New Elder Law and Special Needs Section Chair Tammy Lawlor: “Looking To Make It a Really Successful Year”
5.21.2026
As the incoming chair of the Elder Law and Special Needs Section, Tammy Lawlor is ready to welcome new and returning attorneys.
“I’m looking to make it a really successful year,” said Lawlor. “With the new model under the Bar Association, we’ve had an influx of membership… We want to capitalize on that and welcome them in, make them a part of the section, see how they can be involved and what they would like to see.”
Lawlor said that while Elder Law and Special Needs Section has been successful in getting legislation passed, like the Medical Aid in Dying Act, it is important to help attorneys understand next steps.
“There’s always upcoming legislation that impacts elder law,” said Lawlor. “We just had Medical Aid in Dying pass. We have the Electronic Wills Act that passed. So even though they’ve passed, there’s a lot of implementation and a lot of education that goes along with it. So, we want to make sure that we make that a priority for us – to get out what it is we’re supposed to be doing as attorneys to facilitate the new rules.”
Lawlor also plans on addressing artificial intelligence with section members, seeing it as a new technology that lawyers will have to learn.
“There are definitely certain components of each attorney’s job that will now be accomplished with AI, but you need to also make sure that you always review everything, and you always double check,” she said. “You have an obligation to make sure what is being produced, what is being filed, or what is being submitted is absolutely correct – and not just relying on the fact that AI produced it.”
Lawlor intends on reaching out to section sponsors as well. The Elder Law and Special Needs Section has gained many more sponsors in recent years.
“We recently sent out a survey to all the organizations and companies that sponsor us,” said Lawlor. “So that we can get their feedback as to how we can better provide them with what they’re looking for.”
Lawlor is a partner at Miller and Milone in Garden City, overseeing the Elder Law Department. In her practice, she has a lot of hospital clients, including the New York University and New York Presbyterian networks. She also conducts Article 81 guardianships and does a lot of work related to court-appointed guardianships.
“The New York State Bar Association truly makes your professional career just that much better,” Lawlor said. “Whether it’s the meetings or the camaraderie or being able to have the resources available to you to have other people provide you with guidance – or you can provide other people with guidance… It really is just such a great organization, and the Elder Law and Special Needs Section is definitely near and dear to my heart.”
