JCAAA Services - Legal Assistance

Legal Assistance includes legal advice and representation by an attorney. Representation and/or counseling is also feasible to an extent by a paralegal or law student under the supervision of an attorney. These benefits and rights to counseling or representation by a non-lawyer to older people with social and economic needs is also accepted. These services are only on a non-fee generation issue unless adequate representation is unavailable from private attorneys. Additionally, legal assistance may include the following activities:

• Legal assistance to the Area Agency on Aging in its advocacy program on behalf of older people
• development of a component of the local lawyer referral service specially geared to older people
• provision of education and training on legal problems confronting older people and dissemination of information on these issues
• development of resources of the local bar association through coordination and referrals of older people for services on a pro-bono or reduced fee basis
• coordination of cooperative participation by the local bar association with established legal service providers
• use of community service providers
• assistance, where available, with law reform or changes in administrative regulations on issues of primary concern to older adults
• direct legal representation of older adults alleged or substantiated to be in need of protective services

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