Special Needs Alliance

The Special Needs Alliance (SNA) is a national organization comprised of attorneys committed to the practice of disability and public benefits law. Individuals with disabilities, their families and their advisors rely on the SNA to connect them with nearby attorneys who focus their practices in the disability law arena. Formed in 2002, the mission of the SNA is to maintain a professional organization of attorneys skilled in the complex areas of public entitlements, estate, trust and tax planning, and legal issues involving individuals with physical and cognitive disabilities. A group of prominent disability and elder law attorneys who recognized the unique planning needs of these individuals and their families started the Alliance, and the SNA now boasts more than 150 members in 44 states. Membership in the Alliance is only obtained via an invitation from the SNA and is limited to those who meet its professional standards in the area of disability law and advocacy. Membership also signifies that the member attorney is recognized amongst his/her peers as a notable attorney practicing special needs law. SNA attorneys have significant experience in disability and sometimes elder law, and each member works directly with individuals and families and must maintain a sound and professional reputation amongst their peers, clients and the community. It is also important for SNA members to be involved in advocacy work at the local, regional and national level—working with organizations to maintain a constant connection with the most important part of their work: the people they serve. A large number of SNA attorneys are Certified Elder Law Attorneys (CELAs) by the National Elder Law Foundation, which is the certifying entity for the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA). SNA attorneys are highly dedicated to developing the practice and knowledge of this specialty area of law and an average of 18 years or more of relevant legal experience.