Jessica Adams JD’26 entered Willamette School of Law’s Trusts & Estates Clinic hoping to sharpen the skills she gained in her Wills and Trusts and Elder Law courses and to spend more time in front of clients. She also spent the semester building something the clinic had never produced before: a step-by-step guide and companion video to walk grieving families through the tribal probate process from start to finish.
The project grew out of the clinic’s longstanding partnership with the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde. The clinic provides estate planning services to tribal members alongside members of the broader community. Each year, a group of Willamette Law students have the opportunity to work closely with the Trusts & Estates clinic director Professor Susan Cook JD’96, to serve clients directly while gaining unique applied legal skills. However, over the last year, the clinic began assisting with one of the tribe’s first probate cases, and Cook and the students quickly realized that they were navigating largely uncharted territory.
“The tribal court was developing its own probate procedures and guidelines, and we were learning alongside them. There were many similarities to Oregon probate law, but there were very integral differences as well,” said Cook. “Every step required patience and collaboration.”
In Oregon circuit court, probate filings can be submitted electronically and the guidelines are well-documented. The tribal process is different: hearings must be scheduled, documents are handwritten, and weeks can pass between steps. If an issue arises, families often have to begin the process again. Combined with the emotional weight of losing loved ones, the process can feel overwhelming, particularly for individuals representing themselves.
Understanding this need, and wanting to expand the help that the clinic could offer, Cook suggested that the clinic help create a guide that would assist tribal members in navigating the probate process. She also knew the right person for the task.
“I had Jessica in several classes and have seen her at every level, from will drafting to elder law to the clinic,” Cook said. “She absorbs complex legal concepts quickly, takes feedback exceptionally well, and has a genuine heart for public service. I knew I could trust her with something this important.”
Demystifying the law for grieving families
Adams immersed herself in the work immediately by studying the Grand Ronde Tribal Probate Code alongside Oregon’s probate statutes, carefully comparing the two to identify the similarities and differences. She worked closely with tribal court personnel to understand what the code required and also how probate functioned in practice for the tribe.
“We had numerous conversations and I learned so much about their culture and their traditions,” shared Adams. “I wanted to understand what would be helpful for someone walking into tribal court with no experience and no legal knowledge.”
Rather than creating more forms for individuals to fill out, Adams developed a comprehensive, step-by-step guide explaining which forms families would need, when to use them, and how the forms fit into the larger process. Not stopping there, Adams opted to also record an instructional video explaining each step. Her hope is that the tribe can share it with their community members and help to demystify a process that can feel otherwise intimidating.
“People are already starting this process from a place of grief, the last thing they need is to be confused about what to do with their loved one’s estate,” said Adams. “My aim was for these resources to make the process less overwhelming and give families the confidence they need to move forward.”
A partnership built on trust
As Professor Cook is quick to point out, probate is one of the most difficult areas of law to teach and to practice because each individual situation is unique. She knew she was giving Adams a substantial task, but she also knew that she was up for the challenge. Throughout the process, Adams became proficient both in Oregon probate law and in the tribal process, putting in countless hours of research, asking questions, and making sure each instruction was accurate.
Adams was able to see firsthand how important it is to put in this level of work and attention to detail. Many tribal probate matters involve issues unique to tribal communities, including housing on tribal land and the handing of culturally significant items such as tribal regalia. For these and many other reasons, making legal resources accessible to tribal members is especially important.
“Our goal isn’t simply to complete probate cases,” Professor Cook said. “It’s to empower tribal members, increase trust in the tribal court system, and support legal processes that reflect the tribe’s own cultural practices and beliefs.”
That philosophy has shaped the clinic's broader partnership with the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde. In addition to estate planning and probate work, students participate in community pop-up legal clinics, educational presentations, and outreach events alongside alumni who continue volunteering after graduation.
For Adams, the project strengthened both her legal skills and her confidence.
“The clinic teaches you how to work with real people,” she said. “Clients don't always know what information you need, and every family situation is different. Learning how to research thoroughly, communicate clearly, and guide someone through a difficult time is something you can't fully learn in a classroom.”
The Trusts & Estates Clinic continues to expand its partnership with the Grand Ronde Tribe. Contributions such as Adams’ will go on to benefit tribal members for years to come.
