Celebrating nearly twenty years of service to the university and to
the community, UHELP is an integral part of the WIlliam S. Richardson
School of Law at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. UHELP plays a
vital role in educating students and in serving the community. Its
goal is to enhance, protect and preserve the autonomy and
independence of older persons through education, training and direct
legal services. UHELP places particular emphasis on assisting
socially and economically needy older persons and their caregivers.
Education
The Elder Law, Health Law, Bioethics and the Law and Elder Law Clinic
courses provide a foundation for legal practice with the elderly. The
courses are open to second and third year law students and certain
graduate students. Students also have the opportunity to work with real
clients with real legal issues. Geriatric Fellows and Psychiatry
Fellows from the John A. Burns School of Medicine are also provided
courses of instruction to assist them with an understanding of legal
issues facing health care providers and, in particular, medical-legal
issues affecting older persons.
Community Services
UHELP has an attorney/professor, a program administrator/legal assistant and sometimes has a student law clerk. UHELP operates throughout the calendar year and provides basic legal assistance, advice, information and referral. UHELP is not permitted to assist with business or criminal law matters or with personal injury or other fee-generating cases. You may qualify for services if you are a resident of Oahu, you are 60 years or older and are socially or economically needy or if you are a caregiver of an older person on Oahu and need legal assistance on behalf of the older person. (Each case is evaluated according to its own merits and in accordance with staff capabilities)
Our Services:
- Advance Healthcare Directives-healthcare instructions (similar to the old "living will") and health care powers of attorney
- Simple wills-restricted to certain estate values
- Powers of attorney--restricted to certain levels of assets
- Basic information on planning for incapacity and death
- Counseling on end-of-life decision-making
- Basic information about public benefits
- Counseling on legal issues relating to elder abuse, caregiving and guardianship/conservatorship
- Limited general legal information and referrals
Some types of cases we DO NOT handle are:
- Criminal Law (including traffic violations)
- Commercial or Income Producing Matters
- Personal Injury Matters
There are no fees charged for our services. However, donations are welcome. Because of our limited staff and resources, we give priority to the most needy of clients. |
