The Elder Law Clinic

Organisation profile

The Clinic is dedicated to research, education and advocacy of legal issues of aging and, in particular, to responding to the law–related needs of older Quebec adults. The Clinic serves older persons, those providing services to or representing older adults and those planning their later life. Currently there are no eligibility criteria for our services and they are available at no charge.

Students and volunteers collaborate with and learn from colleagues in geriatric medicine, palliative care, social work, finance, government and gerontology. While the Clinic’s offices are located in downtown Montreal, our volunteers see clients in their homes, offices and residences or otherwise deal with requests by phone from across the province.

We employ a multidisciplinary and client-centered team approach to finding timely, effective and human solutions to legal problems of aging. The Clinic employs collaborative law, (informal and formal) mediation, participatory and restorative justice methods to these ends.

We cannot take an established approach that works for some. Older adults have complex, multifaceted issues at play which are profoundly different than those associated with other populations. Our approach is an evidence-based model which seeks to deliver the best results for the most vulnerable of older adults regardless of socioeconomic status.

– Legal planning of aging
– Legal and ethical duties (succession, power of attorney, mandate, end of life, accommodation) of legal representatives
– Civil and legal rights and responsibilities of caregivers
– Maltreatment and financial abuse of seniors
– Legal aptitude and capacity
– Protection plans and alternative protection measures
– Housing options, needs and discrimination
– Consent to care and accommodation
– Long-term care, quality, planning and decision-making / administrative problems in seniors’ residences and nursing homes
– End-of-life legal issues
– Family law issues: access, filial responsibility, reconstituted families, divorce and separation, predatory marriage
– Retirement plans and workplace discrimination
– Issues of professional ethics