HARRISBURG (Aug. 3, 2017) — Lawrence A. Frolik, one of the founders of the field of elder law, University of Pittsburgh John E. Murray Faculty Scholar professor of law and of counsel to Feinstein Doyle Payne & Kravec LLC, received the Excellence in Elder Law Award from the Pennsylvania Bar Association (PBA) Elder Law Section. The award was presented during the 20th Annual Elder Law Institute, July 20 and 21, at the Hilton Harrisburg.
The award recognizes an individual who has made superior efforts in the field of elder law, significant contributions to the elder law bar and noteworthy service to the elderly. Frolik was selected for being “a vocal and active advocate for seniors and individuals with disabilities” and his invaluable contributions to elder law, both in Pennsylvania and nationally.
Frolik’s scholarly work, particularly in the area of guardianship, has earned him recognition as a national expert on legal issues facing older Americans. He is the co-author of the treatise, Advising the Elderly or Disabled Client and the first textbook on the legal problems of the elderly, Elder Law: Cases and Materials. He has also co-authored ERISA Litigation 5th Edition, Everyday Law for Seniors and Counseling the Older Client, and has written Residence Options for Older or Disabled Clients. Additionally, he has penned numerous scholarly articles and lectures frequently on elder law issues and estate planning for families with disabled children.
Due to his elder law expertise, Frolik was appointed a congressional delegate to the White House Conference on Aging in 1995. From 1996-2000, he served as co-director of Gruter Institute’s Conference on Law, Biology and Human Behavior held annually in Squaw Valley, Calif.
Active in numerous legal organizations, Frolik is a member of the PBA Elder Law Section, American College of Trust and Estate Council and the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, as well as the Board of Directors of the Pennsylvania Association of Elder Law Attorneys. He is past chair of the PBA Elder Law Section and the American Bar Association Tort and Insurance Practice Section Seniors’ Issues Committee, and past president of the American Association of Law Schools Section on Law and Aging.
Frolik is also a member of the Special Needs Alliance and past president of the Pennsylvania Developmental Disabilities Advocacy Alliance. He has served on the Pennsylvania AARP Executive Council and the Academic Advisory Council of TIAA-CREF.
Frolik is a visiting professor at the University of Miami Law School’s LL.M. program in estate planning.
Frolik received a B.A. from the University of Nebraska, and a J.D. and an LL.M. from Harvard Law School.
Members of the PBA Elder Law Section exchange ideas and information on substantive elder law issues to meet the needs of their clients. Section members also promote improvements in substantive law, legal education and ethical guidelines.
Founded in 1895, the Pennsylvania Bar Association exists to promote justice, professional excellence and respect of the law; improve public understanding of the legal system; facilitate access to legal services; and serve the 26,000 lawyers who are members of the association.