Message from the President, Gorham S. (Rory) Clark

I’m honored to serve as President of the Virginia Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (VAELA), an organization that for years has stood at the forefront of elder and special needs law in the Commonwealth.

Earlier this year, VAELA’s leadership and Board of Directors completed a wide-ranging strategic planning process to chart a bold, focused path for our future. The result—a new three-year strategic plan—was adopted unanimously by our Board and reaffirms our long-standing vision: to be the organization that leads the way in Elder and Special Needs Law for Virginians.

This plan is not just aspirational—it’s action-oriented. It lays out three key goals designed to ensure VAELA is equipped to meet the moment:

1. Strengthen organizational capacity by recruiting volunteers and bringing in targeted professional or outsourced expertise. This allows our lawyer-members to focus on their highest calling—delivering impactful legal services—while finance, marketing, and project execution benefit from dedicated support.

2. Embrace and lead in technology, helping members adopt modern practice-management tools and emerging technologies—including artificial intelligence—that improve efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance client outcomes.

3. Build long-term sustainability through the launch of an annual and planned giving program that will fund a perpetual endowment, ensuring VAELA’s mission continues to grow beyond dues and event revenue.

While these priorities are ambitious, they are firmly rooted in the everyday work that makes VAELA such a special community. Our committees, volunteers, and members across Virginia consistently give their time and energy to educate, advocate, and elevate the practice of elder law. It is this collaborative spirit that transforms plans into progress.

If you are a member of the public, please use this website to your full advantage.  You will find extensive information in our Library that will help you understand how the law may affect your or your loved-one’s situation.  Or, scroll to bottom of any page and click “Find an Attorney to get connected with a member of VAELA who can create a sustainable legal solution to your problem that is grounded in dignity, independence, and hope.

If you are a professional who feels drawn to help some of the most vulnerable people in our Commonwealth—older adults, people with disabilities, and their families—I invite you to consider joining VAELA. Practicing elder and special needs law offers a rare chance to make a real, lasting difference in people’s lives. In doing so, you may find that your own life becomes richer, both personally and professionally.

And to our current members: Thank you. I encourage you to consider “paying forward” the support, knowledge, and camaraderie you’ve received by stepping up to help with a VAELA project, committee, task force, or event. Your contributions are what sustain this organization—and they help ensure we remain a powerful, compassionate voice for the people we serve.