Can We Talk?: Impediments to Intergenerational Communication and Practice in Law School Elder Law Clinics
Elder Law Journal, Vol. 6, No. 2, p. 185, 1998
31 Pages Posted: 19 Sep 2009 Last revised: 9 Nov 2009
Abstract
Because older and younger Americans bring vastly different life perspectives to dialogic encounters, the current generations of older and younger Americans have difficulty discussing solutions to national problems that will affect both groups, such as health care and Social Security reform.
This article postulates, however, that the two groups will be better able to communicate, despite their different experiences, if both groups meet in a common social milieu. The article suggests that because elder law clinics encounter issues similar to national problems faced by both age groups, they are ideal arenas within which dialogic encounters can take place between older and younger Americans. The article concludes with a discussion of ethical issues that elder law clinic practitioners may face during such encounters.
Keywords: elder law, law school clinics, intergenerational dialogue, older Americans, senior citizens, generation gap
JEL Classification: K40, K49
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation