Brian N. Rubin
Attorney Brian Rubin, the founder of Rubin Law, a former IRS Agent, and former IRS Attorney, has been a practicing attorney since 1976, is the parent of three children one of whom, Mitchell, has Autism. Brian’s law practice, for nearly four decades, since 1982, when Mitchell was one year old, has been dedicated to serving the legal and future planning needs of his fellow Illinois families of children and adults with intellectual disabilities, developmental disabilities, and/or mental illness. Brian is a Past President (2017-2018) of the Special Needs Alliance, the national, non-profit, association of experienced special needs planning attorneys (membership is by invitation only), served on the Special Needs Law Section Steering Committee of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, was a Charter Member of the Academy of Special Needs Planners, and is a Faculty Member and Text Book Author for the Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education (IICLE) on the topic of special needs legal and future planning, as well as a Speaker for the American Bar Association and the Illinois State Bar Association on those topics. Brian has been elected as a Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC) and has received the highest attorney rating from Martindale-Hubbell, AV® Preeminent™, and AVVO’s highest attorney rating of Top Attorney. Brian is a Past President of The Arc of Illinois (2007-2011), served on The Arc of Illinois Board for 15 years (2004-2019), is a Past Chairman of the State of Illinois Statewide Advisory Council on Developmental Disabilities (2002-2004), is the Immediate Past Chairman of the State of Illinois Autism Task Force (Chairman 2005-2015) established by the Illinois Legislature in 2005, serves as a member of the State of Illinois Guardianship & Advocacy Commission since 2013, served on the State of Illinois Department of Human Services Office of Inspector General Quality Care Board for 6 years, among many other State of Illinois Committees and Commissions. Brian has been a member of the Board of Directors of Clearbrook (an organization serving more than 8,000 individuals with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities, including his son, Mitchell) since 1989, is a member of the Board of Trustees of Life’s Plan, Inc. which serves as Trustee of both Pooled Special Needs Trust and individual Special Needs Trusts, served as a member (Past Chairman) of the Board of Directors of the Special Leisure Services Foundation, the foundation supporting the Northwest Suburban Special Recreation Association (NWSRA), served as the founding Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Foundation of The Special Education District of Lake County (SEDOL Foundation), served on the Board of Directors of KESHET (Jewish Parents of Children with Special Needs), serves on the Advisory Council of Encompass (Encompass in partnership with Jewish Child & Family Services, Jewish United Fund, JVS Chicago, JCC Chicago, Keshet, and The Center for Enriched Living and Center for Independent Futures), served for 7 years on the Board of Directors of Pact, Inc., now known as DayOne Pact, which serves as Trustee of Special Needs Trusts as well as Guardian for individuals with intellectual disabilities, developmental disabilities and/or mental illness, and served on the Board of Directors of Northpointe Resources, also an agency serving individuals with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities.
brian@rubinlaw.com
Benjamin A. Rubin
Attorney Benjamin (Benji) Rubin, Brian’s youngest son, Mitchell’s “little/big” brother, has been a member of the Law Firm since 2010, and is now President of the professional corporation. Benji graduated from the University of Illinois College of Law, Magna Cum Laude, received his undergraduate degree from Northwestern University, and his Graduate Law Degree, an LLM (Tax), with honors, also from Northwestern University. Benji is a member of the Academy of Special Needs Planners, a member of the national Board of Directors of the Special Needs Alliance, national, non-profit, association of experienced special needs planning attorneys (membership is by invitation only), is Vice-Chair, American Bar Association Elder Law and Special Needs Planning, Prior Chairman of the American Bar Association Special Needs Planning Committee, past President of SIBS (Supporting Illinois Brothers and Sisters), the Illinois chapter of the national Sibling Leadership Network, an organization of adult siblings of individuals with intellectual disabilities, developmental disabilities and/or mental illness. Benji is former director and served on the Board of Directors for 9 years for The Arc of Illinois. He also serves on the Board of Directors NSSRA (Northern Suburban Special Recreation Association) which facilitates and provides year round recreation programs and services to individuals in Deerfield, Glencoe, Glenview, Highland Park, Kenilworth, Lake Bluff, Northbrook, Northfield, Wilmette and Winnetka; Highwood and Lake Forest, and Riverwoods. He also serves on the Board of Directors of DayOne PACT, which serves as Trustee of Special Needs Trusts as well as Guardian for individuals with intellectual disabilities, developmental disabilities and/or mental illness, serves on the Board of Directors of the Foundation of The Special Education District of Lake County (SEDOL Foundation), served previously on the Advisory Council of Encompass (Encompass in partnership with Jewish Child & Family Services, Jewish United Fund, JVS Chicago, JCC Chicago, Keshet, and The Center for Enriched Living and Center for Independent Futures). Benji is also a Faculty Member for the Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education (IICLE) on the topic of special needs planning, as well as a Speaker for the American Bar Association and the Illinois State Bar Association on those topics. In April 2024, Benji was elected as a Fellow to ACTEC (The American College of Trust and Estate Counsel), a national non-profit association of the leading trust and estate lawyers. Having Mitchell as a brother profoundly shaped who Benji is today, and thus the type of law he chose to practice. His firsthand experiences as a sibling offer a unique perspective into the responsibilities that come with caring for a sibling with special needs. Now as an adult, those sometimes present and future responsibilities he has regarding his brother’s care are a concern that he shares with all brothers and sisters of individuals with special needs.
benji@rubinlaw.com
Judith L. Smith
Attorney Judie Smith has been licensed to practice law in the State of Illinois since 1985. She has been an associate attorney with Brian Rubin since 1996. Judie’s practice, since 1996, has been limited to special needs estate planning and administration for families of individuals with special needs. Judie has handled countless adult guardianship matters for clients in Cook, Lake, McHenry, DuPage and Kane Counties. Her courtroom experience includes preparation and court approval of Medicaid “Pay Back” Trusts (also referred to as “OBRA ’93 Trusts” and/or “d4A Trusts”, preparation and court approval of trust and estate budgets, as well as preparation and approval of trust and estate annual accountings and annual reports. Judie is a member of the Special Needs Alliance.
judie@rubinlaw.com
Melanie B. Hoffman
Attorney Melanie Hoffman has been licensed to practice law in the State of Illinois since 1993. She began her career with the Office of the Cook County Public Guardian, working on behalf of abused and neglected children, and subsequently working in the Disabled Adult Division, responsible for estate administration and guardianship matters. Melanie left the Office of the Cook County Public Guardian to become an associate of Brian Rubin in 1995. Melanie’s practice was limited to estate planning, estate administration and guardianship for families of individuals with special needs. After a period spent raising her family, she renewed her affiliation with Brian Rubin in 2012. Melanie is an affiliate member of the Special Needs Alliance.
melanie@rubinlaw.com
Jolie K. Kaplan
Attorney Jolie Kaplan has been licensed to practice law in the State of Illinois since 1996 and became an associate of Brian Rubin in 1997. Inspired by her own experiences having a sibling with special needs, Jolie’s practice was limited to estate planning, estate administration, and guardianship for families of individuals with special needs. After a period spent raising her family, Jolie renewed her affiliation with Brian Rubin in 2019.
jolie@rubinlaw.com
OFFICE STAFF & LEGAL ASSISTANTS
Rubin Law, a professional corporation, maintains relationships with other attorneys in order to serve all legal needs of its clients. The firm’s staff also includes legal assistants.
Holly Garcia
Holly joined Rubin Law in 2021 as the Office Manager. She has over 20 years’ experience of running an office efficiently with the day to day administrative and accounting tasks. She has an undergraduate degree in Psychology from University of Phoenix.
holly@rubinlaw.com
Karen Muschkat
Karen joined Rubin Law as a legal assistant in 2007. Karen has more than 20 years of extensive experience in the areas of estate planning & estate administration.
karen@rubinlaw.com
Linda Rubin
Brian Rubin’s wife, joined Rubin Law as a legal assistant in 2001. Linda, as Mitch’s Mom, offers an experienced point of view as someone who has lived through all the trials & tribulations that fellow families of individuals with special needs weather.
linda@rubinlaw.com
Michelle Fettner
Michelle joined Rubin Law in 2023 as a Paralegal with over 20 years previous legal experience, mainly as an estate plan paralegal, but also with a background in construction law and general litigation. Having worked in estate planning for over a decade, Michelle is familiar with every step of this process, from execution of Wills, Trusts, Powers of Attorney and health care directives to Guardianship and Probate matters.
michelle@rubinlaw.com
Debbie Dawdy
Debbie joined Rubin Law in 2023 as a legal assistant with over 27 years experience, primarily in real estate law. Debbie has a brother with cerebral palsy, so she is familiar with what it takes to care for someone with special needs.
debbie@rubinlaw.com
Tracy L. Snow
Tracy joined Rubin Law in 2024 as a part-time legal administrative assistant. Tracy has over 30 years of experience as the managing director of a family office focused on financial and estate planning. She has an MBA from the University of Notre Dame and serves on the board at Clearbrook.
tracy@rubinlaw.com
Mitchell Rubin
Brian and Linda’s son, who has autism – among other diagnosed special needs, also works at Rubin Law one day a week, shredding documents, greeting clients and completing other assigned tasks.
