RESOURCES
ELDER LAW
The National Elder Law Foundation
This national organization certifies practitioners of elder and special needs law. NELF’s Certified Elder Law Attorney designation, also certified by the American Bar Association, requires that an attorney demonstrate expertise in elder law and special needs, pass an examination, maintain continuing education and involvement standards, and be recognized by his or her peers and colleagues. You can search for an attorney through the website’s locator. (There are about 20 CELAs on Long Island and over 500 CELAs across the country.)
National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys
Members of this organization specialize in dealing with legal issues affecting seniors and people with disabilities. (Members pay annual dues of up to $525.) The website offers a “Find an Attorney” link, which enables you to locate elder law attorneys within a certain distance of your ZIP code. The site also has tips for interviewing and selecting an attorney.
Life Care Planning Law Firms Association
This association is a national network of holistic law practices that offer legal services, care coordination, and advocacy support to help older clients and their families respond to the challenges of aging, long-term illnesses, and disabilities. Life Care Planning law firms rely on an interdisciplinary team that works to identify present and potential future care needs, locate appropriate care, and ensure high-quality care. This approach focuses on the development of ongoing relationships with families, rather than crisis-oriented transactions. The website has a locator to search for LCPLFA members by geographic area.
Nassau County Bar Association
Twice a year (June and October) the bar association holds an open house clinic that covers a range of legal topics, including those affecting seniors. (Call 516-747-4070). The association also offers a lawyer referral information service (Call 516-747-4832 or email lawyerreferral@nassaubar.org).
Suffolk County Bar Association
The association offers a lawyer referral and information service. Call 631-234-5577 or email requests to iris@scba.org.
Nassau-Suffolk Law Services Committee
This nonprofit agency provides free legal services to low-income residents aged 60 and over through its Senior Citizen Law Project. Attorneys handle concerns such as senior benefits and entitlements, advance directives, and home ownership. Most cases are handled by telephone. Call 516-292-8100 (Nassau County—Hempstead; 631-232-2400 (Suffolk County—Islandia); 631-369-1112 (Riverhead).
The Senior Citizens’ Law Program at Touro Law Center
The center provides free legal services and advice to Suffolk County residents 60 years and older. Call 631-761-7470. These services cover a host of categories, including income and nutrition benefits; health and long-term care; housing and utilities; guardianship and elder abuse; and consumer issues.
Senior Centers
across Long Island are often able to provide a list of local elder law attorneys, but they do not endorse or provide referrals to specific individuals.