Seniors, Veterans to Receive Free Legal Information and Services at Albany Law Events

Albany Law School puts on a series of events each year with a common goal: to educate and empower members of the community on pressing legal topics. This month’s “Law Day” events will provide senior citizens and veterans in the Capital Region with free workshops and optional one-on-one meetings with attorneys. Both events are student-run, held on the law school campus, and designed by the Pro Bono Program to be free to the public.

This year’s Senior Citizens’ Law Day — organized annually to provide reliable and objective information specifically for seniors and their caregivers — will be held Saturday, October 15, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

The schedule is filled with workshops conducted by professors, attorneys, and other experts on topics including Wills vs. Trusts; Grandparents Rights and Custody Options; Getting Your Affairs in Order: Basic Estate Planning Concepts; Your Financial Legacy: Helping Your Family Understand Your Wishes; and Medicaid Planning Options. Registration is not required for workshops. Each attendant will receive a free resource guidebook and will have the option to sign up for a free one-on-one counseling session with an attorney on the day of the event.

Chief Brendan J. Cox of the City of Albany Police Department will lead the Nancy M. Sills ’76 Memorial Senior Citizens’ Law Day Lecture. The day will also include a community resource fair. Senior Citizens’ Law Day is sponsored by the Albany Times Union, the Elder Law and Special Needs Section of the New York State Bar Association, and the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (New York Chapter).

At Veterans Law Day, veterans and their families receive legal information from volunteer attorneys and presenters. This year’s event will be held Saturday, October 29, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

The free program, presented by Albany Law School’s Pro Bono Program and the Veterans’ Rights Project, has served hundreds of veterans in the past. It is open to all veterans and current service members seeking general legal help related to employment, family law, and more.

The Veterans Law Day keynote speaker is Terry Kindlon ’73, Esq., of the Albany County Public Defender’s Office. He is a Purple Heart recipient and a veteran of the United States Marine Corps.

Veterans Law Day is sponsored by BNY Mellon. The Veterans' Rights Project is always looking for volunteer attorneys and businesses to participate in the event by donating their services and providing sponsorship opportunities.