ATLANTA - Paul Black, a third-year student at Georgia State University College of Law, recently placed fourth in a writing competition sponsored by the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA). His paper, "In the House of the Rising Debt: Reverse Mortgages and the Challenges of the Current Financial Crisis," will be published in the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys Student Journal. 

Black wrote his paper, which focuses on reverse mortgages and the financial risk they can pose for uninformed homeowners over 62 years of age, for Professor Mary Radford’s Law and the Elderly class. 

"For most Americans, their home is the biggest financial asset they own, and tapping into their home equity is often one of the only ways to pay for home-based care and other late-life expenses," Black explained.

NAELA’s annual student writing competition is open to all full-time or part-time law students. Typically, Georgia State Law students who submit papers have been enrolled either in the Law and the Elderly class or the Estate Planning seminar, Radford said.

Black is not the first Georgia State student to place in the competition. In 2006, Shilpa Gokare received second place in the competition for her paper entitled, "Are Nursing Homes Nursing the Needs of the Indian American Immigrants? (With a Special Focus on Hindu Immigrants)."

Black’s passion for Elder Law stems from personal family experience in wading through "insurance and benefits procedures" as well as dealing with "unscrupulous people wanting take advantage of seniors who have a house, a pension check, or anything else of value." The field of elder law requires expertise in many diverse practice areas, and as Black notes, "there is a genuine need for attorneys who will help clients address the legal decisions and challenges that frequently come with aging."

Along with elder law, Black is interested in housing and transit policies here in Metro Atlanta.

"The quality of life for hundreds of thousands of aging Atlanta residents is going to hinge in part upon whether the city is able to provide affordable housing and a more robust transit system," Black said.

Black has utilized many opportunities to increase his knowledge through course work at Georgia State, and he recommends Radford’s Elder Law course and her Wills course, along with Professor Mark Bundnitz’s course in Consumer Protection. Black encourages students to take advantage of externship opportunities as well as mentor programs like the one being established through the Estate Planning & Wealth Management Society.

Through externships, mentorships and community involvement, Black said, "Georgia State Law will have prepared me well for whatever challenges and opportunities lie ahead."

~ Cindi Yarbrough, Georgia State Law student