NAELA Fellows of the Academy

Honoring Excellence and Leadership

Selection as a NAELA Fellow is the highest honor the Academy bestows. It reflects peer recognition of an attorney as a leader, an exceptional practitioner, and a model for others in the field of elder and special needs law.

NAELA Fellows are attorneys who have been a member for at least three years and whose careers are dedicated to elder and special needs law. They are recognized not only for their outstanding professional achievements, but also for their steadfast commitment to advancing the mission of the Academy and improving the lives of older adults and individuals with disabilities.

Who Is Eligible for Nomination?

• Nominees must be a NAELA member for at least three years.
• Nominees may not have been nominated in the prior two years.
• Nominees must show substantial commitment and meaningful contributions to NAELA at the national level — involvement in NAELA committees, programs, and leadership carries the greatest weight. While chapter participation is important and taken into consideration, it alone is not sufficient.
• Nominees’ careers must have a significant focus on elder law and/or special needs law. While it is not required that nominees practice only in this area, the depth of focus is an important factor in selection.
• Nominees must have made exceptional contributions to serving the needs of older adults and/or individuals with disabilities.
• Nominees’ work at the state or local level, as well as their involvement in their community, are important factors in the selection process.