Elder Law Institute

The Elder Law Institute (ELI) - a collaboration between the MSBA’s Elder Law Section and Minnesota Continuing Legal Education - is an annual conference designed to provide educational and networking opportunities for attorneys and others interested in the practice of Elder Law.  The ELI offers a wide range of educational programming, ranging from discussions of nursing home and Medical Assistance issues to legislative updates and policy analysis.  ELI Attendees receive from nine to eleven Continuing Legal Education credits, depending upon the length of the conference

2009 Elder Law Institute

“It’s STILL the Economy!  Guiding Older Clients through Trying Times”

The 19th Annual Elder Law Institute was held on October 8 & 9, 2009, at the Minnesota CLE Conference Center in downtown Minneapolis.  Special guest speaker, New York Times columnist Jane Brody, headlined the conference, delivering an entertaining and enlightening presentation entitled “Jane Brody’s Guide to Preparing for the End of Life.”  As a special bonus, attendees received a copy of Ms. Brody’s most recent book, Jane Brody’s Guide to the Great Beyond, which Publishers Weekly called “an instructive, inspiring, and reassuring work full of compassion and humor.” 

The 2009 ELI also included programs on long-term care, ethical issues, revisions to the Vulnerable Adult Act, and trusts and public assistance, among others.  A new feature of the conference was inclusion of twelve breakout sessions, covering topics such as “Caring for the Caregiver,” “Special Needs Settlement Planning,” and “VA Benefits as an Alternative Payment Source.”  As part of the breakout format, another new feature was a “Basics Track,” with programs on Medical Assistance, Powers of Attorney, and Health Care Directives.  A complete listing of programs and speakers at the 2009 ELI is available by clicking here.

Video replays of the ELI will be presented at various locations across the state through January, 2010.  The Elder Law Institute 2009 Manual is also available for purchase online by clicking here.

 

ELI Guest speaker Jane Brody signs copies of her book,
Jane Brody's Guide to the Great Beyond, for 2009 ELI conference attendees
 

Awards

A number of awards were presented during the Awards Luncheon at the 2009 ELI, including the Mary Alice Gooderl Award and several Special Recognition Awards

Mary Alice Gooderl Award

The Mary Alice Gooderl Award is presented annually (or less frequently) to acknowledge outstanding contributions to the field of Elder Law by members of the Elder Law Section, as exemplified by Mary Alice Gooderl, one of the founders of the Elder Law Section. 

The recipient of the 2009 Mary Alice Gooderl Award was:

• Lori L. Guzman of the Guzman Law Firm, P.A.

Lori L. Guzman (right) receives the 2009 Mary Alice Gooderl Award from
2008 Gooderl Award recipient Laurie A. Hanson (left) at the 2009 ELI Awards ceremony

Click here for a complete listing of recipients of the Mary Alice Gooderl Award since its inception in 1993.

Special Recognition Awards

Special Recognition Awards and Special Appreciation Awards were also presented at the 2009 ELI, as follows:

• Robert G. Gunderson - Special Appreciation Award presented to Robert’s family in recognition of Robert’s lifetime of service to his community and his clients, to persons with disabilities, to the members of the Elder Law Section, and to the field of Elder Law.

• Michael F. Barg, Barbara A. Anderson, and Steven E. Barg - Special Appreciation Award to the children of Francis E. Barg for challenging Minn. Stat. 256B.15 all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court (Estate of Francis E. Barg, 752 N.W.2d 52 (Minn. 2008)).

• Julian Zweber and Randy Boggio - “The Rule of Law Prevails”Award presented by the estate of Francis E. Barg in appreciation of Julian and Randy’s work in the landmark decision in Estate of Francis E. Barg, 752 N.W.2d 52 (Minn. 2009), Cert. denied.

 

Recipients of Special Appreciation Awards at the 2009 Elder Law Conference. 
Left to Right:  Julian J. Zweber, Thomas J. Meinz, Randy F. Boggio, Barbara A. Anderson, Michael F. Barg

Click here for a listing of other Special Appreciation Awards presented at previous conferences.