This seminar explores the complex intersection of aging and the law, examining how legal frameworks both protect and impact older adults. Students will engage with core topics such as vulnerability theory, guardianship, financial exploitation and abuse, consumer protection, access to health care, dignity in aging, the aging criminal justice system, advance planning, and age discrimination.
The course takes a holistic and interdisciplinary approach, drawing on insights from law, social work, medicine, policy, and ethics to deepen understanding of the unique challenges faced by older populations. Through case law, statutes, policy analysis, and scholarly literature, students will critically evaluate how legal systems address—or fail to address—the vulnerabilities of aging individuals.
A central component of the course is the development of advanced legal writing skills. Students will produce a substantial research paper on a selected issue related to aging and the law, with opportunities for peer feedback and revision. By the end of the seminar, students will have not only strengthened their writing and research abilities but also gained a nuanced understanding of aging as a legal, social, and human condition.