Senior Legal Hotline
by David Mandel

Notice to: Sacramento area attorneys, legal services offices; law schools; paralegal education programs; other interested advocates.

Elder Law Overview and Update

Training opportunity for potential hotline volunteers, student interns and others on Thursday, April 25, 2002, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., in Sacramento.

The Senior Legal Hotline presents an overview of legal issues confronted by seniors -- particularly low-income clients -- in a six-hour training in Sacramento on Thursday, April 25, 2002.

The class will run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Sierra Health Foundation, 1321 Garden Highway.

Come a little early for coffee and bagels. (We'll start the program at 9 sharp.) Lunch will be served on site.

Presenters will be staff members from the hotline and elder law attorneys Elizabeth Ikemire and Randy Rosa. Attorneys and paralegals who attend will be eligible for five hours of general MCLE credit and one hour of ethics credit.

The class will comprise basic information and legal updates on various topics, including surrogate decision-making; California's new Health Care Decisions Law; Social Security and public benefits; estate planning; probate; consumer issues; housing, including landlord-tenant, foreclosures and reverse mortgages; health care; long-term care, including Medi-Cal issues and facility resident rights; family law issues, including grandparent rights; pension rights; and ethical dilemmas in representing elderly clients.

The training is particularly geared toward potential new hotline volunteers in Sacramento, but other advocates are welcome to attend. Volunteers with the hotline dispense advice by phone and provide additional brief services in some cases. Resources on site and assistance from staff make it comfortable and gratifying work. Hours are very flexible, and we are open Thursday evenings until 8 for those with day jobs.

Regular fee for the training is $80; $25 for staff or volunteer attorneys with other legal services programs and students; and $10 for anyone who commits to volunteering regularly at the Senior Legal Hotline.

For more information or to reserve space, please call the Senior Legal Hotline, 551-2145, or e-mail seniorhotline@lsnc.net The program is limited to 60 participants.

Others who can't make the training are still welcome to volunteer. We can cover the material in other ways. Call, e-mail or visit us on the web for further information.