COURSE NUMBER & NAME: 510 Legal Clinic -- Elder Law

CREDIT HOURS: Four (4) REQUIRED: no ELECTIVE: yes

PREREQUISITES (Required): Professional Responsibility, Evidence, and Decedents Estates

PREREQUISITES (Advised): Elder Law, Pre-trial Advocacy, and Trial Advocacy.

WHEN OFFERED: Each semester (subject to funding).

SUBSTANTIVE COVERAGE AND OBJECTIVES OF COURSE:

See below.

RELATION TO OTHER OFFERINGS IN CURRICULUM:

See below.

RELATION TO BAR EXAM SUBJECTS:

Evidence; Wills and Trusts; Professional Responsibility; Civil Procedure; Contracts; U.C.C.; Landlord-Tenant.

RELATION TO CAREER OPPORTUNITIES:

See below.

THE UNIVERSITY OF MEMPHIS LEGAL CLINIC

THE ELDER LAW UNIT

Why Elder Law? Senior citizens are among the fastest growing demographic groups, comprising more than twelve percent of the population. Because the elderly experience difficulties unique to their age group, their legal needs often demand specialized training.

What skills training is offered? Student attorneys will develop skills in interviewing their clients, their families, and other persons interacting with their clients, factual development of cases, legal research and writing, problem solving, written communications, and drafting wills, living wills, powers of attorney, and other legal documents. Elderly clients are often litigation and courtroom averse, and special emphasis will be placed on negotiations and alternative dispute resolution. Students, however, should expect some litigation and courtroom experience. Students will also have experiences dealing with administrative agencies. Students will participate in "firm meetings" with their supervising attorneys and class members to discuss issues and progress in their cases, and will learn office management, case management, and stress management skills. Students will have an opportunity to utilize their knowledge of substantive, procedural, evidentiary law, and to consider and apply in a live client setting their knowledge of the Code of Professional Responsibility. Student attorneys will become familiar with resources that are available to help their elderly clients.

What types of cases are involved? Wills, living wills, powers of attorney, consumer protection, health care, competency, senior exploitation issues, governmental benefits, housing law.

How many credit hours and grades? Clinic students will earn four (4) hours of academic credit for the semester upon satisfactory Clinic performance. The Clinic will be letter graded. There will be no final examination.

What prerequisites? Clinic prerequisites are Professional Responsibility, Evidence, and Decedents' Estates.

Time requirements? Elder Law Clinic student attorneys will attend orientation sessions at the Law School, as per the class schedule for the first three weeks of the semester. Thereafter, student attorneys will spend seven (7) hours per week (3-1/2 hours per day for each of 2 days) at times to be arranged with the Supervising Attorney/Instructor at the Child Advocacy Clinic and with the Faculty Director. The Clinic will be conducted at the Clinic's downtown offices, located at 109 North Main, 2^nd Floor. Students are expected to spend ten (10) hours per week (which includes the 7 hours spent weekly at the Clinic) on Clinic activities.