Commission on Law and Aging
American Bar Association
1050 Connecticut Ave. NW, Suite 400
Washington, DC 20036
Phone: (202) 662-8690
Fax: (202) 662-8698
E-mail: aging@americanbar.org
On the Web at: www.americanbar.org/aging
August 26, 2020
Contact Us
Commission Staff
CHARLES P. SABATINO, J.D.
Director
charles.sabatino@americanbar.org
Research and project development in the areas of health law, long-term care decision-making, and legal services delivery.
Sabatino is an adjunct professor at the Georgetown University Law Center, where he has taught a seminar on law and aging since 1987. He is a past president of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (2001-02) and is past chair of its public policy committee. Prior to joining the ABA, Mr. Sabatino was the elder law project attorney and managing attorney of the Arlington, Virginia, branch of Legal Services of Northern Virginia. He is a member of the District of Columbia and Virginia bar associations. Mr. Sabatino received an A.B. from Cornell University and a J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center in Washington.
DAVID M. GODFREY, J.D.
Senior Attorney
david.godfrey@americanbar.org
Legal services delivery, program development, and training for consumers and professionals.
Godfrey is responsible for the ABA’s role in the Administration on Aging funded National Center on Law and Elder Rights and for producing the National Aging and Law Conference. He is a board member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys. Prior to joining the Commission he was responsible for elder law programming at Access to Justice Foundation in Kentucky. Mr. Godfrey earned his B.A. with honors at Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida, and his J.D. cum laude from the University Of Louisville School Of Law in Kentucky.
DARI POGACH, J.D.
Staff Attorney
dari.pogach@americanbar.org
Adult guardianship, alternatives to guardianship, and supported decision-making.
Pogach has worked in adult guardianship reform and alternatives to guardianship for several years. Prior to joining the Commission, she provided direct legal services to indigent clients with disabilities. She represented individuals with mental illness as a staff attorney at Disability Rights D.C. of University Legal Services, the District of Columbia’s protection and advocacy program for people with disabilities. She assisted individuals with developmental disabilities seeking alternatives to guardianship as a staff attorney at the Quality Trust for Individuals with Disabilities. Pogach has also represented respondent parents in child abuse and neglect cases in New York City. Pogach has substantive experience in policy and legislative advocacy, and has testified at numerous legislative hearings, provided comments to proposed regulations, and written public reports with recommendations for improving local laws and practices. She received her B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania and her J.D. from Washington College of Law.
SONIA M. ARCE
Office Manager
sonia.arce@americanbar.org
Budget planning, financial management/oversight, and meeting planning.
TRISHA Y. BULLOCK
Editorial Assistant
trisha.bullock@americanbar.org
General office services, Personify administrator, ABA Connect Communities manager, meetings, record keeping, website maintenance, social media and newsletter and publication production.
Expertise
The ABA Commission on Law and Aging can provide background to the media on a range of issues relating to law and aging, including:
- Guardianship and conservatorship
- Elder abuse, neglect and exploitation
- Mental capacity, aging and surrogate decision-making
- Health care decision-making and advance directives
- Medicare, Medicaid and long-term care
- Elder Law and the delivery of legal assistance to older persons
Contact the Division for Media Relations and Communication Services for expert contacts.
If you don't see what you’re looking for, contact the ABA main office at (202) 662-1090 or (312) 988-6171. General press inquiries can also be sent to abanews@americanbar.org.
Subscription and Discussion Lists
Bifocal Subscription List - Bifocal, the Commission's bi-monthly journal, provides timely, valuable legal resources pertaining to older persons, generated through the joint efforts of public and private bar groups and the aging network. Email the Commission on Law and Aging and ask to be added to our Bifocal subscription list.
Discussion Lists - The Commission provides a forum for legal professionals to communicate and share ideas on three active discussion lists:
In order to maintain lists with relevant participants, we ask that you email the commission and provide the name of the list(s) you're interested in on the subject line. In the body of your email please include your mailing address and phone number.
Support Us
Help us continue to improve the lives of older Americans.
—Write a Check—
Make payable to Fund for Justice and Education (designate ABA Commission on Law and Aging on memo line) and mail to:
ABA Commission on Law & Aging
1050 Connecticut Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20036
—Donate Online—
Please visit: https://donate.americanbar.org/cola and learn how you can support the efforts of the Commission. Click here for information on how to become a Friend of the Commission.
—Call Us—
Discuss a specific gift of support at: (202) 662-8690. Your contribution is tax-deductible.