Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Selina Billington. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Selina thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Looking back at the decisions you made early in your career, particularly whether to join a firm or start your own, do you feel you made the right choice for that stage of your career?

When I first started my life as a lawyer, I was living my “New York Dream.” I am a Minnesota native, who immediately fled to the warm weather and beaches of California for undergrad. While I loved my time and the people I met at Pepperdine, California was just not the place for me. So, I set my goals on New York, New York. I got accepted to law school in White Plains, NY, just a 30-minute train from the city. I lived in Hell’s Kitchen for a couple of years, and when law school ended, I accepted a job at a national law firm practicing products liability defense for Asian Manufacturers.

I was living my dream. Living in NY, working at a big law firm, and on “partner track.” I loved my team, my clients, and the work I was doing. For me, I knew that I wanted to get trained by the best lawyers possible in NY before I went off on my own, and I truly did have the best mentors. I learned how to navigate complex issues, work with clients, and be the best lawyer possible. I also learned a lot about businesses and how they operate. That experience was crucial for me when I started my own firm. I admire those who start their own firms from the beginning, but that thought was just too scary for me, and my journey was exactly how it was meant to be.

Ultimately, I decided to leave NY and big law and move to Houston. I accepted a position at a consulting firm where I was practicing tax. litigation for small to mid-size businesses. Once again, I had amazing clients and learned so much about business, books, the importance of tax planning. I never saw myself as a tax litigator, but in hindsight, it was the best choice for me because what I learned has been beyond helpful for me in my estate planning career.

The decision to start my own firm came a little suddenly. I was a new mom, and a single mom, with no family near, making the commute to the Galleria from NW Houston daily. I was gone from 7-7 daily while my daughter and senior dog were in daycare. I went to a networking event simply to make friends, but many of the women were small business owners. I was inspired, but was still going through the day-to-day motions of life. I had a baby to support and a mortgage to pay. After several losses in my family, and losing a neighbor that I spoke to daily during the COVID work from home days, I knew that I had to get my own estate planning done. As I searched for estate planning attorneys, I found my mentor. When I saw her call to action for lawyers who were burnt out and not loving practicing law, I was intrigued. Then I finally snapped out of it and remembered that when I went to law school, I said that I would open my own firm, but not until I was 40, because I wanted the training that you get in law firms. Well, I was 38 at the time and figured it was close enough to 40, and I was ready for a change.

Opening my firm was the perfect time for me. I was at a cross-roads with practicing law. As a new mother, being a work horse, traveling, and the stress that comes along with litigation were no longer appealing to me. My only experience was in litigation and finding something in a new field is not as easy as it seems. So, instead I started to do my own estate plan and open my own firm. Now I am able to have easy mornings with my daughter, not rush out of the home, I have a practice and clients that I love, all while being able to manage my own schedule. I do not think I would have been able to do this as a young attorney. Being a single parent forces you to multi-task and manage your calendar and get things done like no other job in the world.

I am very blessed with how my legal career has gone. There were many difficult times, and many times where I questioned my decision to even become a lawyer. Ultimately, it was the best choice because I do love the law again and I love being able to serve my community.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I am an estate planning attorney. This means that I help people plan for their future, and protect their legacy by diving in and talking about the hard topics. I help people design a plan for their future incapacity and death by providing legal guidance, educating them about the laws, and drafting documents like wills, trusts, financial and medical powers of attorney, living wills, and other documents.

I am a Personal Family Lawyer, which is a national network of attorneys who are trained in the same way- which is to plan for our clients’ futures, provide peace of mind, and keep their families out of court and conflict.

In addition, I am a single mom to a very spirited little girl and a senior rescue pug. Becoming a mother is really what inspired me to open my own firm. In those early days I would stay at night just flooded with anxiety. I was in a new city, with no family around, and only a few single, childless friends. What would happen to her if something happens to me? How long will it take authorities to find my parents and family? How long would it take my family to get to my daughter? These long nights really made it clear to me that estate planning is really about planning for the people you love most. To make it easier on them when the unthinkable happens. I was looking for an estate planning attorney in Houston, but met my mentor and decided to open my own firm.

As a mother with a young child, I also realized the gaps that traditional estate planning attorneys have in their design plans. Every single client with minor children receives a comprehensive Kids Protection Plan, which includes various legal documents, and non-legal documents to fill in the gaps to ensure that your children will always be raised by the people my clients choose, in the manner they choose, and will stay out of a stranger’s home.

Finally, what I love most about my firm and the way I practice is that I focus on legacy planning. Making sure that my clients stories, experiences, thoughts, voices- everything that makes you, you, are captured for their loved ones and for generations to come. Legacy planning is what I truly love most about my firm. I get to hear amazing stories from people who come from all walks of life, and I am able to truly connect with my clients on a personal level. Ahhh, I just had another amazing legacy interview the other day and it truly brings so much joy to my heart.

What I want my clients to know is that I truly want to be your lawyer for life. Estate planning is not a “set it and forget it” transaction. Our lives change, what we own changes, the people in our lives change. I review every client’s plan free of charge every three years. In addition, I am here to call when you have general legal questions – unrelated to estate planning. I have 10 years of experience in civil litigation and a vast network of referral attorneys that I work with often. When my clients have a non-estate planning question, they can call me – free of charge. I will provide them with guidance and be a listening ear. If it is something that I can assist with, I will be happy to, otherwise I will refer them to a trusted advisor.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

I have had to pivot many times in life. Haven’t we all?

For me, the most life changing pivot was taking that leap of faith and moving to Houston. As I said before, I was living my New York dream. However, as the years went on, I had to take a hard look at myself, my life, my career, and finally admit that despite having all of the goals on my list checked off, it wasn’t making me happy. My relationships with my family, my friends, and most importantly myself were not in alignment. I hopped on the meditation and journaling bandwagon (seriously, everyone needs to do this), and it changed my life. When I admitted to myself that I am truly a midwestern girl, who valued a much simpler, quieter life than NYC had to offer, that is when the offer to move to Houston came in. I love Minnesota and my family, but I still love big cities and knew that I didn’t want to move back to the frigid temps and brutal winters!

I was beyond terrified. I knew absolutely nothing about Houston aside from it had hurricanes, the Rockets, and was the 4th largest city in the US. I had no friends, no family, and zero connections to Houston, Texas, or the south for that matter. But after spending a weekend in Houston, I knew that it was the right decision for me.

I have been here for almost 5 years, and it was one of the best decisions that I have made for myself, but it was not easy breezy. The position I accepted was not a cultural fit for me. Despite having some amazing co-workers, I knew almost immediately that I would need to find something new. I stayed in this position longer than I anticipated because I became a mother, and my first day back from maternity leave was when our offices shut-down due to COVID.

I was still in a new city, a new mother, I was very unhappy with my former employer, and I felt isolated. It was definitely a scary time for me. I had no idea what I was going to do to create the life I wanted for me and my daughter. I wasn’t even admitted to the TX bar because I was practicing federal law, so finding a new position was difficult.

Thankfully, I met some of my closest friends and the best people I’ve ever known while working for my former company. Seeing my friend’s leave to start new ventures, including leaving the law all together, was inspiring and gave me hope. Once I submitted my application to be admitted to the TX bar, I knew that I was going to be okay.

Leaving a secure, well-paid position to become an entrepreneur as the sole breadwinner for my family was TERRIFYING. The fear and panic in my parents’ voices when I told them I was no longer employed and was starting my own firm came out loud and clear, despite their attempts to be supportive.

I am the first entrepreneur in my family. I didn’t watch anyone do this growing up, I didn’t have anyone close to ask for advice. I only knew, in my core, that this is what I wanted to do and this was the only way to create a life that I wanted for me and my daughter. I also knew that I was smart enough to figure it out.

Learning how run and manage a business has been more difficult than I imagined, but I did figure it out, I learn so much every day, and it has paid off more than I ever imagined. I am in fact able to support my family, and practice in an area that I am passionate about, with clients that I love. Yes, there are hard days as a business owner, but I am so grateful for trusting my gut when I moved to Houston, and trusting my gut when it was time to go off on my own.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

I am relatable and a genuine person.

I truly care about my clients, want to get to know them, and serve them. I come from humble beginnings –so you are not going to be working with a buttoned up, white shoe lawyer who is worried about billable hours and making a lot of money. I am here to provide guidance and help my clients have peace of mind.

I have to counsel clients about planning for their death and incapacity. These are heavy topics that most of us do not want to talk about. In addition, when you are completing your estate plan, you need to discuss family dynamics. Family dynamics are complicated – for all of us. Particularly when people are grieving. My clients often have wishes that their loved ones will not agree with, but I am not here to judge. It is my job to get to know my clients, understand their family dynamics, and their goals and objectives so that we can design a plan that they are comfortable with, and one that will keep their family out of conflict.

Estate planning is not a “one size fits all” transaction because you are dealing with real people, about a serious topic, involving the people they love the most.

My clients feel understood and trust me to open up about very personal topics that are very hard to discuss, even with the people they love and trust most. This is what has helped me build my reputation in my market.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.billingtonlawpllc.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/billington_law/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BillingtonLaw
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/selinabillington

Image Credits
Photos: Natalie J. Photography Branding: Jess Malli Mercier, JMM Artist/Designer