Elder law, estate planning are focus of new Brandeis Law program

What started as a Brandeis Law class assignment has grown into something much bigger -- a program that aims to serve as a community resource for the issues surrounding end-of-life planning.

In Professor Goldburn P. Maynard Jr.'s spring 2016 Elder Law class, he knew he wanted to make group projects a major component in the class. The class -- just nine students -- focused on three projects: composing an online Medicaid primer, drafting a short guide to advanced care directives and planning a symposium on aging.

"I found that my students outmatched my expectations," Maynard says. "They were pushing it in a bigger direction." 

That momentum has led to the Estate Planning and Elder Law Program at Brandeis Law.

"The Estate Planning and Elder Law (EPEL) Program helps to connect students, professionals, and members of the community in confronting important issues of succession, long-term care and end-of-life planning," reads the program's mission statement. 

The program, in its early stages, is growing from the ground up and is powered by students, Maynard says. Eventually, EPEL could add more related courses, explore public service opportunities and even work to impact policy.

"This is moving organically, and we'll see where it goes," he says.

EPEL already has one program in the works: The symposium that started as a class assignment has come to fruition. The Nov. 12 event will offer legal and medical perspectives on aging in the 21st century. You can learn more here.

This program is not Brandeis Law's first foray into estate planning. Its annual Estate Planning Institute is gearing up for its 20th year of offering CLE to regional attorneys.

EPEL hopes to incorporate that program and to serve as a central resource for community members and practitioners alike who are interested in estate planning and elder law.