How Carly Whiteside Built Copper Wren Law to Rethink Probate Services

Carly Whiteside, founder of Copper Wren Law, shares her journey from paralegal to the first woman to solely own an ABS law firm in the U.S. Based in Arizona, Carly’s mission is to make probate, guardianship, and trust administration services more accessible, client-focused, and transparent.

How did Carly Whiteside get started in probate and litigation?

Carly’s legal career began with the State of Arizona, where she worked in the Protective Services section supporting several attorneys in litigation. That experience taught her how much she enjoyed courtroom work and being the backbone of a legal team.

After moving into private practice and working with several firms, she eventually joined a probate firm that needed help building its litigation department. There, she realized she had both the skill and drive to launch something of her own.

When she learned about Arizona’s Alternative Business Structure (ABS) program—which allows law firms to be owned in whole or in part by non-attorneys—she decided to take the leap and build a firm that combined legal excellence with real-world business sense.

What is an ABS law firm and why does it matter?

Arizona pioneered the ABS model to make legal services more affordable and efficient. The program allows experienced professionals who aren’t lawyers—but who understand business, operations, and client experience—to co-own firms alongside attorneys.

For many small and solo firms, long-time paralegals and administrators play key roles but were traditionally barred from having equity. The ABS structure fixes that, giving them ownership and decision-making power while keeping legal oversight strictly with licensed attorneys.

Carly embraced the ABS model because it aligns with her client-first approach and allows her to combine strong business systems with compassionate service.

What lessons did Carly learn from starting a law firm?

Launching Copper Wren Law came with challenges familiar to any entrepreneur. Carly handled everything at first—from answering phones to managing cases—while refining systems and processes along the way.

She quickly learned that small adjustments make a big difference. Setting up effective appointment reminders, building a client-friendly intake process, and training the right staff helped the firm deliver a smoother experience.

As the firm grew, she developed clear workflows, hired the right people, and created training programs that ensured consistency and quality across every case.

How does Copper Wren Law ensure collaboration between legal and operational teams?

Every week, Carly meets with her managing attorney and compliance counsel, Elizabeth Cole, to review every case in the firm. This ensures deadlines are met, work is properly divided, and clients receive timely updates.

Under Arizona’s ABS rules, Carly—though the owner—does not influence legal decisions such as client retention, case strategy, or disengagements. Those responsibilities rest entirely with the attorneys, ensuring that all legal work remains fully compliant and client-focused.

Who does Copper Wren Law serve?

Copper Wren Law focuses on probate, trust administration, guardianships, conservatorships, and probate-related litigation. The firm intentionally does not handle estate planning or will drafting, focusing instead on matters that arise after death or when legal assistance is needed to manage an existing estate.

Carly’s clients are often everyday families in Mesa and the Phoenix area—people facing the legal system for the first time and looking for guidance through emotionally charged situations. Her goal is to make that process clear, respectful, and human.

Why doesn’t Copper Wren Law handle estate planning?

While estate planning was part of the firm’s early offerings, Carly decided to remove it to focus on what her team does best: litigation and post-death administration. The decision also reduced software costs and streamlined operations.

She now refers clients needing wills or trusts to a trusted partner firm, ensuring they still receive the right support while Copper Wren Law focuses on the probate and litigation matters that demand their expertise.

How is Carly bringing humanity back into legal services?

Carly believes that being a service-driven law firm is just as important as winning cases. Her decade in customer service before entering law taught her how to communicate clearly, follow up promptly, and treat clients with empathy.

She emphasizes that every client deserves respect, updates, and a sense of support—especially during probate, when emotions run high. Copper Wren Law’s approach is to combine strong legal work with compassion, making clients feel heard and cared for every step of the way.

What’s the key takeaway from Carly Whiteside’s story?

Carly Whiteside’s story is a testament to innovation and courage in the legal world. By launching an ABS law firm, she’s helping redefine what client care looks like in Arizona probate practice—balancing business efficiency with genuine human connection.

To learn more about Copper Wren Law and the services they offer, visit copperwrenlaw.com.