Jason Frank, Esq.

The rights and protections of seniors and individuals with disabilities, both in Maryland and nationally, would look quite different today if it were not for the contributions of Jason Frank. Put simply, Jason pioneered the field itself and was instrumental in establishing elder law as a standalone practice area. His wealth of expertise spans over 40+ years in policymaking, law, and advocacy. 

The designation of elder law as a practice area in its own right was a groundbreaking step forward in how the rights of older adults are recognized and defended. For more information, see What Is Elder Law: And Why Do You Care?

Jason is Of Counsel at Stavely and Sallitto Elder Law, where he operates in an advisory capacity and continues to defend and empower seniors and individuals with disabilities across Maryland. 

Below is just a brief selection of his many achievements in safeguarding the rights and autonomy of these groups. 

One of Seven CELA Attorneys in Maryland

Jason is one of only seven practicing CELA attorneys in Maryland, the gold standard certification for elder law and special needs practitioners. This certification is reserved for those with extensive targeted experience, who pass a rigorous examination and a peer-led investigation into their reputation in ethical and competent representation. See more information on what it means to be a CELA attorney on this National Elder Law Foundation webpage.

Author, Multiple Major Published Works on Elder and Disability Law

Due to his expertise in this extremely complex and evolving area, Jason was called on by a judge to author Elder Law in Maryland, the first and only major legal treatise used for reference and education for all attorneys working with the elderly and the disabled in Maryland, consisting of 2600 pages. This book and more information can be found at the LexisNexis store, here. 

After authoring the prior work, Jason was requested to author Maryland Medicaid: Long-Term Care. This text is described as a “must-have for anyone advising seniors and their families” and breaks down, with unmatched detail, how Medicaid can finance long-term care in Maryland. This book and more information can be found at the publisher’s online store, here. 

Jason also contributed chapters on Medicaid and elder law in The Fundamentals of Estate Planning by Angela Vallario. The original 2012 publication provided an introduction to elder law as a distinct practice area for many attorneys. 

In addition to these core guideposts, Jason has written over 20 other published articles in papers such as The Baltimore Sun, The Mayland Bar Journal, and NAELA Journal. He continues to be a leading voice in the elder law and disability law arena today. 

Adjunct Professor, Multiple Universities

Jason brought the elder law domain to The University of Maryland Carey School of Law by proposing and teaching its first course on elder law. He has also taught at The University of Baltimore School of Law, Towson University, Johns Hopkins University, Stetson University College of Law, and Tulane University Law School in New Orleans, where he presently teaches a course entitled Elder Law.  

A Spotlight on Significant Legislation: The Federal Special Needs Trust Fairness Act

As Co-Chair of the National NAELA Public Policy Steering Committee, Jason successfully advocated for the passage of The Federal Special Needs Trust Fairness Act in 2016. This landmark amendment granted individuals with disabilities the authority to create their own special needs trust, forever changing the rights of the disabled in the United States. 

Read more on the impact of this major step forward here. 

Community Service and Thought Leadership

Jason has been deeply involved in enriching his communities through myriad organizations. His current roles are described as follows:

Member, Board of Trustees, Broadmead Continuing Care Retirement Community, “a private, non-profit, Quaker-guided [Continuing Care Retirement Community] dedicated to serving the needs of older persons.” To learn more about this model of care also known as a CCRC, see this article entitled How Continuing Care Retirement Communities Work.

Member, Tulane Estate Planning Institute. Established by Tulane Law School in 2002, “the Estate Planning Institute provides a permanent forum for the study of estate planning laws in Louisiana, the United States, and other jurisdictions.”

Member, Board of Directors, New Orleans Council on Aging (NOCOA) - “The NOCOA exists to protect the rights, promote the well-being, and enhance the self-esteem of New Orleans elderly by generating opportunities for self-reliance and independence.”

Member, Board of Directors, Laurel Street Music - A not-for-profit group created to help local musicians and increase connectedness in the community of New Orleans. 

Member, Board of Directors, Family Heritage Trust Company, Inc. This local independent trust company offers “personalized trust and wealth management services for accounts both large and small.” 

Member, Board of Directors, The Wesley SecureCare Program, a non-profit organization bringing the Continuing Care at Home (CCaH) model to Maryland, empowering seniors to age in place. To learn more about this important care model helping seniors age in place, see this article titled The Best of Both Worlds- Continuing Care at Home. 

Member, National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys Foundation. This is the main force driving legislative reform in its space. At NAELA, Jason writes state legislation, meets with the MD legislature and the Department of Health, testifies before state congress, and works with lobbyists to move issues forward so that the rights of the elderly and the disabled continue to be improved and protected.

Member Emeritus, Board of Directors, Levindale Hebrew Geriatric Center & Hospital. This is a 330-bed Baltimore facility that offers both rehabilitation and long-term care services.