Mallesons Stephen Jaques has provided pro-bono support to a community group for a new report on legal rights of older people.
The Legal Needs of the Third Age Report was prepared by the SouthPort Community Legal Service Inc, with the assistance of the Victoria Law Foundation. Mallesons supplied advice on the editing and structuring of the report.
The report was launched today by the Honourable Rob Hulls, Attorney General of Victoria, at Mallesons’ Melbourne office.
The report addresses obstacles faced by older people seeking to access their legal rights and the legal system. It aims to:
- encourage discussion and awareness of the legal needs and rights of older people, including recognition and understanding of the emergence in recent years of elder abuse
- identify the key features necessary for the provision of a comprehensive older persons’ legal service, and
- promote the need for legal education in the area of elder law in universities and as part of legal practitioners’ continuing professional development to foster elder law as a practice speciality.
The causes and understandings of elder abuse in light of questions surrounding the concept of elder law are also canvassed. The report recommends that what is perceived as elder law deals appropriately with all situations of elder abuse.
Principal Solicitor Jeni Lee from SouthPort Community Legal Service says: “In discussing the most effective model of service provision for any proposed older persons’ legal service, the report recommends an emphasis on empowering older members of the community.”
Going forward Ms Lee says: “Greater research and further community education is needed to meet the needs of older people.”
The report covers wills and estate planning, powers of attorney, administration and guardianship, advance health care planning, family law, discrimination, family agreements, financial protection and accommodation.
For more information and a copy of the report please contact SouthPort Community Legal Service.