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The Elder & Disability
Law Firm of Victoria L. Collier, PC was
founded in 2003 to serve the legal needs
of senior citizens when their health care
needs increase. The Firm focuses its entire
practice on Elder Law issues, which encompasses
the areas of Life Care planning, VA Benefits planning, Medicaid and disability
planning, Estate planning,
geriatric care management, guardianship
litigation, and medication services.
The office is located in downtown Decatur. The
Firm makes House Calls to those clients who are
unable to come to the office.
It is the mission of The Elder & Disability
Law Firm of Victoria L. Collier to support our
clients in the creation of a long-term care plan
for preserving assets, maximizing independence,
and enhancing quality of life. |
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Victoria
L. Collier,
Life Care Planning and Medicaid
Crisis Attorney
“You are Not What I expected” is
what I hear from so many clients. I ask them, “What
did you expect?” and the response is, “I
expected an attorney like you see on TV, older
with gray hair and stiff, but you’re not
like that at all.”
Many of the family members already know I look
younger than my years because they have seen
my picture in my brochure or on my website. Also,
as people get to know me, they realize I have
a business side (which helps to run a successful
law practice) but also a personable side (that
helps me relate to people).
MY STORY
My love of senior citizens began at a young
age. I spent many nights slumbering with my grandparents,
in Houston where I grew up, because my father
was a single dad until I was 6 years old. After
my father married my mom, my grandparents moved
to Virginia, where my dad was originally from.
I missed them greatly and, unfortunately, they
died relatively young.
When I graduated from high school, I truly
felt the void of grandparents. It was then that
I went to work at a nursing home as a nurse’s
aide. I also worked for home health companies
as a companion caregiver for several years. Working
as a nurse’s aide was truly the most rewarding
job I have ever had, until I became a lawyer.
The people I met, the experiences we shared,
and the grief I held when my patients passed
on, have provided me with sincere empathy and
compassion to work with our current clients.
With a strong desire to go to college, I enlisted
in the U.S. Air Force. My first learned skill
was as a carpenter/mason. I loved working with
my hands and working outside in an unconventional
job, which has helped me in so many other areas
of life. I then crossed trained to be a paralegal.
I spent 6 years in the Air Force, during Desert
Storm, which has engrained within me even more
respect for our service men and women who served
during WWII, Korean Conflict, and Vietnam Conflict.
MY PHILOSOPHY
Each person in an individual who deserves respect
and the highest quality if life possible, regardless
of age or ability.
ORGANIZATIONAL LEADERSHIP
- National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys
(NAELA), Member since 2002
- NAELA, Georgia Chapter, Chair 2008
- United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, admitted 2007
- National Organization of Veteran Advocates, member
- Life Care Planning Law Firms Association,
Member
- State Bar of Georgia, Elder Law Section,
Vice Chair 2007-2008
- Atlanta Bar Association, Elder Law Committee,
Chair 2004-2005, Vice Chair 2003-2004
- Trust Associates, Inc. – Co-Founder,
non-profit organization
- Georgia ElderCare Network – Charter
Member
- Academy of Special Needs Planners – Charter
Member
- Ageless, Inc. – Executive Board Member,
Secretary
- American Parkinson’s Disease Association,
Georgia Chapter – Executive Board Member,
Secretary
- Georgia Super Lawyers, Rising Star 2005
edition
PUBLICATIONS
- VisPro software for Veterans Benefits
Applications, Co-Author
- Thinking of Hiring A Geriatric Care
Manager? Integrating Geriatric Care Management
into Your Law Practice , Elder Law Advisory,
October 2007
- Georgia Nursing Home Guide , 2007
- 2008
- Georgia updates its confusing advance
health directives , ElderCare Matters
Fall/Winter 2007
- Continuing Care Retirement Communities:
What Do We Tell Our Clients? , Elder
Law Advisory, October 2006
- Asset exemption may end benefits for
some , ElderCare Matters Summer 2005
- Multiple Continuing Education Lectures for
NAELA, State and local Bar Associations, and
National Business Institute
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Linda Rambo
Office Manager
Linda, although new to the Firm, has already
established herself as the “Mover & Shaker” that
a busy law firm of the highest caliber needs.
She maintains the office so that it is a place
of comfort for our clients, which is very important
since so many elderly clients have never needed
a lawyer and may be fearful to visit one. Linda
also assures our clients that we make home
visits for those clients who are unable to
come into our office.
Linda is the face of the firm and first point
of contact that clients encounter. Don’t
let her last name, Rambo, scare you. She is
polite, professional, and has a true compassion
for the elderly and disabled. Linda will assist
you in determining whether an appointment with
a lawyer is necessary and then will schedule
the appointment for you.
RESUME HIGHLIGHTS
- Graduate of Southern Arkansas State University,
Bachelors in Business Education
- Delta Air Lines Retiree, Customer Service
for 38 years
- Office Administrator, 2 years in Elder
Law Firm
- Meals on Wheels Volunteer for 4 years
INTERESTS
Linda enjoys spending time in her flower
and vegetable gardens. She is an avid walker
and enjoys walking at Stone Mountain Park.
Linda has a two year old long-haired, cute,
cute, cute dachshund named Callie Mae. Ms.
Callie Mae will soon be enrolled in school
to receive special training so that she can
visit all of her elderly friends who live in
nursing homes. Her smile and red hair is sure
to bring delight to the residents who love
animals as much as we do. Linda also works
with Dachshund rescue.
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Dara J. McMillan, LMSW
Community Care Coordinator
Dara is the Firm’s “Burst
of Sunshine” providing rays of comfort for our
clients and family.
Dara is a licensed medical social worker.
She has worked in Atlanta for 12 years in the areas
of hospice, mental health, discharge planning, as well
as case management. Dara has the compassion and experience
necessary to guide our families through the difficult
medical issues that arise during a crisis. Dara is
also well equipped to manage all sorts of family dynamic
situations that initially may keep a client from receiving
the best quality of care.
Dara’s role within The Elder & Disability
Law Firm is to provide clients assistance through counseling
support, health care advocacy, as well as education
of resources in the community to meet the individual
needs of our clients. In that role, she meets with
our Life Care Planning clients on a quarterly basis.
Dara’s outgoing nature and genuine
concern for the well-being of others, combined with
her extensive knowledge of community resources is one
the main reasons current clients refer our Firm to
so many of their friends.
FAMILY
Dara is married and has her hands full
with an energetic 2 ½ year old son, Evan, as
well as a 16 year old step-son, Christopher. She also
has a dog-daughter, named Bailey, who is the light
of her life, and definitely considered another “child” within
the household.
EDUCATION
Boston University – L.M.S.W.
Marist College in Poughkeepsie, NY – BA
in Psychology and Public Relations
PROFESSIONAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS
- Licensed medical social worker for 12 years
in Atlanta
- Director of Social Services for sub-acute long-term
care facility
- Field instructor for master level social work
students at Georgia State University
- Counselor at Camp Magik, a program that provides
grief counseling, support and education to bereaved
children who have lost a parent or sibling
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