Providing legal help and counseling for senior citizens is a hallmark of many legal service providers, and Oklahoma is no exception. The Oklahoma Bar Foundation provides funding to two organizations that assist elderly Oklahomans with legal education and services.

Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma Senior Law Project

OBF grant funding has been continuously provided to Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma (LASO) since 1986. Among the many areas of LASO service is the Senior Law Project. The Senior Law Project operates through 10 area agencies on aging and provides free legal advice, counseling and community education for all Oklahomans who are 60 years of age or older and their families. Providers distribute information on legal issues and self-representation help. The availability of self-help services to all seniors, regardless of income status, is something that makes the LASO Senior Law Project unique.

Representation services that go beyond advice are provided to eligible seniors who are socially or economically deprived. Each case is different and representation may be available in many types of cases, such as the following: wills, debt collection or credit problems, garnishment, consumer issues, Medicare and medical access issues, public and subsidized housing, food stamps, Social Security, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Veteran’s Benefits, guardianship and/or power of attorney cases. Oklahoma’s senior citizens are among the most vulnerable of clients served by LASO and are very important in the mix as LASO works toward the goal of ensuring all Oklahomans have the opportunity to access the legal system.

In 2004, 3,320 (or 18 percent) of LASO cases were clients age 60 or above. More than two-thirds of them were from low-income households and represent the racial/ethnic diversity of Oklahoma’s population with approximately 25 percent being minority seniors.

Oklahoma Appleseed Center for Law & Justice Office of Public Guardian Pilot Program

Left without a friend or a family member that can help or that is readily available to assume the role of guardian, Appleseed has collaborated with aging advocates, attorneys, judges, service providers and community leaders to develop a system that will provide guardianship services in the form of an Office of Public Guardian to help those in need. Through efforts of the Appleseed task force, legislation established a pilot/ model public guardianship program in Oklahoma County monitored by an advisory board from DHS, the governor’s office and other concerned community partners. Unfortunately, the pilot program was created without appropriation of funds to support its implementation. Again this year, Appleseed is working to obtain funds for implementation and continuation of program progress. The goal is to eventually see program replication across Oklahoma, ensuring that all those living in our state have access to a safe, reputable guardian should the need arise.

The Oklahoma Appleseed Center for Law & Justice, a nonprofit law center, develops solutions to causes, rather than symptoms, of fundamental problems across the state such as senior guardianship needs. Appleseed brings together community leaders, lawyers, public servants and other volunteers who share unique perspectives and strive for systemic social change. Governed by a volunteer board of directors, most of whom are attorneys, Appleseed is the only organization of its kind in Oklahoma.

How You Can Help

Attorneys and other concerned citizens can help with various programs and projects of the Oklahoma Bar Foundation through participation in the OBF Fellows Program. To become a Fellow, simply invest the nominal amount of $100 per year over the next 10 years in the OBF Fellow Program; it’s just that simple … the return is unlimited, and the benefits are priceless. Your tax-deductible investment equates to less than $10 per month. Special discounts are offered to newer lawyers and are detailed on the enrollment form that follows. Mail in your completed enrollment form and become an OBF Fellow today!

While the public benefits from programs and services provided by OBF funding, attorneys benefit from the positive public impact of awards made in support of the charitable mission of, “…Advancing education, citizenship and justice for all.” The foundation looks forward to bringing new and improved programs that will further enhance education and access to the legal justice system for all citizens of Oklahoma.