We love building our network so that when our clients need something, we know who can help them, and fortunately it’s beneficial for us too.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.galsnashville.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/galsnashville
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/galsnashville
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/april-jackson1202/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCamtNCLQBeybCy7ZLaGCbww

Image Credits
April Bowers Creative Nashville Brand Photography/Hannah Feiten