The Council of Advanced Practitioners was established by NAELA as an invitation only council for Advanced Practitioners in July 2005.

Members of the Council are recognized as:

  • the innovators of the profession
  • instrumental in leading the future of Elder Law
  • a major source of speakers, writers, and leaders of NAELA programs
  • NAELA’s role models, providing a "vision" for NAELA and mentoring for NAELA members. 

Membership in CAP is available to preeminent Elder Law Attorneys.  Eligible Candidates must be:

  • A NAELA member for a minimum of ten years,
  • AV rated by Martindale Hubbell, and
  • Either a NAELA Fellow or a Certified Elder Law Attorney (CELA)

An Academic / Legal Services Member who is:

  • A NAELA member for a minimum of ten years, and
  • A full time Elder Law Professor or a Legal Services Attorney.

Pre-eminent means that the individual has a well-deserved reputation as an outstanding and exceptionally skilled elder or special needs law attorney. The attorney should have made substantial contributions to elder or special needs law by:

  • litigating an important elder or special needs law case,
  • lecturing, writing or teaching with a high degree of competence,
  • advocating important legislative or administrative matters, or
  • demonstrating leadership on issues affecting the elderly and people with disabilities in bar association and other professional activities.

The work should indicate a fellow lawyer to whom any member of CAP would not hesitate to refer a matter within that person’s particular areas of experience or expertise.