Now an associate attorney at California Probate and Trust, PC, Ben was a solo practitioner for 23 years focusing on estate planning (Wills, Trusts, etc.) including Elder law and Special Needs trusts. Ben also assists families through the probate process and the final administration of trusts. He has experience in bankruptcy, landlord-tenant issues, arbitration and mediation. From 1997 through 2005, Ben was the Operations Manager and In-house Counsel for ArbitrationWorks, California’s leading provider of construction industry alternative dispute resolution services, working closely with California’s Contactor’s State License Board throughout the State.
Ben was a law professor for the University of Northern California, Lorenzo Patiño School of Law in downtown Sacramento. A night law school program that was dedicated to providing low-income and working individuals an affordable opportunity to study law and qualify to sit for the California Bar Examination. He taught the 1st year Contracts course and Wills & Trusts course. He has also taught Land Use, Alternative Dispute Resolution, and Legal Writing and Analysis. He served on the Board of Directors of the UNC, Lorenzo Patiño Alumni Association as Secretary (2004-2005).
Ben has been licensed to practice law in California since 1997 and admitted before the courts of California and the Eastern District of the Federal District Court.
Ben was a volunteer counselor/certified law student working with the Legal Services of Northern California’s Unlawful Detainer Clinic and a member of his school’s steering committee for that program. He has also volunteered his time as an attorney in the Legal Services Debt Collection Clinic.
Ben graduated from Knob Noster High School –Go Panthers– Knob Noster, Missouri. He received his Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice Administration from Central Missouri State University –Go Mules– Warrensburg, Missouri. He is a graduate of the US Air Force Training Command NCO Academy. Ben returned to law school in 1993 and earned his Juris Doctorate from the University of Northern California, Lorenzo Patiño School of Law, Sacramento, California.
Ben is also a proud veteran of the U.S. Air Force Reserves, serving on active duty during Operation Desert Storm. He left the Reserves in 2000, with an Honorable Discharge, having attained the rank of Technical Sergeant – 7-Level Avionics Technician for the 349 Component Repair Squadron at Travis AFB, California. He earned several awards including the Air Force Achievement Medal with 1 Oak Leaf cluster, and several Certificates of Achievement for his “Excellent” and “Outstanding” Mishap Prevention Program while serving as the Squadron Safety NCO.