Is there a certification process for elder law attorneys?
Yes. The National Elder Law Foundation was authorized by the American Bar Association to develop and implement a certification process for elder law attorneys, The process is expansive and rigorous, and certification provides some assurance that an attorney has enhanced knowledge, skills, experience and proficiency in the field. Nationwide there are currently 308 Certified Elder Law Attorneys (“CELAs”) in 37 states. There are six CELAs in Alabama; they are listed on the NELF web site: www.nelf.org. Must an attorney be certified to be considered competent? No, not necessarily. There are a number of highly qualified elder law practitioners in Alabama and elsewhere who have not undertaken the certification process for various reasons. One deterrent is the time required from a busy practice to engage in this demanding process. Others, such as estate tax attorneys or Social Security specialists, amy hold advanced degrees or have extensive experience applicable to the area in which they spec
