Elder law is one of the fastest-growing specialty areas of legal practice today. As recently as ten years ago, almost no one would have described his or her legal practice as an elder law practice, because most lawyers assumed that the concerns of elderly clients were indistinguishable from the interests of any other group. Because few lawyers focused their practices on senior citizens, many seniors felt their unique concerns were ignored by the legal profession.

All this is changing rapidly. As the average age of Americans rises, society is becoming increasingly aware of the unique problems facing elderly people, as well as the professional opportunities available in serving them. Governments have responded with a wide array of state and federal programs designed to guarantee financial and physical well-being for the elderly and to fight age-based discrimination. As senior citizens take a more active role in asserting their rights, an increasing number of the elderly have sought legal representation from lawyers sensitive to their needs.

Elder law is not a well-defined area of legal specialization. Elder law borrows from many other areas such as health law, estate planning and trusts, family law, civil rights, and even consumer protection. Each of these areas is discussed fully in separate chapters of this Guide.

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