Meet Jasmin Severino | Estate and Tax Planning Attorney

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jasmin Severino and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jasmin, what’s something about your industry that outsiders are probably unaware of?
I think there is a huge fascination with lawyers due to true crime podcasts and television shows like Law and Order or Suits, which are things I personally love and enjoy as well. However, the one thing that I feel like outsiders are unaware of is the stigma towards mental health in the legal community.

The American Bar Association reported in January of 2021, that as many as one in five lawyers is a problem drinker, which is twice the national rate of those outside of the legal profession . The stress of being a lawyer, the long hours, and other factors can really push lawyers toward substance abuse. Some lawyers are dealing with mental health issues, such as depression or anxiety, and they use alcohol as a way to cope and push forward. While our profession is making strides toward normalizing healthy coping mechanisms, such as therapy, the reality is that a lot of places of employment do not encourage attorneys to seek these services, or provide methods to ease the burden of the work obligations or facilitate the payment for these services.

The legal community needs to shed light on the issues surrounding mental health and encourage attorneys to find resources that can help with the stress of this profession.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
When I became a lawyer, I had no idea where my life would take me. At the time, I was the first and only Spanish-speaking, Latina estate planning attorney in the Metro Atlanta area. For those who may not know, estate planning is when we plan for the end of life through the preparation of Wills, Trusts, Powers of Attorney, and Advance Directives for Health Care. Coming from the Latinx community, I knew how widely unspoken estate planning was in our culture, and I soon learned it is not different in other communities of color. We, as a whole, have been deprived of the institutional knowledge needed to understand why this is important to our families. Imagine, if Prince, Michael Jackson, and other celebrities died without estate plans in place, what about regular people who own small family businesses? I chose to become an estate planning attorney to help families navigate difficult conversations because I know that no one likes to think about their death and what happens next. For me, I love guiding clients through scenarios that help us flesh out those possibilities so I can create a comprehensive plan that brings to life their vision for the future and their legacy after they are gone. I am proud of the work I do and the families that tell me they feel immense relief from doing their estate planning. It means the world to me when clients speak highly of the process and encourage others to consider it as well.

Becoming an attorney has been one of the hardest challenges of my life. Law school was very difficult and I realized quickly how impactful imposter syndrome would be. It has been something I have dealt with throughout law school, and daily in my profession. Speaking with other attorneys with similar backgrounds, I realized imposter syndrome is a collective pain for all of us due to where we come from, what we look like, and our shared experiences in the legal field. Therapy has helped me immensely with the anxiety I feel at times, and with developing strategies to manage that anxiety and calm down the imposter syndrome that I have when I am stressed or overwhelmed.

The biggest lessons I have learned are: (1) Feel free to say no to “opportunities” that may not serve you or may not feel right at the time. You do not owe a yes to everyone and everything. Make sure you have the time to work on yourself and build yourself up before you overcommit to things and burn out quickly. (2) It is okay to admit when you do not know something. The worst thing you can do is pretend you always know the answer. It is a disservice to you and those around you. Sometimes, it is more appreciated to say you do not know but you will figure it out then pretend you know and be completely wrong.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
This is very hard. Atlanta is such a foodie city, and I always get stuck with how to recommend things to people when they visit – especially because I love cooking at home too.

In terms of food, I always recommend Bulla. I love tapas and it is so fun to go with 2-3 friends and each order two plates to share, with some specialty cocktails. I also love Apres Diem in Midtown. They have delicious food and their outdoor patio is so nice when it is warmer outside. I also love Bastone for a good dinner out on the town. Their mozzarella bar is the best thing ever. I also love Iberian Pig in Buckhead and they have amazing drinks. Thrill Korean BBQ in Sandy Springs is also fantastic and a fan favorite for me.

In terms of hanging out, I love walking the beltline near Inman Park. I also enjoy supporting some of our local businesses such as ASW Distillery (all the locations are amazing and their drinks are the best!). Round Trip Brewing Company is so much fun and has an indoor/outdoor option. Lastly, Mutation Brewing Company is a new spot right in Sandy Springs and has some amazing beer selections.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
For me, there are a few people I need to thank at this moment in my life. The first people I need to shout out are my parents who have been the most encouraging people in my life. My parents immigrated to the United States for a better life. They have struggled through learning a new language and culture, and despite the constant challenges, they always encouraged me to pursue an education. Throughout moments of doubt and darkness, they continue to believe in me and encourage me to push forward. They have pushed me to realize all that I can do and helped me understand that if I cannot have a seat at the table, then I should pull up a chair and make my presence known.

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/jasmin-n-severino-993107a5