Elder Law & Advocacy: The Conversation

Aging with Dignity: 30 Years on the Frontlines with Paul Downey

For over three decades, Paul Downey has been one of the leading voices for older adults in San Diego County.
In this episode of Elder Law & Advocacy: The Conversation, Jaime Levine sits down with Paul Downey, former CEO of Serving Seniors and now Chief Advocacy Officer at the San Diego Seniors Community Foundation, to discuss his career journey, the growing challenges facing low-income older adults, and the future of senior services in San Diego.
Paul helped transform Serving Seniors into a nationally recognized organization supporting older adults through affordable housing, daily meals, healthcare access, case management, and social support services. Today, the organization delivers more than 1.5 million meals annually and operates more than 500 units of affordable senior housing across San Diego County.
The conversation explores affordable senior housing, nonprofit leadership, and what it takes to keep vulnerable seniors healthy, independent, and connected to their communities.
Paul reflects on his own journey from broadcast journalism into nonprofit leadership, and the mission that has driven his work advocating for older adults for more than 30 years.
If you are interested in senior care, affordable housing, aging services, or nonprofit leadership, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss.

ID Theft, Pig Butchering Scams, and Taxes: What Attorneys Need to Know

Navigating tax issues can be overwhelming, especially for low-income individuals and families facing financial hardship.
In this episode of Elder Law & Advocacy: The Conversation, Jaime Levine sits down with Shahin Rahimi, Senior Managing Attorney at the Legal Aid Society of San Diego, to discuss his work helping vulnerable communities resolve tax disputes and access critical legal support.
Shahin leads the Low Income Taxpayer Clinic (LITC) assisting clients with IRS debt, tax controversies, and other financial legal challenges. He shares how his immigrant background, professional mentorship, and passion for public service ultimately led him to a career in nonprofit law.
Together, they explore the realities facing low-income taxpayers, the importance of legal aid services, and how advocacy can help individuals regain financial stability and access justice.
If you are interested in legal aid, tax law, consumer advocacy, or community-focused legal work, this episode offers valuable insight into the impact of public interest law in San Diego.

The Bill Tracker Changing Elder Law in California

Staying on top of legislation is critical to protecting older adults and consumers, but it is not easy to do so.
 
In this episode of Elder Law & Advocacy: The Conversation, Jaime Levine sits down with attorney Caleb Logan to discuss his experience with California legislation and his creation of a new bill-tracking platform featured on the Elder Law & Advocacy website.
 
Caleb has spent years working on legislative efforts designed to protect consumers and older adults, often in collaboration with organizations like the California Low Income Consumer Coalition (CLICC). His work has focused on advancing policies that better safeguard vulnerable older adults.
 
In this conversation, Caleb shares what inspired him to build the bill tracking platform, how it works, and why it is an important tool for attorneys, advocates, and anyone following elder law and consumer protection legislation in California.
 
They also discuss the broader legislative landscape, how bills move through the system, and why staying informed is essential for effective advocacy.
If you are a legal professional, advocate, or anyone interested in elder law and consumer protection, this episode offers valuable insight into how legislation shapes real-world outcomes.

What Happens When AI Meets the Legal System

Artificial intelligence is rapidly changing how people access information, including legal guidance. But as AI becomes more integrated into everyday decision-making, it raises serious ethical and legal questions, especially for attorneys.
In this episode of Elder Law & Advocacy: The Conversation, Jaime Levine sits down with Caleb Logan to explore the growing role of AI in law and the ethical considerations that come with it.
Caleb brings a unique perspective to this conversation. With a background in electrical engineering and a career in public interest law, he has worked on legislative initiatives designed to protect consumers and older adults, and has litigated cases involving elder abuse and nursing home rights. His work places him at the intersection of technology, law, and ethics.
Together, they discuss how AI is influencing legal practice, the risks of relying on AI for legal information, and the responsibility attorneys face as this technology continues to evolve.
If you are an attorney, legal professional, or simply interested in how AI is reshaping the legal landscape, this is a timely and important conversation.
Listen now to better understand the ethical challenges of AI in law.

Litigating Elder Financial Abuse Cases - What Can We Improve?

Elder financial abuse is rising, and many cases go undetected until it’s too late.
In this episode of Elder Law & Advocacy: The Conversation, Jaime Levine speaks with Caleb Logan to explore his experience litigating Elder Financial Abuse cases.
Caleb breaks down how these cases typically unfold, and what is generally possible if it comes to litigation. The conversation also dives into what bank safeguards are currently in place and what better policy or legislation might look like.
They discuss the challenges victims face in pursuing legal action, the broad nature of existing laws, and how attorneys approach litigation in these cases. From common fact patterns to systemic gaps, this episode provides a clear look at what elder financial abuse cases really involve.
If you are an attorney, fiduciary, financial professional, or someone working with older adults, this episode offers valuable insight into identifying, preventing, and addressing financial exploitation.

How One Executive Director Is Transforming Survivors’ Lives

Abuse cases - whether domestic violence, child abuse, or elder abuse - require more than just prosecution. They require coordinated, compassionate support for victims.
In this episode of Elder Law & Advocacy: The Conversation, Caleb sits down with Claudia Grasso, Deputy District Attorney with the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office and Executive Director of One Safe Place, the North County Family Justice Center.
Claudia has spent much of her career prosecuting cases involving domestic violence, child abuse, and elder abuse. Driven by a vision to better support victims, her career brought her to a position as Executive Director of One Safe Place - a center designed to provide comprehensive, wraparound services for individuals and families impacted by abuse.
In this conversation, Claudia shares her journey from prosecutor to advocate, the mission behind One Safe Place, and how this innovative model brings together legal, social, and support services under one roof to help victims heal and rebuild.
We also explore the realities of abuse cases, the importance of victim-centered care, and how communities can better support those affected.

The Rise of Crypto Scams Targeting Older Adults

Cryptocurrency fraud is one of the fastest-growing threats today, and scammers are targeting vulnerable older adults.
In this episode of Elder Law & Advocacy: The Conversation, Jaime Levine sits down with Chris Groshong, Certified Fraud Investigator and founder of the Crypto Recovery Alliance, to break down how crypto scams work, why they are so difficult to trace, and what victims and families can do after funds are stolen.
Chris specializes in cryptocurrency fraud investigations, including cases involving elder financial abuse and large-scale scams. Through his nonprofit, he plans to help families impacted by crypto fraud recover lost assets and to advocate for stronger protections in this rapidly evolving space.
In this conversation, we explore how crypto scams target victims and move money quickly, why cryptocurrency has become a major tool in financial fraud, and the challenges of investigating and recovering stolen funds. Chris also shares what families, professionals, and caregivers should watch for, and what victims can do if they have been targeted.
If you work with older adults, manage financial risk, or want to better understand crypto fraud and scam prevention, this episode is essential listening.

How Top Prosecutor Scott Pirrello Fights Elder Abuse

In this episode of Elder Law & Advocacy: The Conversation, host Jaime Levine sits down with Scott Pirrello, Head of Elder Abuse Prosecution at the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office and a leading national expert on elder fraud and scams.
Pirrello is at the forefront of the fight against elder abuse, spearheading efforts to investigate and prosecute crimes targeting older adults. As a central figure in San Diego’s response to elder abuse, he plays a key role in the FBI Elder Justice Task Force, collaborating with federal, state, and local partners to combat financial scams, fraud schemes, and abuse affecting seniors.
This conversation explores Scotts professional journey, the growing threat of elder financial abuse, how prosecutors build cases against sophisticated scammers, and what families, caregivers, and professionals need to know to better protect vulnerable older adults.
Tune in for expert insights on elder law, fraud prevention, and the evolving landscape of elder justice.

This Nonprofit is Transforming Elder Law in San Diego

In the newest episode of Elder Law & Advocacy: The Conversation, Jenna MacRae speaks with Madison Kovall about the programs and legal services offered by Elder Law & Advocacy and how they support older adults across San Diego County.
The conversation explores how EL&A helps older adults navigate a wide range of legal challenges, including public benefits issues, landlord-tenant disputes, scams, and consumer fraud. They also discuss the organization’s Nursing Home Rights and Enforcement Project and the Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program, which provides free Medicare counseling to older adults.
Jenna also shares her own career journey and how she came to work at Elder Law & Advocacy, along with what makes the organization unique among legal nonprofits.
From community education to pre-litigation advocacy, she gives a behind-the-scenes look at her day-to-day work and how EL&A is funded to provide critical legal services to older adults.

From UK Barrister to Senior Advocate in San Diego

In the newest episode of Elder Law & Advocacy: The Conversation, Jenna MacRae sits down with Amanda Jane Austin, Staff Attorney and Legal Volunteer Coordinator at Elder Law & Advocacy.
Amanda shares her journey from working as a Barrister for the UK government to advocating for older adults in San Diego. She also discusses how volunteers and interns play a critical role in expanding legal services for older adults and what she looks for when recruiting the next generation of legal professionals.
If you’re interested in volunteering, interning, or learning how legal professionals can make a meaningful impact in their community, this conversation is worth a listen.