LAW! Did that scare you? For many Americans just the mention of the word law or legal issues puts them on edge. According to the latest research, only 20% 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 the Alabama Cooperative Extension System's Urban Affairs and New Nontraditional Programs has launched a legal education program called LegalEASE. There is no need to fear complicated legal jargon or legalese because our innovative education program gives it to you straight. How? By empowering Alabama citizens and communities with basic, easy-to-understand legal education and resources.
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, for example, now constitute 13% 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 lead 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 who is served rather than by its 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 Health-care Management that addresses issues from estate planning to long-term care.
In addition, LegalEASE is partnering with state and federal agencies in the United States Department of Justice, the United States Department of Health and Human Services-Office of Aging, and the Alabama Department of Senior Services to develop and provide informational seminars, legal forums, public service announcements, newsletters and brochures throughout Alabama's communities.
Future modules will include Alabama Laws for Youth, Renter's Rights, Basic Criminal Law and Procedure, Sexual Harassment & The Work Place, and Consumer Rights Law.
So, let us help you put some ease into law with LegalEase!