I have been practicing elder law, special needs planning, and estate planning for over five years and have had my own firm for three years. The firm started in Weymouth and recently moved to Hingham. Before opening my own practice, I was an attorney at the Law Office of William J. Brisk in Newton Center.

My path actually began with environmental law – I attended the master’s program in Marine Affairs at the University of Rhode Island and then went to Vermont Law School, the premiere environmental law school in the country. My focus was on coastal zone management and public access to the shore, holding positions with nonprofits (including the New England Aquarium), the City of Boston, and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. I then volunteered with the Elder Law Project of the Women’s Bar Foundation and decided this was a much better choice for me.

It’s been a wonderful change of direction. I have met fabulous families and individuals, each with an engaging story to tell. It is a joy to work with elders, special needs individuals, and with families of all ages to solve pressing problems, to organize legal affairs, and to put minds at ease.

PUBLICATIONS

• “Who Guards the Guardians? Restrictions on Compensating Attorneys Who Serve as Guardians,” NAELA Journal, Volume 1, Number 2 (Fall 2005). Co-authored by William J. Brisk. Winner, NAELA Journal Best Article of the Year.
• Publications in Massachusetts NAELA News: Update on the Frail Elders and PACE Programs (October 2005), Redacted GAL Report on a reverse mortgage (April 2005), various materials on the appropriate fees to be charged by a lawyer serving as guardian (January 2005).
• Reports for distribution by the Law Office of William J. Brisk on Low-Income Housing; Special Needs Trusts and Pooled Trusts; and on Public Assistance Available to Low-Income Seniors Living at Home.
• Article featured in Massachusetts Women’s Bar Foundation 2004 Annual Report. Featured as pro bono elder law attorney in Massachusetts Women’s Bar Foundation’s promotional video, premiered October 2004.

EDUCATION & QUALIFICATIONS

Bar Memberships
Massachusetts Bar, United States District Court (Massachusetts)

Continuing Legal Education
Medicaid Planning (PESI), Trusts (PESI), Elder Law Basics (MBA), The Basics of Developing an Estate Plan (MBA), Estate Planning (MCLE), Practical Skills Program (MCLE), Elder and Disability Law Conferences (MCLE), Preserving and Transferring Your Client’s Principal Residence (MCLE), GAL Category D Matters (MCLE), Guardianship and Conservatorship (MCLE), Special Needs Trusts (MBA), Elder Law Institute (Suffolk University).

Vermont Law School, South Royalton, VT
Juris Doctor, awarded May 2000
Vermont Law Review, Associate Articles Editor
Dean’s Fellow (taught legal reasoning and writing to first year students)
Barrister’s Bookshop Board of Directors, Secretary
Indian Country Environmental Justice Clinic Start-up Task Force
Trained mediator

University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI
Master of Arts in Marine Affairs, course work completed May 1996

Brandeis University, Waltham, MA
Bachelor of Arts in Politics, awarded May 1994

Sea Education Association, Woods Hole, MA
Summer 1992

VOLUNTEER POSITIONS

• Serve monthly as volunteer “Attorney for the Day” at Weymouth, Braintree, and Hingham Senior Centers.
• Co-founder of the Women Attorneys Network of the South Shore (www.wasnss.org).

MEMBERSHIPS

National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA), Massachusetts Chapter of NAELA, Massachusetts Bar Association, Massachusetts Women’s Bar Association, South Shore Coalition of Workers with the Elderly, Women Attorneys Network of the South Shore.