BarTalk April 2004
Volume 16, Number 2

The Canadian Centre for Elder Law Studies was created at the B.C. Law Institute (BCLI) in July, 2003. The Centre evolved from work the BCLI has undertaken since 2000 on legal issues affecting seniors. That work indicated a need for attention to, and information about, legal issues particularly concerning older adults. Thus, the idea for a Centre to concentrate solely on legal issues affecting seniors (elder law) was born.

The Centre also has a special role to play in bringing forward hidden issues that disproportionately affect older adults in ways that harm family relationships and financial interests (the current project “Financial Arrangement Between older Adults and Family Members: Loans and Guarantees” addresses these kinds of problems).

The Centre’s program encompasses research and scholarship, law reform, and the development and delivery of information and educational materials. Further information about past and ongoing projects may be accessed through the Centre’s Web site (www.ccels.ca).

The Centre welcomes input regarding future project ideas. Please send comments and questions to: Canadian Centre for Elder Law Studies, B.C. Law Institute, 1822 East Mall, Vancouver, B.C. V6T 1Z1. Tel: 604-822-0633, fax: 604-822-0144, e-mail ccels@bcli.org.

What is elder law?
Elder law brings together concepts and problems that have traditionally been categorized and considered under different legal headings (e.g., family law, wills and estates, and trusts). This new conceptual framework (elder law) makes visible important connections that are otherwise obscured. It also works to bring together a body of law and legal scholarship that would otherwise be dispersed and difficult to access.

This article was published in the April 2004 issue of BarTalk and is subject to the copyright by the British Columbia Branch of the Canadian Bar Association, 2004, all rights reserved.