Law

Feature Article

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Putting Some Ease Into Law

By: Attorney Kevin Crenshaw

For many Americans just the mention of the word "law" puts them on edge. According to the latest research, only 20 percent of the legal needs of urban and rural communities are addressed in this country. With recent funding cuts and restrictions imposed on legal services, this creates a profound crisis nationwide---Alabama is no exception. Simply not knowing your rights under the law can make ordinary situations more complicated, even life changing.

That's why Extension's Urban Affairs and New Nontraditional Programs unit launched a legal education program called LegalEASE. LegalEASE helps to eliminate the fear of complicated legal jargon or legalese by giving it to you straight. How? By empowering Alabama citizens and communities with basic, easy-to-understand legal education and resources.

For example, the program's first module addresses the legal needs and issues of Alabama's elderly communities and their families. Did you know that one out of seven Americans or 35 million people are over the age of 65? As baby boomers grow older, America's elderly population will double by the year 2030. Alabama seniors now constitute 13 percent of the general population, placing them among the top 10 oldest populations in the United States.

"People are living longer and living more of their life in better health than before," said Richard Suzman, an expert at the National Institute on Aging---a leading agency in collecting data on the elderly. As Alabamians live longer, legal issues associated with the aging will naturally increase, researchers report.

Elder Law, as the name implies, is defined by the client rather any technical or legal distinctions. Elder law is not a separate body of laws, but rather a number of areas relevant to elderly individuals. Elder Law can be broken down into two broad areas: Asset/Financial Management and Healthcare Management that addresses issues from estate planning to long-term care. To better serve our senior population and their families, LegalEASE formed a partnership with Alabama's Bureau of Geriatric Psychiatry to deliver programs relevant to aging/dementia and associated health, financial and legal education. These collaborative efforts are called the Successful Aging Initiative (SAI).

LegalEASE also partners with other organizations to develop seminars, legal forums, and other educational resources throughout Alabama's communities to inform citizens about the law. In fact, work is already underway to develop future modules on Alabama Youth & the Law, Consumer Law, and Sexual Harassment, although educational materials and specialized programs have been developed in these areas.

For more information, contact Attorney Kevin Crenshaw at (256) 372-4939.