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You are invited to participate in a research study that seeks to better understand the field of elder law, to identify the kinds of training that would benefit law students and lawyers wishing to practice in the field, and to formulate recommendations for the field’s future development.
Your requested participation is to complete the following multi-question survey which is being conducted as part of Phase II of this study. The findings of Phase I of the study were presented in Nina A. Kohn & Edward D. Spurgeon, Elder Law Teaching and Scholarship: An Empirical Analysis of an Evolving Field, 59 JOURNAL OF LEGAL EDUCATION 414 (2010).
The survey asks about your approach to the practice of elder law, your thoughts about the field, and your suggestions for the further development of the field. For the purposes of this study, we define "Elder Law" as “a specialized area of law focused on counseling and representing older persons or their representatives on later-in-life planning and other legal issues of particular importance to older adults. Unlike many other areas of the law, elder law is defined primarily by the client population to be served, not by a distinct set of legal doctrines.”
Your participation is entirely voluntary. Once you begin the survey, you have the right to discontinue this survey at any time. By completing the survey, in whole or in part, you confirm that you are at least 18 years old and evidence your informed consent. No further consent on your part is needed or expected.
The co-principal investigators of this study are Associate Professor Nina A. Kohn of Syracuse University College of Law ([email protected]; 315-443-6565) and Edward D. Spurgeon, Executive Director of the Borchard Foundation Center on Law and Aging ([email protected]). Please feel free to contact either at any time with any questions about the research.
While entirely voluntary, your participation in this survey is nonetheless critical to the success of this research. It is therefore earnestly hoped that you will generously take the time (estimated to be fifteen minutes) to complete the survey.
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* Have you practiced law? |
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* Do you practice elder law? |
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* How long have you practiced elder law? |
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* Did you study elder law in law school? |
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What impact has your law school elder law education had? Please check all that apply. |
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* What sector do you work in? |
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| Please specify the number of lawyers employed at the firm where you practiced elder law? | | |
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Why did you initially begin practicing elder law? |
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What issues do you frequently deal with as part of your elder law practice? Please check all that apply. |
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What aspects of elder law practice do you find most satisfying? Please check no more than THREE. |
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How did you hear about this survey? |
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How strongly do you agree with the following statement: Elder law is a growth field. |
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How strongly do you agree with the following statement: There are ample opportunities for employment in elder law. |
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How strongly do you agree with the following statement: There is a need for more elder law attorneys. |
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How strongly do you agree with the following statement: Elder law attorneys need more opportunities for professional development. |
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As a general matter, the current quality of attorneys practicing elder law is: |
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| In your opinion, what are the most important things that law schools or the practicing bar could do to help the field of elder law grow in a positive way? We are interested in any ideas you might have. Please try to be as specific as possible. | | |
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In your opinion, should law schools offer instruction in elder law? |
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Which of the following are important for an elder law attorney to possess? Please check all that apply. |
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Which THREE of the following are the most important for an elder law attorney to possess? Please check exactly three. |
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In your opinion, which of the following should law schools do to prepare students to succeed in the practice of elder law? Please check all that apply. |
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In your opinion, which THREE of the following are the most important for law schools to do in order to prepare students to succeed in the practice of elder law? Please check exactly three. |
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| Do you have additional suggestions for how law schools offering elder law education best prepare students to succeed in the practice of elder law? If so, what are they? | | |
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Do you find that there are sufficient continuing legal education (CLE) offerings for elder law practitioners? |
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| What additional CLE opportunities are needed and why? | | |
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Which, if any, of the following do you find helpful in informing your elder law practice? Please check all that apply. |
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| What elder law related blogs do you find helpful in informing your elder law practice? | | |
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| Which elder law related listservs do you find helpful in informing your elder law practice? | | |
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