 Print Firm Information
|
|||
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|||
|
HELEN COHN NEEDHAM received her law degree from New York University School of Law in 1968. Between 1968 and 1981 she litigated and researched in the fields of environmental law and civil rights. In 1982 she decided to change the focus of her career. Since then she has advised individuals and families of all ages about their needed estate plans and counseled the aged, and families of mental and physically incapacitated persons with regard to problems associated with advanced age or incapacity. Helen is actively involved in national, state and local professional groups which are concerned with problems of the elderly and incapacitated. She has been a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA) since its creation in 1987 and was a member of its Board of Directors from 1991 through 1995. As Chair of NAELA's Task Force on Specialization and Certification, and first Chair of the Board of Certificiation of the National Elder Law Foundation, Helen spearheaded development of its national program to identify, test and certify attorneys as specialists in Elder Law and worked to obtain the program's accreditation by the American Bar Association. In 1995 Helen became one of the first three attorneys in Virginia, and the first sixty-eight nationwide to be certified. She was recertified for another five years in 2000 and 2005. She is currently recertified through 2010. In 1994 Helen became the first person to receive NAELA's newly created Presidents' Recognition Award. In 1995 she was named a Fellow of NAELA. Election as a Fellow signifies that the lawyer is recognized by her peers as a model for others, and as an exceptional lawyer and leader. Since 1987 only 57 attorneys have been elected as Fellows. Helen is certified by the Supreme Court of Virginia to act as a guardian ad litem (Court investigator) when guardianship petitions are filed, She has been named Conservator, by the Virginia Courts, for persons who are unable to handle their affairs, when there are no appropriate family member to play that role. At the request of many clients Helen has been named agent in their power of attorney, or trustee in their will or trust. Helen often lectures to attorneys, physicians, and CPAs, locally and nationally, about medicaid and medicare, counseling clients with invisible or undiagnosed illesses, advanced medical directives and end-of life-decisions, long-term care issues, and ethical issues of concern when dealing with ill or elderly clients. She frequently speaks to groups of elders or those caring for elderly or incapacitated persons on a wide variety of planning and other issues of concern to these groups. Helen has a husband and two children. The husband stays close to home, but much to her chagrin, the children do not. Alexander lives in Austin and Jessy lives in Hanoi, Vietnam. |
|||
|
TOP
|
|||
|
|||
|
JUDITH A. MITNICK is well known for acting as a guardian, conservator, trustee or agent on behalf of clients or by court appointment. This experience gives her a wide perspective and extensive practical knowledge that she uses when advising clients in drafting their planning documents. Her experience, as a court appointed guardian ad litem, in investigating petitions and reporting her findings to the Court, further broadens her understanding of the needs of persons unable to care for themselves and of the issues confronting their caregivers. Ms. Mitnick is a member of the Virginia State Bar and its Sections on Real Property and Trusts and Estates. She is also a member of the Arlington Bar Association and its Section on Law & Aging, the Northern Virginia Estate Planning Council, and the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA). She has lectured to both legal professionals and community groups. Ms. Mitnick graduated from the Indiana University School of Law in 1971 where she was a distinguished member of the Order of the Coif, the legal honorary society, and was managing editor of the law schools Law Review. Ms. Mitnick lives in Falls Church with her Golden Retriever. She has participated in Fairfax Countys Pets on Wheels program which brings owners and their pets to local nursing homes. |
|||
|
TOP
|
|||
|
|||
|
SUSAN K. POLLACK serves as Chairperson of the Falls Church Senior Citizens Commission. She has also served on the Board of Directors of the Alzheimers Association of the National Capital Area, and is a member of the Arlington Bar Associations Legal Committee on the Problems of the Elderly. In addition to her work in elder law and estate planning, Ms. Pollack serves as a court-appointed guardian for several incapacitated individuals and as a Trustee for Special Needs Trusts. She is an occasional guest on Cable TV, Channel 16, Fairfax, discussing legal problems of the elderly. Ms. Pollack is licensed to practice law in both the State of Virginia and the District of Columbia. She is a member of the Virginia State Bar and the District of Columbia Bar Associations Trust and Estates Sections. Since 1995, Ms. Pollack has been a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys. Ms. Pollack graduated from George Mason Universitys School of Law in 1989. Before starting her second career as an attorney, she worked as a government contract specialist for the Department of Labor for 25 years. During that time, Ms. Pollack received the Distinguished Career Service Award from Secretary of Labor Robert B. Reich. Ms. Pollack resides in Falls Church with her twin daughters. |
|||
|
TOP
|
|||
|
|||
|
SHERI R. ABRAMS founded her own law firm in 1995. Sheri concentrated her law practice to representing clients in Virginia, Washington, DC and Maryland in their Social Security Disability appeals. She recently joined Needham Mitnick & Pollack, PLC as Of Counsel. Sheri is "AV-Rated" by the Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory, and is active in many different professional organizations including the Virginia State Bar, District of Columbia Bar, American Bar Association, Academy of Special Needs Planners and the National Organization of Social Security Claimant's Representatives (NOSSCR). Sheri is a volunteer Attorney for "Trial Lawyers Care" an organization that provides free legal help to those impacted by the 9/11 tragedy and for the Virginia Bar Association's Disaster Legal Assistance Program. Sheri graduated Cum Laude from Boston University's School of Management with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration and earned her Juris Doctor from George Washington University. She is admitted to all local courts, including the United States Supreme Court. Sheri is a widow with an elementary school age son. |
|||
|
TOP
|
|||
|
|||
|
EDWARD ELLIS ZETLIN brings years of experience in the area of elder law. For over twenty years he served as both counsel for the elderly and managed the delivery of all elder law services for Legal Services of Northern Virginia. He enjoys working with individuals and families overcoming the challenges of health and disability needs. Mr. Zetlin is an adjunct Professor of Law at the Washington College of Law of American University where he teaches a seminar entitled, Elder Law: Policy & Practice. He is a member of the NAELA Board of Directors and NAELA's Guardianship/Capacity, Special Interest Group. On the state level, Mr. Zetlin serves as President of the Virginia NAELA Chapter, Council member of the Elder Law Section of the Virginia Bar Association, and chairs the Arlington County Bar Section on Law & Aging. He has written and spoken on a variety of elder law issues including: Medicaid, Nursing & Assisted Living Contracts, and Guardianship/Capacity Issues. Mr. Zetlin graduated from the University of Richmond, T.C. Williams School of Law in 1985. He is licensed to practice law in both the Commonwealth of Virginia and the District of Columbia. He grew up in Arlington,Virginia and continues to live there with his wife and daughter. |
|||
|
TOP
|
.jpg)
