2026_Conference
Elder and special needs law demands more than surface-level education — it requires a professional home grounded in real-world practice. Join us at the 2026 NAELA Annual Conference this May for practical insights, meaningful connections, and shared purpose.
In Milwaukee, you’ll engage with colleagues who are navigating the same ethical challenges, planning complexities, litigation decisions, and long-term care realities you face every day. You’ll learn from attorneys who are generous with their knowledge and candid about the lessons they’ve learned. And you’ll be part of a community that is deeply invested in the future of elder and special needs law.
WHAT’S ON THE PROGRAM
This year’s two-day program features three general sessions and 18 breakout sessions that cover timely, practical education. Here are some highlights:
Defending the Rule of Law in Tumultuous Times
With Special Guest Michelle A. Behnke, President of the American Bar Association
This engaging opening session puts the rule of law at the center of your work as an elder and special needs law attorney, exploring why it matters now more than ever. Through an interactive, townhall-style conversation, you will examine how current political and regulatory shifts impact access to justice and how the profession can help uphold democratic principles and protect vulnerable populations.
Kruse Ethics Lecture
Navigating the Ethical Minefield: Malpractice Risks and Grievance Defense
Gain insights from a leading malpractice lawyer and a seasoned grievance defense advocate as they reveal the real-world risks that can jeopardize your license and reputation — and the strategies that keep you protected. From avoiding costly missteps to managing disciplinary proceedings, this dynamic session delivers practical guidance you can use right away.
The Legal Intersection of Criminal Court and Capacity
What happens when someone deemed incapacitated in one legal system is expected to demonstrate capacity in another? This session explores the tension between guardianship findings and criminal court standards — and what practitioners need to know.
Asset Protection and Medicaid Eligibility When the Client Isn’t the Trustee
This session will explore advanced planning strategies for safeguarding assets while maintaining compliance with Medicaid rules. Learn how trust structures, fiduciary responsibilities, and state-specific regulations impact eligibility and planning options. Gain practical insights into advising clients on risk mitigation, preserving benefits, and avoiding common pitfalls in third-party trust arrangements.
How Soon Is Too Soon to Contact a Litigator?
When an elder law matter starts to unravel, timing is everything. Waiting too long to involve a litigator can turn a manageable dispute into a costly crisis — but calling too early can create unnecessary complications. This session will help you identify the warning signs that signal it’s time to bring in litigation support, understand when strategic restraint is the better course, and make more confident decisions that protect your clients, your case strategy, and your practice.
Beyond the Nursing Home: Strategies for Long-Term Care at Home and in the Community
Many individuals want to age in place or receive care in the least restrictive setting possible, yet institutional care is often the default. This session explores practical and underused strategies for supporting long-term care needs at home and in community-based settings. Attendees will learn how to identify and coordinate non-institutional care options, including Medicare home health services, VA home and community-based benefits, considerations for family caregivers, and emerging programs such as the GUIDE Model for dementia care.
What Fiduciaries Wish Elder Law Attorneys Knew
This practical session offers a candid look at recurring issues that arise when attorneys draft documents that later create investment, reporting, or administrative challenges. Learn how to streamline probate asset consolidation and master key processes such as Computershare transfers and Medallion signature guarantees. This session will provide best practices for auditing, in-kind transfers, and centralized accounting to ensure smooth execution and accurate beneficiary distributions.
Dealing With Problem Assets in Medicaid Planning
Crisis Medicaid planning is anything but straightforward and can become complicated when clients own illiquid or difficult-to-access assets. Two problem assets in particular that attorneys often encounter are retirement accounts and existing, non-compliant annuities. Luckily, there is a solution for dealing with these assets to accelerate your client’s Medicaid eligibility. Attend this session to learn more.
For a complete list of conference sessions and activities, go to NAELA.org/Annual_Conference. Save when you register by April 23.
For the annual conference, NAELA is seeking approval for up to 11.0 CLE hours plus 1.0 CLE ethics hour for a 50-minute state.
JOIN US AT NAELA NIGHT
May 29, 6:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Additional Registration Required
Kick off Friday night with an unforgettable social event at The New Fashioned MKE, one of Milwaukee’s most popular entertainment and dining destinations. Whether you’re reconnecting with old friends or meeting new ones, this is your chance to unwind, laugh, and celebrate together.
OPTIONAL PRE-CONFERENCE PROGRAMS
Additional Registration Required
Advanced Elder Law Review
May 27 & 28
Providing a comprehensive overview of the key specialties essential to elder and special needs law, the Advanced Elder Law Review (AELR) offers rich, substantive content that supports both your practice and your credentialing goals. Take a look at what’s included in the two-day agenda:
- Health and Personal Care Planning
- Social Security and SSI Issues
- Pre-Mortem Tax Planning
- Advanced Tax Pre and Postmortem
- Special Needs Counseling
- Ethical Issues
- Legal Capacity and Counseling (includes Abuse/Exploitation)
- Elder Law and the VA
- Nursing Home Residents Rights
- Planning With Inherited IRAs in a SECURE World
- Housing and Employment Rights
- Fiduciary Representation
- Advanced Medicare Issues
- Advanced Medicaid
For the AELR program, NAELA is seeking approval for up to 16.8 CLE hours including 1.0 ethics hour for a 50-minute state.
AI Workshop: Strategies for a Smarter, Faster Practice
May 28
Discover how AI is transforming elder and special needs law with this practical AI workshop. Experience hands-on demos, ask experts, and discover strategies for integrating AI into your practice — boosting efficiency, improving client engagement, and supporting staff adoption while staying ethically grounded. Here’s what’s lined up for this can’t-miss, action-packed day:
- Launching AI in Your Practice
- Profit and Productivity: How AI Is Reshaping the Business of Elder and Special Needs Law
- Supercharge Staff Training: Using AI Tools for Ongoing Legal Education
- Ethics, Efficiency, and the Future
- AI Genius Bar/Demonstrations
- AI and Client Communication: Clarity, Access, and Support
- The Art of Prompting: Getting Useful Answers From AI
- AI in Action: Tools That Work for Your Practice
For the AI Workshop, NAELA is seeking approval for up to 9.0 CLE hours including 1.0 ethics hour for a 50-minute state.
Go to NAELA.org/Annual_Conference for the full conference program, hotel information, and who’s attending. Register by April 23 for the early-bird discount.