Rachel Hirschfeld is the founder and principal of the Law Offices of Rachel Hirschfeld and the creator of The Hirschfeld Pet Trust™ and The Pet Protection Agreement™. Her practice focuses in the area of Trusts and Estates, Pet Protection Agreements and Trusts, Elder Law and Medicaid Planning. She is principally involved in planning for individuals, families and businesses in preserving assets, estates taxation and long term care.
Among her professional affiliations in the legal community, Ms. Hirschfeld is an appointed member of the New York State Bar Association‘s Special Committee on Animals and the Law, the Committee for Legal Issues Pertaining to Animals of the New York City Bar Association and the Animal Law Committee of the American Bar Association. She is also a member of the New York State Bar Association‘s Trusts and Estates Law Section and the Elder Law section. She serves on the Advanced Programming and Educational Committee and the Institute Steering Committee for the prestigious National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA). Ms. Hirschfeld is a frequent speaker before professional groups, and has been quoted in such well known periodicals as Newsday, Dow Jones, The NAELA News, as well as in other regional and national publications.
Ms. Hirschfeld, a graduate of Yeshiva University‘s Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, has worked under U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno in the Department of Justice in Washington, D.C., clerked for the Honorable William G. Bassler, Justice of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, is admitted to argue before the Supreme Court of the United States of America, and is actively involved with the legal, business and animal communities, as a Chairperson of the Board of the Greater New York Chamber of Commerce. Ms. Hirschfeld is a regular columnist for the North Shore Animal League America and works closely with the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) and many other shelters and sanctuaries across the United States.
Ms. Hirschfeld has the distinction of having graduated first in class from the Cordon Bleu Culinary Academy in Paris, France, with the highest possible honor, Tres Bien. Ms. Hirschfeld is also a TONY and GRAMMY voter. She has produced several shows on and off Broadway in America and England, including the critically acclaimed On Golden Pond starring James Earl Jones. She is fluent in English, French, Italian and Hebrew, and represents clients around the globe.
The catalyst for The Hirschfeld Pet Trust™ was Ms. Hirschfeld‘s beloved bijon-poodle, Soupbone. Rachel rescued Soupbone from the Center for Animal Care and Control of New York City. Rachel and Soupbone shared ten and a half years of love and devotion until his death during open heart surgery in 2005. Rachel developed Pet Agreements™ and Trusts so that others could plan for the continued care and well being of their pets.
Associations
The American Bar Association
"The ABA provides law school accreditation, continuing legal education, information about the law, programs to assist lawyers and judges in their work, and initiatives to improve the legal system for the public."
"The Mission of the American Bar Association is to be the national representative of the legal profession, serving the public and the profession by promoting justice, professional excellence and respect for the law."
The New York State Bar Association
"The Association's objectives, originally stated in its constitution adopted in 1877, are the same today. They are: to cultivate the science of jurisprudence, promote reform in the law, facilitate the administration of justice, and elevate the standards of integrity, honor, professional skill and courtesy in the legal profession. As a link between the state and the individual lawyer, as a force for constructive change, and as a chief exponent of the rights and liberties of the public, the New York State Bar Association stands proud and capable, ready to serve."
"The Association is established for the purposes of cultivating the science of jurisprudence, promoting reforms in the law, facilitating and improving the admin istration of justice, elevating the standard of integrity, honor and courtesy in the legal profession, and cherishing the spirit of collegiality among the members thereof."
The New York City Bar Association
The National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, Inc.
"The NAELA membership is comprised of attorneys in the private and public sectors who deal with legal issues affecting the elderly and disabled. Members also include judges, professors of law, and students. Some of the issues NAELA members assist their clients with include, but are not limited to: public benefits, probate and estate planning, guardianship/conservatorship, and health and long-term care planning. NAELA's vision is to be the recognized leader inspiring and empowering attorneys to enhance the quality of life for the elderly."
