This program will focus on issues clients, who are elderly, have mental health issues, or special needs, face when they are in the legal system. We will also discuss community resources and tools available throughout the State of Arizona to assist them in having a more robust life experience. Bring your questions!
What You’ll Learn:
1. How to navigate the system if your client is elderly and obtain resources for support in various areas such as transportation, long term medical treatment, and housing
2. How court ordered evaluations and treatment work and what resources are available for clients who are living with General Mental Health diagnoses or who have been designated Seriously Mentally Ill
3. What avenues to take if your client has Special Needs to obtain resources to support them and their caregivers
Presented by: Elder Law, Mental Health, and Special Needs Section
Elisa C Donnadieu
Elisa Donnadieu received her undergraduate and Juris Doctorate at the University of Arizona in Tucson, Arizona. In 1998, she joined the Pima County Public Defender’s Office representing adults in criminal court until 2000. In 2000, she transferred to the Public Defender’s Juvenile Division where she represented juveniles in delinquency proceedings. During this time, she also earned her master’s in library science and information technology.
Comm. Donnadieu moved to the Valley of the Sun in 2005 where she worked for the Maricopa County Public Defender’s Office Juvenile Division. In 2007, she moved to the Mental Health Division, where she represented patients during all phases of Title 36 proceedings. She has presented at multiple CLEs regarding juvenile and mental health legal issues.
She had the privilege of joining Maricopa County Superior Court as a Commissioner in 2019. She was assigned to the Mental Health Bench where she continues to be of service.
Stephanie Lee Ehrbright
moved to Arizona in 2007 to be closer to her family. She soon became licensed both in Arizona State Court and Federal Court in the District of Arizona. After working at another firm for a few years, she opened her own firm in Phoenix in 2011. Ms. Ehrbright defends people accused of crimes ranging from Misdemeanors up to Second Degree Murder. Most recently, Ms. Ehrbright got all charges dropped against a client who was charged with Murder. Stephanie also represents families and juveniles in Juvenile Court when a juvenile has been arrested or the family has the unfortunate circumstances of having CPS involved in their lives. She also represents clients in Family law cases such as Divorce, Child Custody, and Paternity. Stephanie Lee Ehrbright, Esq. Graduated cum laude from Pace University School of Law, White Plains, New York where she earned the Law Trustee Merit Scholarship for all three years. While in law school, Ms. Ehrbright interned with the Ninth Judicial District, the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office, competed in several Trial Advocacy Competitions, and was a Student Attorney in a Criminal Justice Clinic where she represented indigent clients in the Bronx, New York. In addition to running her own law firm, Ms. Ehrbright enjoys giving back to the community through activities such as Coaching Metro Tech High School's Mock Trial program for several years and volunteering as a judge for the State and National High School Mock Trial Competitions. Stephanie has also given her time to speaking engagements such as being a panelist at Law4AZ's Library Law Day, been a volunteer for AZFLSE's Diversity Pipeline Project, and is currently a member of the Arizona State Bar's Peer Support Network to help other attorneys who are going through tough times in their lives. Attorney Ehrbright has recently volunteered to help pro se litigants argue their cases in front of the Arizona Court of Appeals Division One. She is also a NASAR certified SARTEC II and was a member of the Pinal County Sheriff Department's Search and Rescue Posse which frequently rescues lost and injured hikers in the Superstition Mountains and other locations throughout Pinal County. Prior to law school, Ms. Ehrbright earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, with dual minors in Race & Ethnic Studies and Philosophy, from the University of Redlands in Redlands, California. While there, she placed on the Dean’s List every semester and was awarded membership in Psi Chi National Psychology Honor Society and the Mortar Board National Honor Society.
Josephine M Jones
Emily B Kile, Attorney, Kile Law Firm, PC
is a Partner at Kile & Kupiszewski Law Firm, LLC. She is a graduate of the Northeastern School of Law in Boston, Massachusetts. She graduated Magna Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Colorado, Boulder and holds a Masters Degree in Psychology from Boston College. She is a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NEALA), past President of the Arizona Chapter (2008), and a member of the Academy of Special Needs Planners and the Special Needs Alliance. Emily is a past Chair of the Foothills Caring Corps. She is licensed to practice law in Arizona. She has been licensed to practice law since 1993. The Supreme Court of Arizona has re-appointed Emily to serve on the Fiduciary Board through June 30, 2020. The Fiduciary Board oversees the approval and discipline of fiduciaries licensed in the State of Arizona by the Supreme Court.
Her practice is focused on estate planning and related matters, including Medicaid (ALTCS), VA and long term care planning, special needs planning, guardianship and conservatorship issues and estate settlement/probate. Emily is also a licensed fiduciary (#20846). She serves as Agent under Financial Power of Attorney, Conservator, Personal Representative and Trustee of Trusts, including Special Needs Trusts.
Lisa A VandenBerg, Judge, Maricopa County Superior Court
Honorable Lisa A. VandenBerg has dedicated her legal career to serving Maricopa County. For the past 18+ years she has served as both Commissioner and Judge on the Arizona State Superior Court of Maricopa County. She currently serves as the Associate Presiding of the Probate/ Mental Health Department, in the Downtown Court Complex.
Through her previous assignments she has served in the Criminal Department for a combined to-tal of over 12 years, along with service in the Family, Juvenile, Probate/ Mental Health, and Lower Court Appeal Departments. Her service has included numerous CLE, CoJET, and Brown Bag presentations for the Bench and Practitioners throughout the State of Arizona.