The Elder Law Clinic has space for few more 3Ls to represent clients in Simple Estate Planning, guardianship and government benefits cases. Over the course of the semester, a clinic student can expect to draft multiple simple Wills and Powers of attorneys for clients, Wills with testamentary supplemental needs trusts for disabled beneficiaries, represent a client in Orphans’ Court in a guardianship matter (and depose a doctor) , counsel clients on eligibility for government benefits and make community presentations. Students routinely deal with clients with diminished capacity, allowing them to analyze, understand and apply the different standards for capacity and apply the rules of professional conduct addressing representation of such clients. Students gain a ton of experience interacting with clients and each student can expect to appear in Orphans’ Court at least once. Last semester, students assisted over 60 individuals.
The work is also extremely gratifying. As an example, students worked with the Veterans Administration to have a guardian appointed for a mentally incapacitated veteran who was alone in the world. No friends and no known family to make personal medical decisions and to handle his finances. Students appeared in the Orphans’ Court and were successful in having an agency appointed as his guardian. Even better, during the course of preparing the case, the students located two adult children of the veteran who had lost contact with their father decades ago, as he suffered from mental illness and became homeless. Both children expressed interest in re-connecting with their father and in working with the guardian to make decisions for him.
The simple Wills created by the clinic add to neighborhood stability by creating clear directions for the disposition of real estate, that might otherwise end up with a clouded title due to intestacy with multiple heirs. The Wills with testamentary trusts provide peace of mind to parents of disabled children that their children will not be disqualified from critical government benefits if they receive an inheritance from their parents.
The clinic is a one semester 7 credit experience. If you have questions, please feel free to contact Prof. Martha Mannix directly.
- About Pitt Law
- Welcome from the Interim Dean
- Facilities
- Dean's Office
- Faculty Directory
- Staff Directory
- History
- Board of Visitors Members
- Community Engagement
- Office of Equity & Inclusive Excellence
- Land Acknowledgement
- The Resilience and Engagement Project
- Building Resilience Case Studies on Student Interventions & Psychological Insights Conference
- Summary
- Project Description
- Students and Faculty Talk Resilience
- How does the in-class facilitation conversation work?
- How to Facilitate In-Class Discussion
- Suggested Project Timeline and Milestone
- Tips for Leading a Discussion
- Sample Lesson Plan for Leading a Discussion Group
- Sample Student Responses and Advice
- Project Results
- Our Papers
- The Student Voice
- Helpful Resources
- Handbook
- Glossary
- Agenda
- Zoom Backgrounds
- Admissions
- Academics
- Centers & Institutes
- Bioethics & Health Law
- Center for Civil Rights and Racial Justice
- Center for International Legal Education
- CILE Overview
- Global Scholars Program
- Rule of Law Fellowship Program
- CILE 25th Anniversary
- JD Opportunities
- LLM Program
- SJD Program
- Doctor of Juridical Science (SJD)
- Visiting Professors
- Visiting Scholars
- Study Abroad
- International Internships
- Moot Court Experience
- The CISG Song
- Alumni News
- Visiting Scholars
- Support CILE
- Contact CILE
- News, Events and Media
- Center for Text Analytic Methods in Legal Studies
- Future Law Project
- Hickton Center for Community Legal Services & Clinical Legal Education
- John P. Gismondi Civil Litigation Program
- Career Services
- Resources
- A-Z Resources Guide
- Academic Calendar
- Dean of Students
- Student Event Calendar
- Academic Support
- Bar Exams
- Barco Law Building Hours
- Courses and Curriculum
- Courses & Curriculum Overview
- Catalog of Courses
- First-Year Curriculum
- Pitt Law Academy
- Courses by Requirement
- Departmental Consent
- Required Textbooks by Class
- Schedule of Classes Spring 2025
- Schedule of Intersession Spring 2025
- Schedule of Classes Fall 2024
- Schedule of Classes Spring 2024
- Schedule of Intersession 2024
- Schedule of Classes Fall 2023
- Schedule of Classes Spring 2023
- Schedule of Intersession 2023
- Schedule of Classes Fall 2022
- Exams
- Grades and Transcripts
- Graduation and Diplomas
- Incoming Student Orientation
- Information Technology
- Marketing & Communications
- Office of Equity & Inclusive Excellence
- Ombudsperson
- Policies and Procedures
- Registration Services
- Student Bar Association (SBA)
- Student Organizations
- Alumni