R.J. CONNELLY III, ESQ. RECEIVES CERTIFICATION IN ELDER LAW PAWTUCKET, R.I. (January 20, 2009): R.J. Connelly III, the principal attorney of Connelly Law Offices of Pawtucket, RI, has earned a certification in elder law from the National Elder Law Foundation (NELF). Mr. Connelly is one of only 381 Certified Elder Law Attorneys (CELA) in the United States, and one of three CELAs in Rhode Island. The certification identifies those lawyers who possess the enhanced knowledge, skills, experience, and proficiency to be designated Certified Elder Law Attorneys. As a Certified Elder Law Attorney, Mr. Connelly deals with issues of concern that arise during the counseling and representation of the elderly or their representatives with respect to estate planning, Medicaid planning, probate and probate avoidance; elderly abuse, neglect and exploitation; insurance, housing and long-term care; employment, retirement and estate taxes; and fiduciary matters. He also works with professional and non-legal resources and services to meet the needs of the elderly, and recognizes the professional conduct and ethical issues that arise during this representation. To obtain his certification, Mr. Connelly passed a demanding full day written examination encompassing virtually all legal issues that impact the elderly. In addition, he met other stringent requirements including spending a mandatory number of hours per week practicing elder law, handling a minimum number of elder law matters and earning a specified number of continuing legal education credits in elder law courses per year. He also passed a rigorous peer review. NELF is the only organization approved by the American Bar Association to offer certification in the area of elder law. It also requires all CELA-certified attorneys to apply for recertification every five years. Mr. Connelly has concentrated in the area of elder care law for over 12 years. He is licensed to practice before the RI, MA and CT Bar, and focuses primarily in the areas of probate administration and litigation, guardianships, estate and Medicaid planning, protection of the elderly from abuse and exploitation, nursing home related issues, and providing fiduciary and trustee services to clients. Mr. Connelly is a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, National Elder Law Foundation, National Council on Aging, and the National Guardianship Association. He is a graduate of St. Raphael Academy (Pawtucket, RI; 1986), Providence College (Providence, RI; 1991) and Quinnipiac College School of Law (Hamden, CT; 1995).
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