Course Description
The Elder Law Clinic offers students who have completed three semesters of law school an opportunity to represent clients and develop practical lawyering. Students enrolled in the Clinic are certified to practice law and take primary responsibility for client representation under the supervision of their faculty/supervising attorneys.
Elder Law Clinic representation focuses on issues of capacity in medical treatment, mental health law, estate planning, contractual relations, and property management. Emphasis will be placed on long term planning, including estate planning and medical assistance (Medicaid) eligibility. Litigation skills focuses on practice in the Orphans’ Court Division, for example, guardianship proceedings. Students will develop practical skills such as interviewing, counseling, research, drafting, negotiation, and trial practice skills. Students may work in teams to represent their clients.
The classroom component is an integral part of the Clinic experience, consisting of a series of discussions focusing on substantive law, policy, and practical skills training. Experts in the fields of social work, psychology, psychiatry, and medicine will provide insights into interdisciplinary issues.