Legal Advocacy
AARP Foundation Litigation Legal Review Program
For AARP Members
The AARP Foundation Litigation Volunteer Legal Review Program combines the expertise of AFL attorneys with private counsel so that the legal claims of large numbers of AARP members can be reviewed.
The review program is one way that the AARP Foundation provides direct services to AARP members like you. The review program also assists our attorneys in identifying cases in which the resolution would affect large numbers of AARP members and other Americans 50 and over.
As a service to AARP members, volunteer attorneys review member correspondence in several specific areas to determine legal merit and provide basic feedback. The legal issues reviewed are determined by AARP litigation priorities, overall member needs and the availability of volunteer review attorneys.
Currently, reviews are offered in the following areas:
- Age discrimination in employment
- Nursing home abuse and HMO related wrongdoing
- Consumer Fraud
If you are an AARP member, there is no charge to have your letter reviewed by a volunteer attorney to see whether the claim may have legal merit. You may initiate the contracting of additional attorney services from the reviewing attorney if appropriate or you may seek legal services elsewhere.
In its first two years, the program has provided hundreds of reviews to AARP members whose requests for assistance may not have been otherwise served.
The review process starts with your initial communication with the AARP Foundation Litigation Department. Before you begin, review our list of frequently asked questions. After you've reviewed our FAQs contact us at litigation@aarp.org.
Attorneys: Volunteer with the AARP Foundation Litigation Legal Review Program
Attorneys looking for a discreet volunteer opportunity take note. AARP Foundation Litigation, through its Volunteer Legal Review Program, offers just such an opportunity.
Our volunteer legal review program combines the expertise of AARP attorneys with private counsel so that the legal claims of large numbers of AARP members can be reviewed.
The review program is one way the AARP Foundation provides direct services to AARP members. The review program also assists AARP attorneys in identifying cases, the resolution of which would affect large numbers of AARP members.
As a service to AARP members, volunteer attorneys review member correspondence in several specific areas to determine legal merit and provide basic feedback. The legal issues reviewed are determined by our current priorities, overall member needs and the availability of volunteer review attorneys.
Currently, reviews are offered in the following areas:
- Age discrimination in employment
- Nursing home abuse and HMO related wrongdoing
- Consumer Fraud
With your help, the program may be able to expand into other critical priority areas:
- Disability
- Housing and Mortgage
- Health and Long-Term Care
Partnerships with national bar groups and other member associations allow for recruiting among their attorney members. The program also recruits law firms and individual attorneys.
There is no charge for AARP members to have their letter reviewed by a volunteer attorney to see whether the claim may have legal merit. The member may initiate the contracting of additional attorney services from the reviewing attorney if appropriate or may seek legal services elsewhere.
Volunteer attorneys are encouraged to consult with staff attorneys about possible litigation partnerships when appropriate.
Volunteers commit only to providing a basic review of member correspondence regarding their potential legal claim. Sample letters are offered to volunteers to allow for efficient processing of the correspondence.
Volunteer attorneys sign a memorandum of understanding with AARP Foundation Litigation. Volunteers agree to review all conveyed member inquiries for potential legal merit, provide AARP staff with copies of all letters sent to AARP members during the review process and inform staff of any issue raised by a member that may affect large numbers of AARP members or create legal precedent.
Volunteers also agree to support all AARP Foundation quality control measures, including time requirements for response, provision of relevant information and consideration of AARP member evaluations and comments.
In its first two years, the program has provided hundreds of reviews to AARP members whose requests for assistance may not have been otherwise served.
The AARP Foundation Litigation volunteer program is seeking volunteer attorneys and law firms able to provide legal reviews in our priority areas. Interested volunteers should contact us.