University
of Alabama School of Law
Elder Law Clinic
 |
Clinic:
Elder Law
Clinic |
Telephone:
(205) 348-4960 |
| School:
University of
Alabama School of Law |
Fax:
(205) 348-6851 |
| Director:
Hugh Lee |
Web Site:
www.uaelderlaw.org |
| Address:
P.O. Box 87039,
Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0392 |
| Founded:
Approximately
30 years ago. |
| Summary
of Services Provided & Cases Addressed: Students
in the Elder Law Clinic help seniors with wills and
trusts, benefits claims, consumer matters, and other
legal issues commonly encountered by the elderly, such
as long-term health care, pensions, and veterans
benefits. |
| Students:
8 to 10 per semester
|
Clients
helped: 600
to 800 annually |
| Affiliations:
The
program is fully integrated with the University of
Alabama School of Law and receives some Title III
funding. |
| Location:
Students
complete most of their work in their campus office.
However, because they serve an elderly population, they
make many home visits and visits to nursing homes and
assisted living facilities. Students also go to court
and give community legal education presentations. |
| Measuring
the effect: Students
are influenced by the unique client base. Working with
the elderly—helping them obtain life-sustaining
Medicaid benefits or assisting with end-of-life
planning—allows students to quickly realize the impact
they can have and the importance of providing quality
legal assistance to the elderly. |
| Quotable:
“Many
students believe that they are taking the Elder Law
Clinic to gain skills—interviewing, counseling,
drafting, trial skills, and the like. Although they
undoubtedly do gain some significant skills, the
opportunity to build relationships with their clients
and to make a meaningful impact on their lives
invariably affects students more than the skills they
gain. Students learn that, as lawyers, they have a
tremendous potential to improve their clients’ lives
and to ensure the just treatment of their clients.”—Director
Lee |
Success
Story: Clinic
students learn that some of their most significant
victories occur outside of the courtroom. One senior
client, Ms. Mills, recently fell prey to a door-to-door
salesman who, after spending several hours in her home,
convinced Ms. Mills to sign an agreement to purchase a
motorized scooter. After the sale was finalized, Ms.
Mills
realized that she could not afford the scooter and would
not be able to use it in her home. Despite the scooter
company’s pledge of service and satisfaction, Ms.
Mills was unable to cancel the order. When her attempts
to refuse delivery failed, she was left with a $2,500
bill and a product not suitable for her use. Ms.
Mills’ only significant asset was her home. The scooter debt and stress associated with it began to
threaten her health.
Clinic
students took on the scooter company, and after months
of letters and phone calls to company officials and the
Better Business Bureau, the students convinced the
company to pick up the scooter and cancel Ms. Mills’
contract. The victory empowered the students, relieved
Ms. Mills’ fears of losing her home, and helped keep
her in good health.
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