For practicing lawyers interested in
improving their skills or individuals looking for training in legal
issues that affect the elderly but cannot attend school full-time,
certificate programs or master's degrees in elder law are available
online. These programs include financial planning courses, information
on health of the elderly, legal arrangements and decisions that can make
the end of an individual's life easier.
Overview of Online Elder Law Graduate Certificates
These programs are available online, although they are not widely
available. A certificate program focuses on ethical issues and the
legalities surrounding the health and rights of the elderly. These
programs can be completed in as little as two semesters. At some
universities and colleges, students may transfer credits from a graduate
certificate towards a related master's degree.
Admission to the certificate program does not require completion of
the Graduate Management Assessment Test (GMAT). Students must have a
bachelor's degree and minimum grade point average of 3.00. Letters of
recommendation are also required as part of the application process.
In these programs, students complete courses that provide an overview
of law and the study of aging. Ethics and health decisions and guided
study of various topics are also features of online elder law
certificate programs. Not all classes are entirely online, these may
require that students travel to campus from time to time to complete
courses.
In this course, students learn through discussions, research and
readings about ethical and legal issues related to the health of elderly
individuals. Common topics include care options, whether in an
individual's home, long-term or hospice facility, elder abuse and age
discrimination.
Health and Aging Overview Courses
Health problems and conditions associated with aging are the main
topics in this course. Students focus on how elderly individuals cope
with aging, disease and disability and explore practices that may
improve those individuals' quality of life.
Elderly Individuals and the Law
From estate planning to grandparents' rights, advance directives and
guardianships, this course provides an overview of issues of life as an
elderly individual. Students explore topics like trusts, prenuptial
agreements and social security and other administrative law concepts.
Continuing Education
Students seeking further education in elder law can continue their
studies in a Juris Doctor (J.D.) or master of law (LL. M) degree
program. These degree programs take one to three years to complete and
may be found online.
Overview of Online Master's Degrees in Elder Law
The Master of Law (LL.M) is an advanced degree signifying that a practicing
lawyer
has trained in a specialty like elder law. This degree is often
considered a terminal degree, above the Juris Doctor (JD). It may take
two to three years to complete the LL.M degree.
These programs may be offered in a synchronous system, allowing a
student with a headset and microphone to communicate with classmates and
professors during courses delivered online in real-time. Other programs
may be asynchronous, meaning that students don't have to attend classes
at any specific time but can work on their own schedules. Some required
courses may not be available online and students may be required to
travel to campus for several days during their studies.
Online Elder Law Courses
These programs cover subjects like estate planning, taxes and
advanced directives. Students draft wills and trust plans to distribute
wealth. Topics included in elder law programs include issues that affect
an individual's decisions toward the end of their lives. Some common
online courses in elder law programs include fiduciary administration,
estate planning and taxation, elder health and the law and guardianship
and alternatives.
Estate Planning and Tax Courses
Estate planning courses may include the basics of income taxation for
elderly individuals or more advanced concepts and systems, like the
federal transfer tax system and taxation of life insurance benefits.
Topics explored in this course include capital gains, bequests and
inheritances, power of attorney and contracts for wealth transfer.
Will and Trust Courses
Students learn the principles and law behind wills and trust
accounts. In these courses, students design and draft wills and trusts
to legally move property from the owner to a beneficiary listed in a
legally sound last will and testament document.
Guardianship Courses
These courses focus on power of attorney, property management,
assessment of mental capacity and the criteria for selecting and
appointing a guardian for individuals with dementia, aphasia and other
conditions. Students learn about the mediation process and the steps
involved ending guardianship for individuals.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), there were
about 759,000 lawyers employed in 2008. A quarter of those were
self-employed, in individual practice or in law firms. The BLS reported
that most lawyers earned anywhere from $55,000 to $113,000 annually in
May 2009. The field is expected to grow 13% between the years 2008 and
2018. (
www.bls.gov)
All lawyers must be licensed, no matter which state they practice in.
Most states require that individuals pass the state bar exam and an
ethics examination as well, according to the BLS (
www.bls.gov).
Students must also complete the Multistate Professional Responsibility
Exam, which covers the American Bar Association's professional ethics
and judicial responsibility codes.
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