During this one-day intensive, participants applied their knowledge by working through
the different stages of a client’s life.
What does the movie “High School Musical” have to do with elder law? More than you’d think, as it turns out, at least if you attended the second annual Essentials Practicum Workshop at the NAELA Annual Conference last April in Denver. Two characters from the 2006 film — Troy and Gabriella — were the loose basis of a hypothetical used throughout the daylong program.
First, I’ll back up for a bit of context. The Practicum provided an immersion in different aspects of elder law and special needs planning. Sessions covered estate planning, diminished capacity, financial exploitation, guardianship, public benefits planning, and health and personal care planning.
In preparation for the day, participants were encouraged, but not required, to take NAELA’s Essentials Online course — a 13-part series that includes recorded presentations from prior NAELA events and extensive reading materials. When I arrived in Denver, as a transitioning attorney I was excited to see what I had been learning put into the context of a “life of a client” scenario. Difficult concepts always make more sense to me with examples, so the format was a great fit for how I like to learn.
The day started off with a short clip from the movie, with Troy (the athlete) and Gabriella (the academic achiever) singing a duet in high school. I’ve never seen the film, but no matter — it was really just the launching point for a creatively embellished story penned by the Practicum faculty. We learned that Troy and Gabriella fell in love, went to college, got married, and had three children. Gabriella became a physician and Troy a successful sports business owner. They first seek our planning advice when they are in their 60s, and then also in later years as they begin to deal with issues around aging, such as Gabriella’s early onset Alzheimer’s, feuding children, and long-term care.
The presenters — Bridget O’Brien Swartz, Michael Amoruso, Roberta Flowers, David Godfrey, Mary Alice Jackson, Howard Krooks, and Jennifer VanderVeen — had obviously spent much effort organizing the day and were well prepared. They freely shared their years of experience and offered perspectives that brought to life the online materials I’d studied in the weeks before.
The day was a mix of their talks and our breaking into smaller groups to discuss topics. Although at times some concepts were above my head, the presenters kept their language grounded and came back to the hypothetical story of Troy and Gabriella, providing a strong tie that carried throughout the day. (One suggestion for future Practicums is a basic guide for participants — something 15 or so pages that briefly outlines concepts and major terms in one place.)
We were encouraged to sit in different places during the sessions, giving an opportunity to get to know other participants. This also served as another lesson: In this day and age of smart phones, social media, texting, and all the other digital tools (some might say distractions), there still is something powerful about people getting together face-to-face and talking things out. In the small-group discussions, fellow participants were supportive and creative ideas often flowed.
And when it came to problem solving the clients’ legal issues, I was struck by the variety of solutions that the small teams created. It gave me a better understanding, and perhaps some peace of mind, that there is not necessarily a perfect solution for all situations.
The room was filled with people from many states, offering a chance to see the variability of local laws. Another valuable takeaway: It is important to connect with attorneys in other states, so you’re prepared when clients have multi-jurisdictional issues.
At the end of the day, I thought our group had served Troy and Gabriella well. While no one-day course can send you out as an expert, the experience gave me valuable insights into many concepts, and a sharper ability to spot issues and know when I may be out of my depth and need to associate more experienced counsel.
The more I learn, the more I realize I have left to learn, and the Practicum motivated me to continue on my path of gaining knowledge and skills.
About the Author
Tom Weede, Esq., is a member of the NAELA News Editorial Board.