Yolanda Rios

Yolanda Rios

Partner, Rochester Elder Law

Years in current role: 11

What changes in the legal industry do you believe will have the biggest impact on clients over the next few years?

Without a doubt, the use of AI in the legal practice will have the biggest impact on clients over the next few years. AI is already influencing client behavior, with some prospective clients having expressed to me that they considered using AI to generate wills and other estate planning documents to reduce costs. While this is understandable given our economy, AI cannot replace the judgment and accountability of a live attorney. The same is true for our long-term care planning clients. Engagement with AI to protect assets in the long-term care setting can create significant financial risks for loved ones. For these reasons, I am hopeful that attorneys find balance in using AI appropriately to alleviate work and to manage affordable fees for our clients.

How do you balance legal expertise with client service and relationship-building?

I find that this requires approaching each client with deep empathy. For instance, if a client comes in for estate administration, then I talk with the client about their loss and their feelings before we get into the details of a probate petition. Just the simple question, “how are you coping with the loss?” can often invoke a vulnerability from the client that, in turn, builds trust. The same rings true for an adult child whose parent is facing nursing home care. Typically, that adult child comes to us frustrated and overwhelmed with decision making for their parent. Simply listening to the client vent and assuring them that they are not alone goes a long way in building trust before we discuss strategy.

How important is community involvement or pro bono work within your organization?

Community involvement is extremely important to our firm. Often, we meet clients and their loved ones during a crisis situation (such as when a loved one suddenly declines and needs skilled nursing care). They are typically overwhelmed with fast-paced decision making and information overload that could have been mitigated with advanced planning, had they been aware of that option. Therefore, we hold free financial and care planning seminars through various organizations such as Lifespan of Rochester and Alzheimer’s Association to educate elder adults and their loved ones/caretakers about the benefits of advanced planning.

This profile is part of our Trusts & Estates Power List for 2026. Information used in this profile was sourced from the honoree. View the full list at nydailyrecord.com.