Southern Illinois University Simmons Law School students are honing their legal skills this summer through a series of free mobile legal clinics being offered by the school for senior citizens in the 13 southernmost counties the clinic serves.
“This is an incredible educational opportunity for our students,” said Angela Upchurch, interim dean and professor. “Because the work is more discrete than in the traditional clinic, we can provide students with the critical legal skill development early on in their legal education.”
Each student is assigned to a participating senior citizen who will leave with a completed power of attorney for health care, which is a document authorizing a person to act on behalf of another in matters of health care.
Dale Aschemann, assistant professor who oversees the clinic, said it is a wonderful opportunity for both students and senior citizens to “learn the importance of obtaining powers of attorney and the consequences of not having one when a person doesn’t have the ability to speak for themselves.”
The main purpose of the clinics is to provide free assistance to senior citizens wanting to prepare health care power of attorney, but the school will add people to a waitlist for other estate planning services such as wills, property powers of attorney, transfer on death instruments and consultations or assistance with guardianships.
