Updated 2007
The Law and Aging Guide is a comprehensive listing of the state-wide resources available to help older persons with law-related issues. Published by the American Bar Association Commission on Law and Aging, the Guide includes important contact numbers and addresses for legal assistance providers and other law-related services for the elderly. Many states now have toll-free senior legal hotlines. If you are an older person (or family member or trusted friend of an older person) who needs legal advice or assistance, the first step is to see if your state has a hotline, and, if it does, to call the hotline listed below.
[Note: If you are legal services provider or entity listed below, please email any changes of address or information to the ABA Commission at abaelderly@abanet.org attn: Law and Aging Guide.]
Oregon
A. Senior Legal Hotline:
None Listed
B. Legal Assistance Developer
Legal Services Developer
Seniors and People with Disabilities Services
Oregon Department of Human Services
500 Summer St., N.E. E10
Salem, OR 97301-1076
(503) 945-8999; fax (503) 373-7902
C. Long-Term Care Ombudsman
Meredith Cote
Office of the Ombudsman
3855 Wolverine N.E., Ste. 6
Salem, OR 97305-1251
(503) 378-6533; fax (503) 373-0852
D. Legal Services Funded Under the Older Americans Act
If your income falls within certain guidelines, you may be able to get legal help from the Legal Services or Legal Aid program in your area. In some communities, the Older Americans Act program serving older people and the legal aid program are one and the same. For a state-by-state listing of Legal Services programs, go to http://www.lsc.gov/
Mid-Willamette Valley
Senior Services Agency
(503) 304-3400 www.open.org/~mwvssa
Serves Clatsop, Marion, Polk, Tillamook and Yamhill
Oregon Cascades West Council of Governments
(541) 967-8630; (800) 638-0510
www.cwcog.cog.or.us
Serves Benton, Lincoln and Linn
Lane Council of Governments
(541) 682-4498; (800) 441-4038
Serves Lane
Douglas County Senior and Disabilities Services Division
(541) 440-3580
Serves Douglas
South Coast Business Employment Group Area Agency on
Aging
(541) 269-2013
Serves Coos and Curry
Rogue Valley Council of Governments
155 N. 1st St.
Central Point, OR 97502
(541) 664-6674
www.rvcog.org/
Serves Jackson and Josephine
Mid-Columbia Council of Governments
1113 Kelly Avenue
The Dalles, OR 97058
(541) 298-4101; fax (541) 298-2084
Serves Gilliam, Sherman, Hood River, Wasco and Wheeler
Central Oregon Council on Aging
(541) 548-8817
Serves Crook, Deschutes and Jefferson
Klamath Basin Senior Citizens
Council
2045 Arthur Street
P.O. Box JE Zip 97602-1205
Klamath Falls, OR 97603
(541) 883-7171; fax 541-883-7175
Serves Klamath
Lake County Seniors
(541) 947-4966; fax 541-947-6085
Serves Lake County
Community Action Program of
East Central Oregon
721 SE 3rd, Suite D
Pendleton, OR 97801
(541) 276-1926 ext. 123; (800) 752-1139; fax
(541) 276-7541
Serves Morrow and Umatilla
Grant County Seniors
(541) 575-2949
Serves Grant County
E. Bar Committees/Sections
Steven A. Heinrich, Chair
Elder Law Section, Oregon State Bar
5200 S.W. Meadows Rd.
Lake Oswego, OR 97035
(503) 620-0222
F. National Association of
Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA)
– Oregon Chapter
None listed
G. Legal Assistance Projects Involving Private Attorneys
If your income falls within certain guidelines, you may be able to get legal help from the Legal Services or Legal Aid program in your area. In some communities, the Older Americans Act program serving older people and the legal aid program are one and the same. For a state-by-state listing of Legal Services programs, go to http://www.lsc.gov/fundprog.htm
Volunteer Lawyers Projects for Elderly
Senior Law Project
Legal Aid Services of Oregon
Multnomah County Office
700 S.W. Taylor St., Ste. 300
Portland, OR 97205
(503) 224-4086
This program, established in 1978, is sponsored jointly by Legal Aid and the Area Agency on Aging. It has a referral panel of private attorneys who provide legal services to senior citizens at ten neighborhood senior centers. Each senior center screens clients for the attorney’s visit. Attorneys provide follow-up pro bono service for clients who meet income eligibility guidelines. Legal counsel is furnished on all civil matters. Attorneys also make presentations to community groups on topics such as wills and estate planning and visit eligible clients not able to come to the senior centers.
Lane County Law & Advocacy Center
376 E 11th Ave.
Eugene, OR 97401
(541) 485-1017
For the last 25 years the Agency on Aging has sponsored a program administered now by the Lane County Law & Advocacy Center. The Agency on Aging has provided Legal Aid with Older Americans Act funding for a pro bono coordinator. About 125 volunteer attorneys staff 5 senior centers, providing pro bono advice on civil matters to all people over 60, and follow-up legal services to income-eligible clients. Attorneys also speak to groups on areas of the law of interest to seniors, and serve the homebound and institutionalized, emphasizing service to nursing home residents.
Special Panels for Elderly (Pro Bono/Reduced Fee)
Lawyer Referral Service
Oregon State Bar Association
5200 S.W. Meadows Rd.
Lake Oswego, OR 97035-0889
(503) 620-0222 (Portland area); (800) 452-8260
The statewide lawyer referral service has developed several panels of attorneys who handle Social Security, landlord/tenant, probate, and employment discrimination cases. It offers reduced fee on initial consultation, full-fee thereafter.
H. Law Schools and Legal Clinics
Law Schools
Northwestern School of Law of Lewis and Clark College
10015 S.W. Terwilliger Blvd.
Portland, OR 97219-7799
(503) 7678-7000
University of Oregon School of Law
1515 Agate St.
Eugene, OR 97403
(541) 346-3852
Willimette University College of Law
245 Winter St., S.E.
Salem, OR 97301
(503) 370-6282
Legal Clinics
Willamette University College of Law
Clinical Law Program
245 Winter St., S.E.
Salem, OR 97330
(503) 370-6140; fax (503) 375-5433
This clinic is a one-semester course worth three credits. The clinic handles guardianship, elder abuse, estate planning, consumer fraud, and collection abuse cases. The financial guidelines follow the Legal Services Corporation guidelines, but are flexible. Two attorneys supervise sixteen students per semester. Funding is provided by Willamette University. The clinic will accept its first elder law cases the fall semester of 2000.
I. Attorney General’s Office
Hardy Myers, Attorney General
Justice Bldg. 1162 Court St., N.E.
Salem, OR 97310-4096
(503) 378-4400
Web: http://www.doj.state.or.us/
J. State Protection and Advocacy Agencies
Oregon Disabilities Commission
1257 Ferry St., S.E.
Salem, OR 97310
(503) 378-3142
Oregon Advocacy Center
620 S.W. Fifth Ave., 5th Fl.
Portland, OR 97204-1428
(503) 243-2081; (800) 452-1692
(800) 556-5351 (TDD); fax (503) 243-1738
email: welcom@oradvocacy.org
Web: http://www.oradvocacy.org
K. Dispute Resolution
Oregon Dispute Resolution Commission
1201 Court St., N.E., Ste. 305
Salem, OR 97310
(503) 378-2877
Email: odrc.mail@state.or.us
Statewide program, part of the Council of Statewide Programs for Consensus Building and Problem Solving network.
Oregon Mediation Association (OMA)
P.O. Box 2952
Portland, OR 97208-2952
(503) 872-9775; fax (503) 236-2973
Statewide professional organization providing support for ADR professional mediators and information/referral services for the general public.
L. Other Projects
None listed
