First Assignment
Elder Law is the only type of law that is defined, not by legal doctrine or by the lawyer’s specialty, but by the client to be served. The particular physical and mental changes that are a result of the human aging process provide challenges to lawyers trying to provide competent, ethical representation to elderly clients.
We will begin the course looking at “Elders as People”. Throughout the world lifespans are increasing but at a cost to families and society. We will discuss the demographic changes that governments and policy makers know are imminent but that are only fitfully being addressed and in a piecemeal fashion.
Please watch the PBS Frontline program, “Living Old, http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/livingold/view/ OR Google “frontline living old.” The program lasts about an hour. We will refer to this program throughout the course so please carefully watch it. As you watch it, use your knowledge from other classes such as Professional Responsibility to identify situations in which lawyers must be aware and vigilant.
