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home > regional groups > want to start a regional group? Benefits of Membership
Membership of Solicitors for the Elderly
Solicitors for the Elderly (SFE) is an unique organisation as membership is open to all lawyers who have established a set level of experience in advising on the legal issues which affect the older client, their family and carer. This is to reflect the wide number of different lawyers who may advise in this area, such as solicitors, barristers and legal executives and to ensure that being a member means that clients know that the lawyer they see is specialised and will work to SFE’s code of practice.
The key objectives of SFE are:
· To develop expertise in areas of public and private law relevant to our clients' needs and where there is at present a skills shortage.
These include:
Consent, capacity and substituted decision-making
Financial planning, including retirement and long-term care
Housing and community care issues
Dealing with abuse
- To continue to exercise the expertise which members of this group will have in the more traditional legal services which older people require, e.g. wills, trusts and probate, Court of Protection, enduring powers of attorney, property matters and litigation
- To promote best practice by means of high quality training and the dissemination of information and know-how
- To facilitate networking and the building of constructive relationships with statutory voluntary agencies, charities, housing and social care providers, the financial services sector and other interested organisations or individuals
What benefit is there in being a member?
- Access to the Website, which provides: -
- The database of our members.
- Profile of members (at additional cost).
- The diary of what SFE has planned both regionally and centrally.
- Discussion Forum to raise current problems and solutions.
- News on current developments in the Court of Protection and community care.
- Links to relevant web sites.
- Free site to recruit staff.
- Purchase SFE publications, such as our general leaflet and the copy of other leaflets to use for marketing purposes.
- SFE newsletter.
- Working with charities and voluntary organisations to gain recognition of SFE and to facilitate referral of work to our members.
- Organising a National Conference tailor made to the needs of our members, qualifying for CPD and which is reasonably priced.
- Sending to members regular newsletter of SFE activities.
- Raising SFE profile by the production of press releases and contributing to relevant journals, speaking at conferences and other media related activities.
- Representing SFE at a number of Lord Chancellor’s Department Forums to improve working practice, such as at the Court of Protection.
- Sending news by email of any important issues arising.
Regional Groups
In addition, regional groups provide a vital role within the organisation, which include: -
· Running training courses locally, qualifying for CPD.
· Networking at local level with other lawyers and charities.
· Raising SFE profile, through local press releases and other media activities.
· Encouraging membership and problem solving and developing expertise on a regional basis.
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