Students in the Elder Law Clinic will work under close faculty supervision to assist clients with estate planning, adult guardianships, and/or needs-based public benefits. Students will also work in partnership with community members to provide community education and develop advocacy related to the issues of aging, illness, and special needs.

Students will conduct client consultations, which will include client interviewing, counseling, and document drafting. In the corresponding seminar, the students will read and discuss scholarship and cultural commentary related to the substantive issues, legal concepts, theoretical frameworks, and ethical issues that arise in this work. In these discussions, the students are challenged to think critically about social justice advocacy and engage in an assessment of the legal doctrine and its deficiencies, especially ethical issues around capacity and competence. Students will be graded on the quality of their advocacy as determined by their client work product, including but not limited to, the effort, creativity, and timeliness of their work. They will also be evaluated based on their class participation, written assignments, clients’ assessments of their interactions, and the ability to engage in self-reflection and introspective professional development.

Approved for the Experiential Learning Requirement. Enrollment is limited. Registration is binding. Application and interview are required, and the application can be found in Student Resources on the NYLS Portal.

Recommended for the Following Professional Pathways: Civil Rights/Civil Liberties; Trusts and Estates; General Practice - Litigation/Dispute Resolution; General Practice - Transactional

Recommended Course: Wills, Trusts, and Future Interests

4 Credits