Elder Law & Special Needs Section

Awards

Scholarships

Honorable Joel K. Asarch Elder Law and Special Needs Section Scholarship

The Elder Law and Special Needs Section encourages law students, through an elder law clinic experience, to learn about important legislative developments, regulations, and case laws impacting the elderly and disabled and to provide representation to those clients struggling with a variety of legal issues and problems related to aging and incapacity.

Through the scholarship, the Section aspires to advance opportunities for the disabled by implementing a preference for awarding the scholarship to a student who demonstrates a present and permanent physical or mental disability that substantially limits one or more of the major life activities of the individual.

The ultimate goal of the scholarship is to create a network and cultivate relationships among lawyers whose practice focuses on elder law and special needs planning and law students planning to practice in these areas to encourage the practice of elder law and special needs planning among lawyers throughout the State of New York.

T. David Stapleton Memorial Scholarship

The Section is pleased to offer this Scholarship in honor of former Section Chair, T. David Stapleton. The scholarship, with a value of $2,500, will be awarded to a second year (2L) or third year (3L) law student who is enrolled in a law school in the State of New York in one of the following regions: Central New York, Finger Lakes, Southern Tier and Western New York who has a demonstrated interest in the Elder Law and Special Needs practice areas and/or a law student that is from this region, studying at a law school outside the region who has clear plans to return to the region to practice Elder Law.

T. David Stapleton practiced in Auburn, NY and served as NYSBA Elder Law & Special Needs Section Chair from 2011-2012, after having followed the officer track and being involved in leadership within the Section leading up to such role. David not only led as a tremendous lawyer, he advocated for “upstate” involvement, sought to expand our knowledge of literature by peppering almost every writing and conversation with a poignant quote, encouraged a healthy lifestyle through diet and exercise and demonstrated the importance of family, friends, and camaraderie among lawyers.

David’s signature issue during his tenure as Chair was the expansion and rescinding of expanded Medicaid estate recovery. Some will recall his having mentioned that while he understood the underlying concept of the state in seeking to expand recovery options, he truly believed the powers-that-be did not appreciate the devastating impact it would have on the “little folks” who would lose even modest inheritances if the expansion was carried out.

While not diminutive in stature, David always diminished his breadth of knowledge of the law, often calling himself a “small, upstate lawyer.” It is our honor to offer this scholarship in David’s memory to another potential “small, upstate lawyer.”

Mentor Program

Elder Law and Special Needs Section Offers Opportunities for Mentoring

The Elder Law and Special Needs Mentor Program his program pairs an experienced elder law attorney with a Section member new to the practice of elder law for the coming year.  The term is for one year, commencing April 30^th and ending May 1^st.  The mentoring program will provide

• A one-on-one mentoring initiative matching experienced Elder Law and Special Needs attorneys with those who are newer to the practice; and
• Opportunities to work together on section programs, reports and events that will enhance careers and the profession.

The mentoring relationships will incorporate several different elements, encompassing a mix of formal and more “ad hoc” opportunities for mentors and mentees to collaborate.  Section Committee Chairs are poised to welcome mentor/mentee pairs to work together on committee projects, reports, events, etc.  As for ad hoc opportunities, we look forward to seeing what pairs produce, and to learning from one another.  We plan that there will be at least one communication per month, whether in person, by telephone or email, to keep continuity and maximize the value to the participants.

TO BE A MENTEE:

1. You must be practicing elder law for 5 years or fewer;
2. You must be a member in good standing of the Elder Law and Special Needs Section of NYSBA; and
3. You must attend at least 2 Section meetings.

We are hoping to make 21 matches this year:

• 7 matches for Mentees living or practicing in the 1st, 2nd, 12th and 13th Judicial Districts.
• 7 matches for Mentees living or practicing in the 9th, 10th and 11th Judicial Districts.
• 7 matches for Mentees living or practicing in the 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th Judicial Districts.

While we are hoping to accommodate as many pairings as possible, in the event we receive more requests for Mentees than we have available Mentors, selection of Mentees will be made randomly.

If you are interested in applying to be a Mentor or Mentee, please fill out the appropriate form below and email to the Mentorship Committee Co-Chairs, Miles Zatkowsky
(miles@rochesterelderlaw.com) and Honorable Timothy O’Rourke (timothy.orourke@orourkeseaman.com).   

• Prospective Mentor Application
• Prospective Mentee Application
• Guide to the Section
• Guidelines