When John Heck began his law practice in estate planning,  Legacy Lawyers, the retired Air Force officer understood the importance of planning ahead—even when end-of-life preparations seemed like a distant need. In Heck’s particular experience, the need for a will came with the job; but necessary as it was, there were some things he did not understand. This was the impetus to start his own law practice. “During my 31 years as an officer and aviator, we were taught that our service could result in the ultimate sacrifice, which naturally led to estate planning,” Heck says. “For years, I had a JAG-designed plan that I really didn’t understand. When I married and had children, I realized I needed a plan that worked at the time when it was most critical, in the way I wanted. After a lot of study, I found that I [could] use my law degree to help my family as well as other families. After my military retirement, I once again dedicated myself to service, but this time to individual families and communities rather than our nation.”

Heck’s years of service in the Air Force taught him valuable lessons that he uses in his practice today. “The military taught me the value of a steadfast work ethic, the importance of ‘mission first’ and the idea that a customer almost always takes priority over your personal needs. The military also taught me the importance and unwavering value of honesty and integrity as a way of life—concepts which I have carried into my law practice and which fit nicely into the state bar’s ethics requirements for attorneys.”