Speaking Engagements — Book Elijah Keyes

Why Elijah

An educator who happens to practice law

I came to this work the hard way. Long-term illness in my own family showed me what happens when nobody has explained the plan — the guessing, the conflict, the decisions made in a hospital hallway. I became an estate planning attorney to spare other families that experience, and I became a teacher of it because information is the best protection there is.

That teaching instinct runs through everything I do. I served as a law professor at Golden Gate University. I host The Keys to Your Legacy, a weekly podcast. I run a YouTube channel built on one promise: California estate planning, explained in plain English. And as Vice President and Trustee of the Silicon Valley Bar Association, I speak regularly to a community of more than 300 estate planning professionals.

Audiences don't need another lecture full of Latin. They need a speaker who can turn trusts, taxes, and probate into stories they'll remember and steps they'll actually take. At home I'm my family's dungeon master — I take narrative seriously. It shows on stage.

Credentials Certified Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust & Probate Law (CA Board of Legal Specialization) · LL.M. in Taxation · Super Lawyers 2021–2026
Teaching Former law professor, Golden Gate University · weekly podcast host · YouTube educator
Experience Practicing since 2009 · founder of Keyes Law Group · regular presenter to attorneys, financial advisors, and community organizations

Elijah Keyes, estate planning attorney and speaker — Headshot available for event materials

Topics

Speaking topics include

Every talk is tailored to the audience in the room. These are the subjects I'm asked for most:

Living Trusts vs. Wills: What Californians Actually Need
Probate in California: What It Costs and How to Avoid It
The Federal Estate Tax: Planning for $10M+ Estates
Special Needs Trusts: Protecting a Loved One Without Losing Benefits
Trust Administration: What Successor Trustees Wish They'd Known
Medi-Cal Planning and Long-Term Care
Business Succession: Passing a Company Without Breaking It
Prop 19, Property Taxes, and the Family Home
Talking to Your Family About Your Estate Plan
Building an AI-Assisted Law Practice: How Our Firm Uses Technology
Need something different? Every presentation can be tailored to your event.

Audiences & Formats

Where this works

I'm available for keynotes, conference breakout sessions, continuing-education trainings for financial advisors, CPAs, and attorneys, employer lunch-and-learns, community workshops, and small-group seminars. Sessions run live throughout California and virtually anywhere, and typically include time for the questions people are afraid to ask a lawyer.

Professional Audiences

Conferences & CE Trainings

Substantive sessions for financial advisors, CPAs, realtors, and fellow attorneys — technical depth without the jargon fog.

Community Audiences

Workshops & Seminars

Plain-English education for families, employee groups, senior communities, and service organizations.

Media

Podcasts & Interviews

Available as a podcast guest and for press commentary on estate planning, probate, and elder law topics. Headshots and a short bio are available on request.

Booking

How to book a speaking engagement

Email execadmin@keyeslawgroup.com with the subject line “Speaking Inquiry” and include:

Event & DateName of the event or organization, and the date (or date range) you have in mind
LocationCity and venue, or virtual platform
AudienceWho's in the room — families, professionals, or mixed — and expected headcount
Topic & LengthThe subject you'd like covered and the session length
BudgetPaid engagements are welcome; honorarium and fee schedule available on request. Select community and nonprofit events may qualify for reduced or waived fees.

Prefer the phone? Call the office at (408) 766-7668 and ask for the executive administrator. We respond to every inquiry.

Email a Speaking Inquiry Download Headshot

Not Booking an Event?

If you need a plan, not a presentation

Planning work for your own family runs through my firm — we'll take care of it.

Visit Keyes Law Group