Joan M. Burda has a solo law practice concentrating in estate planning and LGBTQ issues in Lakewood, Ohio. She is the author of the award-winning book, Estate Planning for Same-Sex Couples, Third Edition (ABA 2015) as well as Gay, Lesbian and Transgender Clients: A Lawyer’s Guide (ABA 2008) and An Overview of Federal Consumer Law (ABA 1998) — out of print but a real page turner. Joan writes about LGBT legal issues, estate planning and other topics for various online and print publications. She is a featured speaker on LGBT legal issues at national and international conferences and workshops. Joan is a member of the American Bar Association, the Ohio State Bar Association, the National Lesbian and Gay Bar Association and the American Society of Journalists and Authors. She is an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Law at Case Western Reserve University School of Law and teaches LGBT Legal Issues and Wills, Trusts and Future Interests. In her spare time, she reviews books for the New York Journal of Books. Joan graduated from Bowling Green State University with a Bachelor of Liberal Studies degree, which means she took what she wanted and skipped all the boring classes. She received her law degree from Pepperdine University School of Law – a school located on a bluff overlooking Malibu–not at all conducive to studying so it’s a good thing the first two years were in a converted warehouse in Anaheim. Speaking of which – during law school, Joan worked as a security officer (aka a mouseifer) at Disneyland. She lives in Lakewood, Ohio with her spouse, Betsy.