Since it began taking cases Aug. 15, the Elder Law Clinic at the Elon School of Law has received over 90 calls from low-income senior residents in Guilford County seeking legal aid with issues such as power of attorney, Social Security and Medicaid benefits and end of life planning.
The clinic was developed this summer to meet the needs of the county’s growing senior demographic, according to Margaret Kantlehner, director of the clinic.
“There was a consensus that there was more need than could be met,” she said. “There was just one provider of services, Legal Aid North Carolina-Greensboro, and (the clinic) will augment their services, not replace them.”
Legal Aid North Carolina-Greensboro provides free legal services to seniors unable to afford private legal services, and the Elder Law Clinic will do the same. Under faculty supervision, eight Elon law students serve Guilford County residents, age 60 and older, with a monthly household income of $2,200 or less, if married, and $1,700 or less, if single.
The students participating in the clinic are currently sorting through the first cases and determining which to undertake. Because the number of cases submitted vastly exceeds the number of students participating in the clinic, some cases may be held until next semester or referred elsewhere, Kantlehner said.
Matt Wilcut, a third year law student, said he thinks each student will take on about three cases each.
“It’s been great hearing the variety of cases and getting a good idea of what we’ll be working with,” he said. “I’m proud to be part of the inaugural class.”