L. Michele Nelson

Areas of Practice

• Estate Planning
• Probate and Estate Administration
• Trusts
• Wills
• Elder Law and Medicaid Planning
• Small Business Planning

Bar Admissions

• Oklahoma Bar Association, 1996
• U.S. District Court, Northern District of Oklahoma, 1997
• U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Oklahoma, 2000
• U.S. District Court, Western District of Oklahoma, 2000
• U.S. Tax Court, 2000

Education

• Southern Methodist University School of Law, Dallas, Texas
  • Master of Laws (LL.M.) in Taxation, 1997
  • Honors:  Robert Hickman Smellage Sr. Graduate Tax Scholarship, President's and Dean's Honor Rolls
• University of Tulsa College of Law, Tulsa, Oklahoma
  • Juris Doctor, 1996
  • Honors:  President's and Dean's Honor Rolls, Liberty Bank Award for Excellence in Estate Planning; Am. Jur./CALI Awards in Wills and Trusts, Estate Planning, Federal Income Taxation, Appellate Advocacy, and Creditor's Rights (Bankruptcy) courses.
  • Tulsa Law Journal, Production Editor, 1993-1995
  • Organizations:  Phi Delta Phi Legal Fraternity, Student Bar Association, The Baculus - Law School Newspaper.
  • Alumni Recognition as Outstanding Law Student 1996
• University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma
  • Bachelor of Business Administration, 1985
  • Major:  Marketing, with 21 hours of additional coursework in Accounting
  • Honors:  Dean's List
  • Organizations:  Delta Sigma Pi Business Fraternity, Mu Kappa Tau, Marketing Society

Professional Associations and Memberships

• American Bar Association, Member, Real Property, Probate & Trust Section; Tax Section; Law Office Technology Section, 1994-2018.
• Oklahoma Bar Association, Member, Estate Planning, Probate & Trust Section; Tax Section; Law Office Management & Technology Section, 1996-present.
• Tulsa County Bar Association, Member, Estate Planning, Probate & Elder Law Section, 1997-2019.
• Tulsa Title & Probate Lawyers Association, Member, 2003-present, Treasurer 2015-present.

Leadership, Honors and Awards

• Oklahoma Bar Association, Estate Planning, Probate & Trust Section, Section Officer 2000-2013, Chairperson, 2001-2002, Legislation Committee Chairperson, 2002-2013.
• Tulsa County Bar Association, Chairperson, 2006-2014.
• Tulsa Title & Probate Lawyers Association, Board Member (2010-2011), Secretary (2012), Vice President (2013), President (2014), Treasurer (2015-present).
• Legal Aid Services, Award for Pro Bono Service, 2000.
• Liberty Bank Award for Outstanding Estate Planning Achievement, 1997.
• Nathan Hale High School Alumni Foundation, Tulsa, Oklahoma, Board of Trustees and Treasurer, 2005-present. 
• Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma, Volunteer Attorney, 2000-present.  Outstanding Volunteer 1999.

Publications and Seminars

• A Primer on Guardianship Law - Part I - Starting the Case, Oklahoma Bar Journal, 2009.
• A Primer on Guardianship Law - Part II - Finances and Reports, Oklahoma Bar Journal, 2009.
• Recent Developments in Oklahoma Estate Planning, Oklahoma Bar Association, 2001-2005.
• Legislative Updates in Estate Planning and Probate, Oklahoma Bar Association and Tulsa County Bar Association, 2002-2008.