Certified
Elder Law Attorney

The designation Certified Elder Law Attorney is your assurance that we are fully qualified to advise you on any and all issues related to elder law in New Jersey.

What Is A
Certified Elder Law Attorney?

Here is a summary of the qualifications for certification in elder law by the National Elder Law Foundation (NELF). There are approximately 300 CELA (Certified Elder Law Attorneys) throughout the nation. The following requirements distinguish their expertise:

• Substantial Involvement - A certified elder law attorney must have spent an average of at least 16 hours per week practicing elder law during the three years preceding their application. In addition, certified elder law attorneys must have handled at least 60 elder law matters during those three years with a specified distribution among subjects as defined by the Foundation. McHugh & Macri devote 80 hours per week to elder law and have handled over 1,000 cases since certified in 1997.
• Continuing Legal Education - To become a certified elder law attorney, the attorney must have participated in at least 45 hours of continuing legal education in elder law during the preceding three years. Besides continuing legal education in elder/disability law, McHugh & Macri present legal seminars to attorneys seeking continuing education.
• Peer Review/Professional References - Certified elder law attorneys must submit the names of five references from attorneys familiar with their competence and qualifications in elder law. These persons must themselves satisfy specified criteria. Don McHugh is 2005-2006 Chair of the 400 members of the New Jersey State Bar Association Elder/Disabilities Section.
• Examination - Finally, a certified elder law attorney must pass a full-day certification examination.
• Licensure - A certified elder law attorney must be licensed to practice law in at least one state.
• Practice - A certified elder law attorney must have practiced law during the five years preceding their application and must still be practicing law.
• Integrity/Good Standing - Certified elder law attorneys must be members in good standing of the bars in all places in which they are licensed.