Aim and Objectives
The focus of this seminar will be on solicitors and the elderly and the issues of concern that arise in this context. The speakers will discuss how legal practitioners can best serve vulnerable and/or elderly clients. The seminar is designed in partnership with Solicitors for the Elderly. The topics range from the practicalities of the Nursing Home Support Scheme to an undue influence case law update. A panel of expert speakers will be available to deal with questions.
Topics and Issues Covered
- Nursing Home Support Scheme
- Workers/carers in the home – employment law implications
- Update on undue influence and recent case law
- Financial elder abuse – the need for vigilance among the profession
- Wardship – an update
- Advanced Healthcare Directives
Chairperson
TBC
Speakers – in order of appearance
Maria Dillon, JD Scanlon & Co. Solicitors
Cathy Smith BL Cathy Smith, BL, was called to the Bar of Ireland in 1997. She has practised as a barrister for 13 years and has extensive experience in employment, equality and disability law, at both Irish and European level. Cathy also has extensive corporate experience and prior to practising at the Bar, she held in-house legal roles for IDA Ireland, Smurfit Kappa and BDO in Dublin and Dresdner Bank, New York. Cathy has contributed to media discussion on issues of equality and regularly presents at conferences on this topic and on employment and corporate law. Cathy also provides pro-bono assistance to FLAC on equality and disability issues and in particular intellectual disability. She recently advised the Migrant Rights Centre of Ireland on the legal status of au pairs and was a contributor on the topic on RTE’s Prime Time Investigates and other media. Cathy is a graduate of the University of Limerick and the Kings Inns.
John Donnelly BL
Naomi Feely, Senior Policy Officer, Age Action. Naomi Feely is Senior Policy Officer with Age Action Ireland’s leading advocacy organisation on ageing issues. Age Action acts both as a network of organisations and individuals, including older people and carers of older people, and a service provider, assisting tens of thousands of older people every year. Our mission is to empower all older people to live full lives as actively engaged citizens and to secure their rights to comprehensive high quality services according to their changing needs
Naomi leads Age Action’s policy team and the development of the organisation’s response to a wide range of policy related issues. Her role involves engaging with Age Action’s members to capture the lived experience of growing older in Ireland and incorporating this into our policy analysis. She also advocates with a wide range of stakeholders – including political representatives – on the need to plan for an ageing society in order to ensure Ireland is the best place in which to grow old.
Before joining Age Action in 2013, Naomi worked for over ten years in a range of research, policy and advocacy roles in the public, private and not-for-profit sectors. Her experience includes working as a Researcher in the state funded Centre for Housing Research, as a Senior Consultant at Farrell Grant Sparks and as Policy an Advocacy Officer at Start Strong. She has conducted research, from inception to final report stage, in collaboration with community groups, local authorities and government departments and agencies.
Naomi holds a BA in Public Administration and an MA in Sociology (Applied Social Research) from University of Limerick as well as a MA in Political and Public Communications from Dublin City University. She is currently a participant on the Doctorate of Social Science programme at University College Cork.
James Finn, Registrar of Wards of Court. Jim Finn is the Registrar of Wards of Court and has 35 years experience in the Courts Service. He has worked in a number of front line court offices as well as in administrative and support areas in the Service. He has worked in the Probate Office, Accountant’s Office and the Circuit and District Courts Directorate. Jim was Examiner of the High Court before being appointed Registrar of Wards of Court in 2010.
Patricia Hickey, General Solicitor for Minors and Wards of Court. Patricia Hickey is the General Solicitor for Minors and Wards of Court. Prior to this appointment she spent 10 years as a Senior Solicitor in the Office of the General Solicitor. Before specialising in the areas of Elder Law, Mental Health Law. Vulnerable Adults and Minors and Wardship, she worked as a solicitor, in general practice. She is a member of DSBA Mental Health and Capacity Committee and the Court Services Central Partnership Committee and Peru Children's Charity Committee.