The “six degrees of separation” concept is nowhere more applicable than in Frederick – where almost everyone seems to be separated by degrees of two or three. Still, it was a surprise for attorney Megan McGrew, of the Law Office of Morrison & McGrew, to learn that her dad had been founding partner Scott Alan Morrison’s junior high school shop teacher. “It shows that we’ve been in Frederick a while,” she laughs.
This year, the law firm is celebrating its 25th anniversary, with a full quarter-century serving the community in the practice of estate planning, elder law and probate administration. Morrison founded it as his own practice in April 2000, after spending several years with another local firm, Russell & Hefner. His aim was to be able to shift focus away from trials, criminal law and divorce cases, and build a practice on what he most enjoyed: estate planning. “I can be the absolute best at the discipline I most enjoy if I keep a limited focus on it,” he says. And Morrison & McGrew’s goal is to be the go-to for estate matters, drawing on their years of experience and genuine desire to serve especially seniors in the community and families making key decisions about their lives.
McGrew joined the practice 16 years ago, in 2008. “After law school at the University of Pittsburgh, I moved back to Frederick, but I was originally working at a firm in Gaithersburg,” she says. After meeting Morrison at an elder expo where the two were promoting their firms, they stayed in touch, building a mentorship and Morrison later asked her to join him at the law office. “It was a great opportunity,” McGrew says, “to finally be both living and working in the community I love.”
Over the years, Morrison and McGrew have shaped their approach to serving clients around a few core values: “We try to communicate effectively, offer quality work at a reasonable price, treat people with compassion and maintain a sense of humor through it all,” Morrison says. That last one tends to be important – “We’re often meeting our clients in the midst of difficult situations, even tense moments,” McGrew says. “It helps to be able to share a laugh.”
Both Morrison and McGrew also value the ability to serve seniors and multiple generations of the same family. “The most fulfilling part of the work,” McGrew says, “is honestly just being able to bring people peace of mind.” Whether it’s a simple draft of a will, planning for long-term care and all its contingencies, or even sorting out a more complicated situation through probate, Morrison and McGrew strive to help bring clients a sense of security without an unnecessarily drawn-out or expensive legal process.
They each are active in the community and have raised families in the Frederick area. Morrison and his wife have a son and daughter–and now a grandson–and he’s involved with the Knights of Columbus, the Special Olympics, and the Frederick Fair. “You can also find me at classic car shows,” he says. “I’ve got a ’57 Chevrolet – that only took me about 15 years of slow progress to restore.” The color? Turquoise.
McGrew is the sports coach extraordinaire. She and her husband have two daughters, and she stays busy not only coaching their basketball teams, but also being a team manager for their soccer club. “It doesn’t leave a lot of time for much else!” she says.
A few other key members of their extended “family” are Morrison & McGrew’s exceptionally loyal staff. “I’ve been working with Ruth, our receptionist, for 29 years,” Morrison says, “and our paralegal, Christine, for 30 years – both have been here the entire time Morrison & McGrew has been around.” In addition to being just as dedicated to client service as the firm’s partner attorneys, Ruth and Christine’s longevity with the firm has made for an excellent set of working relationships and a high level of trust between all involved. “It’s something clients can feel,” McGrew says. “We’ve built these long-term relationships and we offer our clients security based on that trust.”
The two remember some of the earlier days of the law firm and reflect on how much it has grown. “We started out doing presentations to all kinds of groups – church groups, luncheons, anything to build up the practice,” Morrison says. “It helps that we’re personable and we’re happy to just go out and talk to people.” Today, most clients come through referrals or word-of-mouth. That’s the power of persistence and a dedication to community service. In the words of a satisfied Morrison & McGrew client: “You sailed through the obstructions and kept on track to the conclusion!” It’s an approach that has brought the partner attorneys through all 25 years.
The Law Office of Morrison & McGrew, P.A., was founded to help people navigate the often tricky process of preserving assets and protecting families through estate law and probate. They provide straightforward advice and skilled legal services in estate law matters at a convenient location in downtown Frederick.
Client Services Include:
- Estate Planning: Gain peace of mind and protect assets for loved ones through developing a testamentary will, revocable or irrevocable trust, or living will
- Elder Law & Long-Term Care Planning: Ensure medical expenses are accounted for and family members' needs are met with Medicaid planning, long-term care asset allocation or a special needs trust
- Probate Administration: Advise personal representatives and handle all processes relevant to estate management and distribution (efficiently & cost-effectively)
Morrison & McGrew offers free initial consultations for all prospective clients. To schedule a consult, contact the law office at 301-859-0827 or send a request online at SamLawOffice.com.
“The most fulfilling part of the work is honestly being able to bring people peace of mind.”