Gerry W. Beyer

Visiting Professor of Law

Professor Gerry W. Beyer '79 visits from Texas Tech University School of Law, where he joined the faculty in 2005 and is the Governor Preston E. Smith Regents Professor of Law. He teaches Wills & Trusts and Property. He has previously taught at St. Mary’s University School of Law in San Antonio, Texas, and he has served as a visiting professor at several other law schools, including Boston College, Santa Clara University, Southern Methodist University, and the University of New Mexico, as well as La Trobe University in Melbourne, Australia.

Professor Beyer has been admitted to practice in Texas, Illinois, and Ohio and before the United States Supreme Court and the United State Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces.

A frequent contributor to scholarly and practice-oriented publications, Beyer has authored and co-authored several books focusing on estate planning, including Fat Cats and Lucky Dogs - How to Leave (Some of) Your Estate to Your Pets. His Wills, Trusts, & Estates Prof Blog is the No. 1-ranked estate planning blog in the United States and, as of January 2012, was ranked as the 21st most popular legal blog in the nation. The American Bar Association has named his blog to the ABA Journal Blawg 100 in both 2010 and 2011.

In 2010, Beyer received the Chancellor’s Distinguished Teaching Award from Texas Tech University, the highest teaching award given to faculty members. Beyer has won 16 teaching awards since 2000.