Kelly Zeng, Extern (Fall 2012)
I had an incredible experience working with the Commission on Law and Aging. I came to the externship with my experience in healthcare and medical informatics. My project at the Commission aligns with my interest well. I researched on end-of-life care, in particular, the Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST). Working with the director of the Commission, Mr. Charlie Sabatino, a national expert on POLST, I gained valuable insight into the legal, ethical and religious issues associated with end-of-life care. Throughout my externship, I spoke with staff members regularly, all of whom are experts in the various subfields of elder law. I have learned so much through my discussions with them. It has been a great experience working at the Commission.

Kristen Zearfoss (Fall 2012)
I’m incredibly grateful for my experience working with the Commission on Law and Aging. By interning at the Commission under Erica Wood and David Godfrey, I supplemented my previous work experience in health care advocacy with their guidance about how the law can be used to advance social service programs. During my internship, I researched and wrote about the responsibilities of lay fiduciaries, consumer fraud and the role of emeritus attorneys in the legal system. The externship also provided wonderful opportunities to sit in on coalition meetings, which allowed me to network with other professionals in the field and simultaneously gain an understanding of the essential role that the Commission plays in the broader elder law community. Everyone at the Commission is incredibly kind and intelligent, and together, they do incredible work. I am truly thankful to have spent time here.

Samantha Breakstone (Summer 2012)
For anyone with an interest in issues surrounding law and aging the opportunity to work with the experts at the Commission on Law and Aging is priceless. After interning with the Elder Abuse Unit of the Kings County District Attorney’s Office, I came to the Commission on Law and Aging with an interest in the criminal prosecution of elder abuse. I was thus honored to work with Staff Attorney, Lori Stiegel on a paper identifying the barriers to prosecuting criminal elder neglect. Ms. Stiegel’s expertise gave me access to a wealth of information and resources, including a network of elder abuse prosecutors nationwide. The internship gives one the opportunity to develop a publishable work, with the guidance of an expert, in their specific field of interest. It short, it is an ideal internship for any law student interested in the field.

Adrienne Lyon Buenavista (Summer 2012)
I thoroughly enjoyed my summer internship at the ABA Commission on Law and Aging (COLA). Under the supervision of David Godfrey, I researched aging-in-place issues. Specifically, I investigated liability issues relating to “Villages”—grassroots organizations that provide services to aging adults who want to remain in their own homes. As part of this exploratory research, I interviewed various Village leaders and reviewed Village manuals and policies. My supervisors at COLA were supportive and encouraged me to broaden my knowledge of elder law issues by attending conferences and trainings. For instance, I attended seminars on Medicare, Social Security, and advanced directives. After my summer at the ABA, I have a better understanding of many aspects in elder law and I am encouraged to pursue work in the field.

Molly Gurian (Summer 2011)
I had a great summer working at the ABA Commission on Law and Aging. All of the attorneys are friendly and dedicated to their work. Furthermore, they are dedicated to making sure the interns have a well-rounded experience. My main project was working with Leslie Fried, senior attorney and director of the Medicare Advocacy Project, on examining the relationship between local coverage determinations made by local Medicare contractors and people with Alzheimer’s disease. This investigation was a follow-up to work done in 2001 by the Alzheimer’s Association, during which they discovered that local Medicare contractors were issuing automatic denials for services to people with Alzheimer’s disease. This original work resulted in a program memorandum forbidding this practice. I investigated changes to the program since that memorandum was issued.
I found the work to be challenging and educational. I came in with some knowledge of Medicare and how it works, but I learned much more. I did not know anything about local coverage determinations or even that Medicare contracted with local companies at all. I also had very little knowledge about Alzheimer’s disease. I learned a lot about the other issues that the attorneys work on. Since my level of knowledge was much lower on those issues, my learning curve was steep. I really enjoyed working on issues related to advanced care, as well as learning the basics of legal services, guardianship, and elder abuse law. I only wish there had been time to delve into more issues more deeply.

Ashley Phillips (Summer 2011)
It was an honor having the opportunity to intern at the ABA Commission on Law and Aging. My experience surpassed my expectations. My work with senior attorney Lori Stiegel focused primarily on elder abuse, but I also was exposed to a breadth of elder law issues. I attended congressional hearings on Capitol Hill and researched bills, and was able to maximize my learning experience and gain invaluable knowledge through a variety of resources I otherwise would not have had access to. I now feel as if I have a broader understanding of elder law and am so grateful to have had the opportunity to contribute to the work of the ABA Commission.

Jessica Guzik, Extern (Spring 2011)
An externship with the Commission offers a rich introduction to a burgeoning field of law and a chance to learn from elder law’s most respected leaders. It would be enough to study elder law by observing the Commission’s attorneys from a distance. Amazingly, however, the Commission makes the professional development of its interns and externs an explicit priority. As a result, my externship was punctuated by Congressional hearings, networking opportunities, and projects that honed my research and writing skills. Be warned: the passion with which the Commission’s attorneys approach their work is contagious. One of my assignments was to analyze state statutes on advance directives. With this research I helped Commission Director Charles Sabatino draft a universal health care power of attorney. I also used this research as a starting point for an article on in the validity of electronic signatures on advance directives, a project of my own making that the Commission has supported. While I received academic credit for my externship, it was not a purely academic exercise. My externship deepened my interest in and understanding of an increasingly relevant area of the law.

Martina Mills (Summer 2010)
My experience with the ABA Commission surpassed my expectations. I had the opportunity to work closely with Commission Director Charlie Sabatino to conduct research on state protocols to improve end-of-life care. Through the project, I examined state political cultures and clinical polices, and spoke with medical and legal professionals. Over the summer, I attended health forums addressing elder abuse, social security, and health technology. During every outing, I had the opportunity to network with health and aging professionals in the community and expand my knowledge of aging issues. The Commission staff is committed to strengthening the rights of elders, and their passion for their work is evident.

Amy Gioletti (Summer 2010)
I had a great experience as an intern at the ABA Commission. I had taken an elder law course at school prior to the internship and was interested in getting some actual experience in the field. This internship allowed me to further my understanding of elder law by researching and writing on the topic of guardian residential decision making authority. I was able to work with Assistant Director Erica Wood, who has been working on guardianship issues for 30 years. Additionally, I attended hearings and briefings on Capitol Hill and conferences and meetings important to the health and well-being of older Americans. Spending the summer in , where law and policy is made, is an experience I would highly recommend. The expert staff at the ABA Commission on Law and Aging is friendly and approachable. This experience is one I will always remember and appreciate.

Allison Hughes (Summer 2009)
I thoroughly enjoyed my experience as an intern with the ABA Commission. It was great to be a part of such a friendly and helpful staff who share my interests in elder law and policy. My project this summer focused on state advance directive registries and their development across the country. I learned a great deal about the issue and was able to improve my research and writing skills in the process. In addition, I was able to attend hearings on Capitol Hill on variety of current issues in aging and health policy. I am very grateful to have had the opportunity to work with such wonderful people on issues that are so important to me.

Laura Remick (Summer 2009)
My internship at the ABA Commission was an invaluable experience. This summer I worked with two attorneys researching the issue of reporting elder abuse under adult protective services laws and writing a paper, with accompanying reference charts that display provisions and penalties. This information is intended to increase awareness of elder abuse to the public. I had also the opportunity to broaden my knowledge on health law and elder law by attending the National Institute of Justice convention, observing a mock Social Security Disability hearing, and attending the National Health Policy Forum. As an intern I explored through a number of fun and interesting activities, including visiting the Supreme Court.

Matthew Bernt (Summer 2007)
My experience at the ABA Commission was richer and more rewarding than I envisioned. I was able to work closely with a staff attorney examining the application of fair housing law to assisted living facilities. The constant back and forth with my supervising attorney was an enriching experience as I learned not only about the law in this area, but also about the work done by the many advocates in the field. I enjoyed working with a staff attorney on a more equal footing than would have been possible in a larger environment. As a result I was able to experience a side of the law, and a work environment, that I would not have been able to experience had I not worked at the Commission. My experience was not limited to my work in the office. I was able to attend a number of briefings and hearings on Capitol Hill, as well as various forums on emerging issues in elder law throughout the summer. These experiences helped me broaden my understanding of the issues most likely to have a major impact on the law in the coming years. Finally, I am proud to have produced a paper of publishable quality that will hopefully be influential in impacting the way states and advocates protect the housing rights of assisted living residents.

Monica Sethi (Summer 2007)
The ABA Commission is a great environment to work in. Staff attorneys are well-versed in their fields and easily approachable for advice or feedback. The experience tied in directly with my focus on health care law and policy, and I learned a variety of issues touching on Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, long-term care financing, and elder neglect and abuse. It was a great opportunity to learn about elder law because it’s a topic that is rarely taught in law schools. I had the opportunity to attend numerous Congressional hearings and briefings held in the House and Senate offices. My assigned project was both interesting and challenging. I analyzed all 50 state’s position on medical futility and wrote a paper based on my research discussing a patient’s right to direct his own health care vs. a provider’s right to decline to provide treatment. I am proud of my work product and excited that this is a topic that many in the field are interested in reading. As a law student, it’s a great opportunity to produce an article that has the potential for publication. My experience has been invaluable and I would recommend it to others seeking experience in policy, health care and elder law.

Advertisement

Intern Experiences

Intern Experiences