Estate Planning, Trusts & Probate

Elder Law Essentials for Paralegals

Credits Available
Credit Status Total
California MCLE Paralegal Approved 6 Total
Delaware Certified Paralegal Program Approved 6 Total
Florida Registered Paralegal Approved 6 Total
Indiana Paralegal CLE Approved 6 Total
NALA Approved 6 Total
Montana CLE Credit for Paralegals Approved 6 Total
North Carolina Continuing Paralegal Education Approved 6 Total
New Mexico Paralegal Division, State Bar of Approved 6 Total
Ohio Certified Paralegals Approved 6 Total
NFPA Approved 6 Total
Texas State Bar of Paralegal Division Approved 6 Total
Washington Paralegal Association Approved 6 Total
OnDemand
5 hours 52 minutes
Kristin Mills
John Hale Freeland
Brian McGovern
Jennie Smith-Howard
Erika Williams
Blakely Moore
With Kristin Mills from Cox Law Office + 5 others
Recorded August 21, 2025
Product ID 100680

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Course Includes
$319

OnDemand Video

Video Download

Course Book Download

OnDemand content will be available within 14 days of event date.


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$69/month

Overview

Break Through the Red Tape to Ensure Proper Care for Your Aging Clients

Elder law requires a diverse set of skills from paralegals: contacting government agencies, coordinating care, organizing documents, and analyzing financial records are only some of its key demands. Do you have what you need to effectively support your attorneys and clients? This course provides a comprehensive overview of the essential legal principles and practical skills needed to succeed in the field. Master unique legal issues facing older adults and their families, including guardianship, Medicaid planning, long-term care, and age discrimination. Improve outcomes at all phases of client representation - register today!

  • Identify and analyze common legal issues affecting older adults.
  • Assist attorneys in guardianship and conservatorship proceedings.
  • Hear practical tips from the pros to draft better documents, faster.
  • Hone your legal research skills with new tips, tools, and resources.
  • Build stronger collaborative bonds with key medical and financial professionals.

*Any mention of specific products in this program is intended as part of a general overview and does not constitute IPE's endorsement or recommendation of any specific product or provider. This program is not sponsored by any technology or electronics provider. 

Abbreviated Agenda

  1. Liaising With Clients, Financial and Medical Professionals, and Other Key Parties
  2. Mastering Drafting Software and Tech Resources
  3. Drafting Essential Documents: POAs, Directives, etc.
  4. Navigating Medicaid Application, Appeals, and Hearings
  5. Handling Social Security Disability Claims
  6. Legal Ethics of Elder Law Practice
Product ID 100680

Credit Details

Credits Available
Credit Status Total
California MCLE Paralegal Approved 6 Total
Delaware Certified Paralegal Program Approved 6 Total
Florida Registered Paralegal Approved 6 Total
Indiana Paralegal CLE Approved 6 Total
NALA Approved 6 Total
Montana CLE Credit for Paralegals Approved 6 Total
North Carolina Continuing Paralegal Education Approved 6 Total
New Mexico Paralegal Division, State Bar of Approved 6 Total
Ohio Certified Paralegals Approved 6 Total
NFPA Approved 6 Total
Texas State Bar of Paralegal Division Approved 6 Total
Washington Paralegal Association Approved 6 Total
Select Jurisdiction
Paralegal

Agenda

All times are shown in
  1. Liaising With Clients, Financial and Medical Professionals, and Other Key Parties

    1. Client Intake and Communication Essentials
    2. Communicating With Medical Professionals and Long-Term Care Providers
    3. Coordinating With Banks, Financial Advisers, and Accountants
    4. Contacting Veterans Administration to Obtain Military Records
  2. Mastering Drafting Software and Tech Resources

    1. Navigating Legal Software (Lawmatics, Clio, WealthCounsel, etc.)
    2. MS Office Suite Tips and Shortcuts
    3. Generative AI and Its Limitations
  3. Drafting Essential Documents: POAs, Directives, etc.

    1. Creating Powers of Attorney
    2. Guardianships and Conservatorships
    3. Health Care Directives
    4. Ensuring Proper Signing and Notarization
    5. Calculating and Drafting Promissory Notes
  4. Navigating Medicaid Application, Appeals, and Hearings

    1. Clarifying Medicaid Eligibility Requirements
    2. Preparing the Application for Submission
    3. Addressing Clients' Questions
    4. Handling Appeals and Preparing for Medicaid Fair Hearings
    5. Contesting Reduction in Benefits
  5. Handling Social Security Disability Claims

    1. Eligibility Criteria
    2. Claim and Appeal Procedures
    3. SSDI Case Management Tips From the Pros
  6. Legal Ethics of Elder Law Practice

    1. Handling Sensitive Client Matters With Discretion
    2. Preventing Unauthorized Practice of Law (UPL)
    3. Data Security Challenges and Best Practices
    4. Client Capacity Issues
    5. Combatting Ageism

Who Should Attend

This intermediate level course will prepare you for the rigors of elder law practice. Those who should attend are:

  • Paralegals
  • Legal Secretaries
  • Paraprofessionals
  • Legal Staff

Speakers

Kristin Mills
Kristin
Mills
Cox Law Office
John Hale Freeland
John Hale
Freeland
Freeland Martz, PLLC
Brian T McGovern
Brian
McGovern
Hanagan & McGovern PC
Jennie V Smith-Howard
Jennie
Smith-Howard
Ascension
Erika A Williams
Erika
Williams
The Law Office of Erika A. Williams, APC
Blakely S Moore
Blakely
Moore
PTM Legal
Speaker bio
Kristin Mills

Kristin Mills

Cox Law Office
Kristin Mills

is a paralegal at Cox Law Office. She focuses on Medicaid, estate planning documents (wills, trusts, poas, etc), civil matters, and probate of wills. Ms. Mills earned her associates degree in paralegal technology from Northwest Mississippi Community College. She is admitted to practice in Tennessee.

Speaker bio
John Hale Freeland

John Hale Freeland

Freeland Martz, PLLC
John Hale Freeland

is an attorney with Freeland Martz, PLLC, in Oxford, where his practice includes insurance, personal injury, products liability, and coverage defense; representation of creditors in bankruptcy cases; representing individuals and businesses as both plaintiffs and defendants in contract, real property, corporate, trust and estate litigation, and transactional and estate work for local clients. Mr. Freeland is a member of the National Academy of Elder Lawers (NAELA) and the Association of Attorney Mediators. He previously served as president of the Young Lawyers Division of the Mississippi Bar; was a member of the Mississippi Bar Commission's Executive Committee; and served as editor of The Mississippi Lawyer magazine. Mr. Freeland has served as a faculty member at various continuing legal education seminars on attorney ethics, bankruptcy, church property litigation, estate planning and protecting the interests of elderly. He received his B.A. degree from the University of Mississippi and his J.D. degree from the Univeresity of Mississippi School of Law. 

Speaker bio
Brian T McGovern

Brian McGovern

Hanagan & McGovern PC
Brian McGovern

is an attorney at Hanagan and McGovern PC, where he concentrates his practice on personal injury, workers' compensation, and Social Security disability law. He earned his B.S. degree from Southern Illinois University and J.D. degree from Southern Illinois University School of Law. Mr. McGovern has served as president of the Jefferson County Illinois Bar Association and has held other offices with the bar association. He currently holds memberships in the American Association for Justice, Illinois State Bar Association, Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, and the Jefferson County Bar Association. Mr. McGovern is admitted to practice law in Illinois.

Speaker bio
Jennie V Smith-Howard

Jennie Smith-Howard

Ascension
Jennie Smith-Howard

is a senior attorney - managed care at Ascension, where she manages provider disputes, negotiates managed care agreements, and advises on revenue cycle and reimbursement matters involving Medicare, Medicaid, and commercial payers. She is also the principal of The Law Office of Jennie V. Smith, LLC, where her practice focuses on business and corporate law, estate planning, tax law, trust and estate litigation, and wills. Ms. Smith-Howard is licensed to practice law in Louisiana, Tennessee and Texas. She earned her LL.M. degree in health law and policy from Loyola University Chicago. As a legal expert in medical claim disputes, Ms. Smith-Howard provides strategic guidance on best practices for preparing medical record chronologies and summaries; helping providers, attorneys and revenue cycle professionals effectively document, present, and defend their claims.

Speaker bio
Erika A Williams

Erika Williams

The Law Office of Erika A. Williams, APC
Erika Williams

is the CEO & Principal Attorney at The Law Office of Erika A. Williams, APC, a firm that focuses on assisting families in crises through family law litigation, dependency litigation, criminal law, education advocacy, and appellate advocacy. She is also the Owner and Managing Member of The Motivated Workplace, LLC, a management consulting firm. Ms. Williams is sought out for her expertise in employment law and employee and labor relations. Prior to her transition to a career in the law, she spent over 10 years working for the County of Los Angeles in various human resources, contracts, grants, and program management positions—including was responsible for managing the labor relations of seven (7) of the Department of Children and Family Services (“DCFS”) larger regional offices, each with 200+ employees and 5+ managers. She represented executive- and senior-level management employees in the formal grievance process; advising on the interpretation and application of state and federal employment law, civil service rules, and labor contracts; facilitating numerous labor-management committees; and, serving as a subject-matter-expert on the Countywide remote-work programming. Additionally, Ms. Williams represented the Department's interests in the Countywide labor bargaining process. She is a University of California, Berkeley graduate. Ms. Williams holds a Master of Public Administration degree with an emphasis in Public Management from the California State University at Dominguez Hills and is SHRM-SCP certified. She received her J.D. from Southwestern School of Law. Ms. Williams is licensed to practice law in California and Arizona.

Speaker bio
Blakely S Moore

Blakely Moore

PTM Legal
Blakely Moore

is an estate planning attorney and a managing partner at PTM Legal. He focuses his practice on helping people protect their loved ones and themselves with creative estate plans and helping fiduciaries administer trusts or probate estates. Mr. Moore earned his J.D. degree, cum laude, from the University of Florida Levin College of Law. He is admitted to practice law in Florida.

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What is included with my course purchase?

When you enroll prior to the live event date you will receive access to the live-streaming webinar which will allow you to interact with faculty in real-time.

With each course, you will receive access to the content via OnDemand Streaming and the Video Download.

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Closed captioning is available for all online live courses. Attendees may enable the closed captioning functionality within the event room once they have accessed the event by simply clicking the "cc" button in the lower right of the event room.

Are multiple attendee discounts available?

Yes, the more people you bring from your organization, the more you save. Please call out Customer Service Department to inquire about savings for your team at 800-793-5274.

When will the OnDemand be available and how long will I have access to the content?

The OnDemand Video will be available to stream within 14 days of live broadcast date. You will have access to the content for 6 months in your account.

If you're a subscriber, you'll have access to your course recordings until 7 days after the expiration date of the subscription.

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