Debra Lynn Shapiro

Debbie Shapiro is an estate planning attorney whose career blends years of legal practice with decades of higher education teaching and training. Her path reflects a deep commitment to service, adaptability, and client-centered advocacy. After beginning her career in law, she stepped away to care for her children, later reimagining her professional life in higher education, where she served as a law professor, director of student support, educational consultant, and national trainer.

Returning to full-time legal practice with renewed purpose, Debbie now blends her legal expertise with an educator's skill set which includes active listening, clear communication, and compassionate guidance. She brings unique insight into estate planning, shaped in part by her own family's experience with a contentious estate dispute. That personal history underscores the necessity of precision and ethical diligence when preparing end-of-life documents, and it continues to fuel her passion for teaching Professional Responsibility as an adjunct professor.

In addition to her legal work, Debbie has designed and delivered hundreds of professional development trainings nationally and internationally. Her teaching portfolio includes Professional Responsibility, Legal Research and Writing, and bar exam preparation. Her teaching has sharpened her analytical and writing skills while enhancing her ability to explain complex ideas with clarity.

Debbie's strengths are grounded in years of legal practice, raising a family, and supporting students and clients through important decisions. Whether guiding clients through estate planning or mentoring aspiring attorneys, she approaches her work with integrity, compassion, and an unwavering commitment to helping others navigate challenges with skill and confidence.