Philip M Hawes, Esq

Philip M Hawes
Attorney & Counselor

Who am I, and where did I come from . . . ?

The practice of law has been a "second" career for me. I opened my first law office in 1980 in Santa Barbara. Since then, my practice has evolved from "whatever comes in the door" to an emphasis on things I enjoy most and which I can do best.
I arrived in California from New England via University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. My initial studies at UNC were sidetracked by a 4-year tour of duty in the U.S. Navy in the late 1960s, including a combat tour in Vietnam in 1968. I was retired disabled and returned Chapel Hill to continue my education. Ultimately, I finished my undergraduate work at U.C.Santa Barbara where I earned a B.A. in Philosophy and Religious Studies.
My J.D. is from Ventura College of Law where I attended nights while working full time as the production manager in a fabrication plant. I was admitted to the California bar in 1980 and have practiced law continuously ever since. I have handled matters in most of the practice areas described here since opening my door.

My Commitment To You . . . .

The broad area of law that I practice is permeated with terminology, rationale, interlocking concepts and procedures, most of which you will not have heard before. As a result, it is difficult to know what planning tools are best for your particular circumstances and why without some guidance. It is my job to be a good translator, navigator and advisor so that you can attain the understanding of the elements of estate planning and administration that you need to make knowing and intelligent planning choices. You will find information on this web site and links to other sites to help your research and consideration of your goals and the means of attaining them.