Attorneys

Susan I. Jean

.

I have chosen to focus my practice in the area of Elder Law and Estate Planning as a result of a family history of both dementia and cancer.  Although often the concerns and goals the client and family have are common, each person comes to me with a unique history, and with a personal, legal, and financial situation that are his or hers alone.  I enjoy the process of bringing my knowledge of the law and community resources to bear in crafting a plan that will work for my clients and my client’s family. 

I provide families with representation regarding long term care, Medicaid and Veteran's Benefits, as well as expertise on capacity issues, elder abuse, financial concerns, and other areas of law of primary interest to elders. I assist those concerned with the high cost of care to plan for ways to pay for care, as well as ways to qualify for government benefits without becoming impoverished.

I have practiced as an attorney on the Peninsula since 1993. I am one of only 15 attorneys in Virginia to have attained board certification as a Certified Elder Law Attorney, being certified through the National Elder Law Foundation, the only organization accredited by the American Bar Association to offer certification in the area of elder law; the Virginia Bar does not offer similar certification (for information see www.nelf.org).

One of my passions is public speaking; I am a frequent lecturer, and have taught various elder law subjects to other lawyers, CPAs and accountants, and financial professionals, for continuing credit.  I enjoy speaking to community groups on a wide variety of subjects related to Elder Law and Estate Planning. 

I currently sit on the Board of Directors for the Virginia Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, am a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA), and am a member of the Peninsula Estate Planning Council.  I am past president of the Virginia Chapter of NAELA, and was pleased to be elected twice as President of the York-Poquoson Bar Association.  I have been on the Board of Directors for the ARC of the Virginia Peninsula, the Peninsula Pastoral Counseling Center, and Williamsburg Area Meals on Wheels.

My husband and I live on the Peninsula; we are a blended family, with three daughters, a son-in-law, two grandsons and several pets.

William H. Carmines

I focus my practice on estate planning, estate, trust and conservatorship administration, asset protection, wealth preservation, elder law, business planning and immigration law.

I began my career in Washington, D.C. where I worked on Capitol Hill and with the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom. I have been practicing law in the Hampton Roads area since 2007.

I have advanced his interests in estate planning law and family counselling with extensive education. I earned a LL.M. (Master of Laws) degree in estate planning and elder law in 2010. I attained my Juris Doctor degree from Case Western Reserve University School of Law in Cleveland, Ohio, where I was an associate editor of the International Law Review.  Legal research I completed in that program has been published and used as a teaching aid by professors in law schools. I am also a contributing author for a book on estate planning.

 
I am a native of Poquoson, Virginia and have lived in the Hampton Roads area for most of my life.  I am currently the President  of the Board of Directors for the Historic Triangle Senior Center. I am a member of the College of William and Mary Fraternity Housing Committee and a member of the the College of William and Mary's Lambda Chi Alpha Alumni Board.  I am a member of the Williamsburg Republican Party and a member of the Republican National Lawyers Association.  In addition to my other community interests, I am a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, the Virginia Bar Association and the Williamsburg Kiwanis Club.  In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my friends and family, working out at the gym and running.

Elizabeth E. Bircher

I joined The Heritage Law Group as an associate attorney in June 2007. My practice areas include Estate Planning, Elder Law, Special Needs Planning, Estate Administration, and Guardianships and Conservatorships. I am a double graduate of the College of William & Mary, having earned each of my anthropology undergraduate and law degree there.

I am currently on the board of the Virginia Association of Elder Law Attorneys (VAELA) and have previously served on the board of LINK of Hampton Roads, as a PORT Steering Committee member, as president of the York-Poquoson Bar Association, and on the Peninsula Leadership Counsel of the Southeastern Virginia Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association. Since 2006 I’ve been an Officer of Election in York County, Virginia, working the polls at the Tabb precinct.

I am a member of the Virginia State Bar, the Virginia Bar Association, the York-Poquoson Bar Association, the National Academy of Special Needs Planners, and the National Association of Elder Law Attorneys.

My husband is retired from the Air Force. We have three adult children between us. My husband and I have finished—not raced, just finished!--three Marine Corps Marathons and eight half-marathons. We are currently attempting to learn kayaking skills other than the tip-over part, which we mastered readily and can demonstrate without any effort at all. We live in York County with our rescue dog, Jeff—who abides.

Stephen E. Campbell

I am an associate attorney with The Heritage Law Group.  I focus my practice on civil litigation, defense of traffic and criminal matters, personal injury, estate administration litigation, and social security disability appeals in Eastern Virginia.  The most rewarding part of my job is to help clients that come to our office at a difficult time in their lives and helping them resolve their issues in a positive manner.

I was born in Washington, D.C. and have lived in Williamsburg since 1994.  After graduating from Jamestown High School, I graduated cum laude with a B.S. from West Virginia University where I was also Vice President of Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity.  I attained my J.D. from Florida Coastal School of Law in Jacksonville, Florida.

I am a member of the Williamsburg Bar Association, Virginia Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, and the Virginia State Bar.  Additionally, I am a member of Williamsburg Presbyterian Church and have participated in numerous volunteer activities throughout the community.  In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my wife, Ashley, and Slaton, our yellow Labrador Retriever.  My other interests include spending time with family and friends, golf, Williamsburg Recreation Department softball, cooking, and attending sporting events.

Rhiannon M. Hartman

I am an associate attorney with The Heritage Law Group.  My practice areas include Estate Planning and Elder Law.  My main goal as I entered law practice was to be able to help people navigate some of the more difficult circumstances in life.  Susan I. Jean & Associates is a law firm that cares about its clients.  This, combined with the firm’s interesting and important legal work, made the firm an ideal fit for my practice goals.

I received my undergraduate degree from the College of William and Mary, and I graduated cum laude from the University of Richmond School of Law.  While in law school, I was a member of the Trial Advocacy Board and the Career Services Advisory Board.  I also served as a Manuscripts Editor of the Richmond Journal of Law and the Public Interest.

Before joining The Heritage Law Group, I was an intern with Legal Aid Society of Eastern Virginia and the York County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office.  I am a member of the Virginia Bar Association, the Virginia State Bar, the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, the Virginia Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, the Greater Peninsula Women’s Bar Association, and the York-Poquoson Bar Association. 

Heather L. Wilson

I was born and raised in Middlesex County, Virginia.  As a Tidewater area "local", I developed a passion for our home region.  I entered law school to fine tune my ability to be a strong advocate for our Chesapeake Bay.  After law school I returned to the Tidewater area and began my legal journey.  I soon found another niche that I was passionate about: family law.  Working within the broad definition of family law I realized I had an opportunity to help others during one of the most emotional times of their lives.  I have made it my goal to be encouraging and a voice of reason as I help my clients through their family law matters.  Just as I will fight for preservation of our local environment, I fight for my clients and their rights during their custody, visitation, child support, and divorce matters. 

I sit on the Board of Directors for the York - Poquoson Child Advocacy Team (CATeam).  The CATeam is a non-profit, multidisciplinary group that advocates for the children in our community.  Members of the CATeam include representatives from the Department of Social Services, Head Start, Poquoson City Schools, York County Schools, Colonial Behavioral Health Services, Response - Peninsula, Ninth District Court Services Unit, the York - Poquoson Victim / Witness Assistance Program, local mental health providers, and interested community citizens.  Our main activity is granting funds to local gropus to aid child abuse awareness, prevention, and treatment efforts in the local area.  I am also a member of the Newport News Bar Association, the York - Poquoson Bar Association, and the greater Peninsula Women's Bar Association. 

In my spare time, I love to work out, take yoga classes, garden, travel, and spend time with my friends and family.