Practice Areas: Elder Law
Licensed in Indiana since: 1983
Education: Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law
Selected to Super Lawyers: 2005 - 2025 Law Office of Claire E. Lewis
115 North Girls School RoadIndianapolis, IN 46214 Phone: 317-484-8115 Email: Claire E. Lewis Visit website
Details
With more than 40 years of elder law experience, Claire E. Lewis is the past President of the Indiana Chapter of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA) and was also a founding member and first President of the chapter. She currently chairs the Chapter's Government and Public Affairs Committee and serves on its Board of Directors. A founding member and first Chair of the Indiana State Bar Association's Elder Law Section, she now serves as Chair of its Public Policy Committee. She served on the Boards of Directors of the Alzheimer's Association and Area Agency on Aging for Central Indiana. Lewis is Editor of the Laws of Aging sponsored by the Indiana State Bar Association. Lewis is a recipient of the State Bar Foundation's Law Related Education award, the GP Hall of Fame Award sponsored by the GP Solo and Small Firm Section of the Indiana State Bar Association, and was the 2023 recipient of the Indianapolis Bar Association's Patricia Wagner award for excellence in estate planning as well as the 2024 recipient of the NAELA Powley award for excellence in elder law. She is a Fellow of the Indiana Bar Foundation. Lewis was also twice named as the Indiana Chapter of NAELA attorney of the year.
First Admitted: 1983, Indiana
Professional Webpage: https://www.clairelewis.net/attorney/claire-e-lewis/
- Chair of the Government & Public Policy Committee for both the Indiana Chapter of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (IN-NAELA) and the Indiana State Bar Association Elder Law Section. On the Board of Directors for IN-NAELA., 2024
- Chair of the Elder Law Institute, a two day seminar for attorneys sponsored by the Indiana Continuing Education Forum., 2023
- Chair of the Masters Program: Advanced Elder Law sponsored by the Indiana Continuing Legal Education Forum., 2023
- Member, Board of Directors, National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, Indiana Chapter; chair of Chapter's Government and Public Affairs CommitteeMember and past president of the organization. Former member of the Board of Directors, Indianapolis Bar Association Estate Planning Section. Indiana State Bar Association: Founding member and first chair of Elder Law Section; current chair of Public Policy Committee Committee. Former member of Public Policy Committee for Alzheimer's Association of Indiana; former Board of Directors member and chair of its Mission & Outreach Committee. Member of CICOA Aging & In Home Solutions (area agency on aging) Public Policy Committee; former secretary of the Board of Directors, CICOA.
- Work closely with Indiana Legal Services Inc., (ILSI) particularly in the area of community legal education. , 2024
- Lewis is a regular volunteer for the Senior Law Project of Indiana Legal Services, Inc., assisting in particular with the Project's Medicaid trainings for both lawyers and non-lawyers. She also does volunteer projects for Sheltering Wings, a shelter for victims of domestic violence, and for the Indiana Alzheimer's Association.
- Pat Wagner Award for Excellence in Estate Planning & Administration, Indianapolis Bar Association, 2023
- The Powley Elder Law Award is a prestigious award presented annually to one NAELA member who is recognized in his or her community as a leader in promoting a greater understanding of the rights and needs of the elderly and people with special needs, and of how elder law attorneys advocate for those rights. The award was established in memory of Wes and Helen Powley, grandparents of NAELA member, Timothy L. Takacs, of Hendersonville, Tennessee. Both Wes and Helen were active in civic affairs all of their lives, and Wes practiced dentistry well into his 80s. The award is funded by a cash grant from the Takacs family to a nonprofit organization chosen by the Powley Award recipient. As part of her recognition, Lewis can direct $1,000 from the Takacs Family Foundation to charities providing services to older adults or people with disabilities. She has chosen the Senior Law Project of Indiana Legal Services, Inc. to receive this cash grant. , The Powley Award, National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA), 2024
- Recipients of this award are selected as a result of their high standard of ethics and professional competency exhibited to their clients, the legal profession, and their community., GP Hall of Fame Award, GP Solo & Small Firm Section of the Indiana State Bar Association, 2009
- Established in 1979, the Fellows are an elite group of Indiana attorneys who demonstrate commitment to the ideals of the Foundation in advancing justice, promoting public understanding of the law, and enhancing the legal professions' performance of its ethical responsibilities. Only 1,000 Indiana attorneys are currently members of this select group., Fellow of the Indiana State Bar Foundation, Indiana State Bar Foundation, 2010
- The Law Related Education Award from the Indiana State Bar Association is given to one individual per year for outstanding work in legal education. Lewis was recognized in 2005 particularly for her work on the Laws of Aging, a book focusing on the legal needs of older adults. Lewis was also recognized for her ongoing work in chairing the Elder Law Institute and the Advanced Elder Law Seminar for the Indiana Continuing Legal Education Forum.
- In July, 2010, Lewis was inducted as a Fellow and in 2014, she was selected as a Master Fellow, of the Indiana State Bar Foundation. Established in 1979, the Fellows are an elite group of Indiana attorneys who demonstrate commitment to the ideals of the Foundation in advancing justice, promoting public understanding of the law, and enhancing the legal professions' performance of its ethical responsibilities. Only 1,000 Indiana attorneys are currently members of this select group. In addition, in 2012, Lewis was inducted as a Fellow of the Indianapolis Bar Foundation., Fellow of the Indiana State Bar Foundation, 2010
- Editor and contributing author, Laws of Aging. Contributing author, Medicaid in Indiana and Medicaid in Indiana for the Elderly and Disabled. Author, Guardianship in Indiana, Advance Directives, Home-Sharing & Housing Alternatives for the Older Adult. Contributing author, Nursing Home Residents' Rights.
Office location for Claire E. Lewis
115 North Girls School Road
Indianapolis, IN 46214
Selections
- Super Lawyers: 2005 - 2025