Information for Students
The Elder & Disabilty Law Clinic is a 3-credit course for second- and third-year students instructed by Adjunct Professors Erin Smith and Nick Thompson. The course consists of both classroom instruction and out of class legal work. In class, students learn about the substantive issues of Elder Law that they are likely to face such as competency, nursing home issues, Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security and other public benefit programs, including non-service connected pension and related benefits available for war-time veterans from the Veterans Administration.
Outside of class, students put their knowledge to work, meeting with and assisting real clients dealing with these issues. Students interview their clients and create plans to best advance their clients’ best interests. Through their work at the clinic, students improve their interviewing, counseling, research, writing and advocacy skills in addition to providing a necessary service to our community.
The Elder & Disability Law Clinic is a graded course. Students will work in teams, and each team will manage 4-6 cases at a time. Students must be prepared to spend approximately 8-10 hours per week, outside of regularly-scheduled class meetings, in working on their client files.