New nonprofit will fund free legal clinics, virtual services, public education and community outreach statewide

The Massachusetts Chapter of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (MassNAELA) today announced the formation of the MassNAELA Foundation, Inc., a new 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to expanding access to legal education, planning resources, and pro bono services for older adults and people with disabilities. Through free legal clinics, educational programs, virtual assistance, and partnerships with community organizations, the MassNAELA Foundation will help people across the Commonwealth navigate elder, special-needs, and disability law.

MassNAELA Foundation Priorities:

• Access to justice: Expand free legal clinics and volunteer pro bono services for residents with limited income and assets.
• Public education: Offer community presentations throughout Massachusetts and create accessible videos, podcasts, and articles on elder, special needs, and disability law.
• Coalition building: Partner with courts, bar associations, registries, and nonprofit organizations to identify service gaps and share effective practices.

“The Foundation allows MassNAELA to bring our expertise directly to the public,” said Erin McBee, president of the MassNAELA Foundation. “We will expand our health care proxy clinic to new locations, launch an estate planning clinic, and engage volunteer attorneys to provide virtual ‘Lawyer for the Day’ services. We will also create accessible resources to help families plan ahead, protect loved ones, and find legal assistance when they need it.”

“Creating the MassNAELA Foundation enables us to pursue the funding and partnerships needed to expand public-facing programs across the Commonwealth,” said Clarence Richardson, MassNAELA executive director. “We invite community groups and funders to join us in increasing access to legal help for older adults and people with disabilities.”

For more information or to support the MassNAELA Foundation, visit: https://massnaela.wildapricot.org/MassNAELAFoundationInc/

About MassNAELA
The National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA), the premier organization of elder and special needs law attorneys in the country, is dedicated to developing awareness of issues concerning the elderly and those with special needs. Over 400 attorneys are members of the Massachusetts Chapter. Members work directly with older adults and people with special needs on issues ranging from planning for catastrophic care costs and disability planning to age discrimination in employment and housing, benefits planning, estate planning, veterans’ benefits, and more.

For information about MassNAELA, visit www.massnaela.com.

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Through free legal clinics, educational programs, virtual assistance, and partnerships with community organizations, the MassNAELA Foundation will help people across the Commonwealth navigate elder, special needs, and disability law.