The ABA Commission on Law and Aging is pleased to welcome 2007 Nancy Coleman Summer Intern Matthew Bernt and 2007 Borchard Foundation Center on Law and Aging Intern Monica Sethi.

Mr. Bernt is a rising third-year law student at the Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law in Washington. He works as a staff member for the Catholic University Law Review. He recently authored a paper on the Fifth Amendment rights of public employees, which was chosen for publication in the May 2007 issue of the Catholic University Law Review. Prior to attending law school, Mr. Bernt attended the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia.

This summer, Mr. Bernt is working with associate staff director Holly Robinson on a paper comparing provisions of the Fair Housing Act to state assisted living facility (ALF) and continuing-care retirement community (CCRC) laws. The paper will examine the degree to which states have incorporated Fair Housing language in their ALF and CCRC laws and regulations. It will recommend that states incorporate the anti-discrimination provisions of the Fair Housing Act into state ALF and CCRC laws as a way of educating applicants and residents of ALFs and CCRCs about these important protections.

My experience at the ABA Commission on Law and Aging was richer and more rewarding than I envisioned. I was able to work closely with a staff attorney examining the application of fair housing law to assisted living facilities. Working with my supervising attorney was an enriching experience, as I learned not only about the law in this area, but also about the work done by the many advocates in the field. I enjoyed working with a staff attorney on a more equal footing than would have been possible in a larger environment. As a result, I was able to experience a side of the law, and a work environment, that I would not have been able to experience had I not worked at the Commission. My experience was not limited to my work in the office. I was able to attend a number of briefings and hearings on Capitol Hill, as well as various forums on emerging issues in elder law. These experiences helped me broaden my understanding of the issues most likely to have a major impact on the law in the coming years. Finally, I am proud to have produced a paper of publishable quality that will, hopefully, be influential in impacting the way states and advocates protect the housing rights of assisted living residents.

—Matthew Bernt

The 2007 Borchard Foundation Center on Law and Aging Intern Monica Sethi, is working closely with ABA Commission director Charlie Sabatino in reviewing surrogate decision-making and advance healthcare directive statutes across all 50 states. In addition, Ms. Sethi is synthesizing all 50 states’ legal positions on medical futility as the basis for writing an article comparing each state’s stance on medically futile health care. Monica Sethi is a rising third-year law student at the University of Maryland School of Law in Baltimore, Maryland. She is pursuing her health law certificate from the school’s second-ranked health law program in the country. Ms. Sethi also works as an associate editor for the school’s nationally recognized Journal of Health Care Law & Policy and is a contributing writer of health articles for her school newspaper. She will graduate in May 2008 and is seeking opportunities to build on her health law background.

My experience with the ABA Commission on Law and Aging has been wonderful. The ABA is a great environment to work in and the staff make the interns feel at home. Staff attorneys are well-versed in their fields and easily approachable for advice or feedback. The experience tied in directly with my focus on health care law and policy, and I learned about a variety of issues touching upon Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, long-term care financing, and elder neglect and abuse. It was a great opportunity to learn about elder law, because it is a subject rarely taught in law schools. I had the opportunity to attend numerous Congressional hearings and briefings held in the House and Senate offices. My assigned project was both interesting and challenging. I analyzed all 50 state’s positions on medical futility and wrote a paper based on my research discussing a patient’s right to direct his own health care vs. a provider’s right to decline to provide treatment. I am proud of my work product and excited that this is a topic many in the field are interested in reading. My experience has been invaluable and I would recommend it to others seeking experience in policy, health care, and elder law.

—Monica Sethi

Law students Nisha Thakker and Abigail Petersen, 2006 summer interns at the ABA Commission on Law and Aging.

Abigail Petersen is the ABA Commission’s Nancy Coleman Summer Intern for 2006. Abigail is a third-year law student at St. Louis University School of Law, where she is pursuing a health law certificate from the school’s top ranked health law program. Abigail will graduate in May 2007 and is seeking opportunities to advocate for the health and legal needs of elders.

I can’t say enough about how much I enjoyed my experience with the ABA Commission on Law and Aging staff. The Commission really values its interns. On the personal side, everyone in the office is extremely friendly and very helpful. On the professional side, everyone in the office is an expert in his or her field. I learned volumes this summer, and I also learned the importance of representing the interests of senior citizens. An exciting part of the internship was keeping abreast of important issues in elder law. I attended numerous Congressional hearings and briefings in both the House and Senate, as well as attending many presentations by various members of the Commission staff. The people who work in the health and aging policy network in Washington are a great group. By the end of the internship, I got to know so many people that I was able to recognize and greet familiar faces when I attended meetings in the city. The survey that I worked on concerning surrogate decision-making standards across the 50 states, and the corresponding paper that I wrote, was a challenge—but in a positive way. Both are products of which I am extremely proud. I hope it will be a valuable contribution to the field of elder law and policy. As a student, it is wonderful to have produced something valuable with my summer. I wholly enjoyed my internship with the ABA Commission and I recommend it to others seeking experience in policy and elder law.

—Abigail Petersen

The 2006 Borchard Foundation Intern Nisha Thakker is a third-year law student at the Washington College of Law at American University. Prior to attending law school, Nisha attended George Washington University, during which time she also worked in the public affairs office at the Federal Trade Commission during her senior year. Upon graduating, Nisha took one year off and worked in the public affairs office at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

My experiences at the ABA Commission on Law and Aging this summer proved to be more valuable than I could have imagined. I was given the opportunity to write on a topic that will pave the way (we hope) for more research that is certainly needed in this country. The staff at the Commission was always available for assistance and guidance whenever I needed it. And as experts in their fields, it was guidance that was most appreciated! The interns were also given the chance to attend hearings on the Hill and expand our knowledge to include all aspects of elder law. I’m glad I decided to work at the Commission—it showed me a new sort of law that I would not have experience any other way.

— Nisha Thakker