We work tirelessly to ensure that these rights are protected so that our communities may age with dignity and independence through access to free legal services. William Wise worked at the Legal Aid Society of Orange County serving seniors for over 32 years. They both found a desperate need for low-cost legal services to be accessible for people who could not get the help they needed for free but
could not afford private attorneys. In response to the need, they co-founded the Elder Law and Disability Rights Center. In their first year the response and support from the community has been overwhelming. They have assisted low-income families to stop elder abuse, helped beneficiaries protect their rights in trust distribution, defended tenants, and stopped the destruction of property belonging to un-housed people in the Santa Ana River. The attorneys continue to serve the local community as OCBA Elder Law Section board members and maintain active roles providing advice and education on the Hoarding Task Force, Elder Abuse Forensic Center, FAST, OCBA Homeless Task Force, OC Case Manager Brown Bag, the OC Veteran and Military Family Collaborative, and more.
