Collier & St. Clair,LLP an Elder & Special Needs Law Firm was formed January 1, 2011 when Victoria Collier who founded The Elder & Disability Law Firm of Victoria L. Collier, PC in 2003 promoted Jonathan St. Clair to Partner. The Firm was established 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 mediation 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 Collier & St. Clair, LLP to support our clients in the creation of a long-term care plan for preserving assets, maximizing independence, and enhancing quality of life.

 

Victoria L. Collier, Life Care Planning, Veterans Benefits 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

  • Supreme Court of the United States, admitted 2009
  • United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, admitted 2007
  • Appointed by Governor Sonny Perdue, Georgia Council on Aging, Board
  • Georgia Super Lawyers, Rising Star 2005, 2009, and 2010 editions
  • 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

PUBLICATIONS

  • 47 Secret Veterans’ Benefits for Seniors….Benefits You Have Earned but Don’t Know About, book available on www.Amazon.com
  • 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

 

Jonathan St. Clair, Attorney

Attorney

Born in Knoxville, Tennessee, Jonathan St.Clair graduated from the University of Tennessee where he juggled his time between rooting for the Volunteers and pursuing a degree in finance.

After college, Jonathan found work in his chosen field. The experience instilled him with both an appreciation for the law and concern about the obstacles individuals and couples face as they plan their golden years – inspiring his return to school to study at the Georgia State University College of Law.

Jonathan is active in various volunteer and pro bono activities. He currently serves on: the Board of Directors for the Georgia Chapter of the American Parkinson’s Disease Association, and the Board of Directors for the Elder Law Section of the Atlanta Bar Association.

INTERESTS

When not in the office, Jonathan can usually be found with his wife, Brittany, and son, Gavin, hiking a trail, running through Piedmont Park or trying to recapture the golf swing that led to a career-low score as an 8th grader.

 

Melanie Richardson

LMSW

Melanie is the firm’s Client Care Coordinator. It is unusual for a law firm to employ a social worker; however, with Melanie’s past experience she is the perfect person to help guide our clients and their caregivers with health care decisions and life transitions.

Prior to joining the firm, Melanie worked as a Long Term Care Social Worker at a skilled nursing and rehabilitation center. Melanie has worked as a social worker for over 10 years in various practice settings but especially enjoys her work with seniors and their families. Through volunteer, professional, and personal opportunities, Melanie has spent treasured time with older adults since she was a young teenager.

Melanie earned her undergraduate degree at the University of Georgia. After working for few years in Colorado, Melanie returned to UGA to pursue a graduate degree. She earned her MSW degree and is licensed as a Master’s level social worker in the state of Georgia.

As probably expected, Melanie is a huge Georgia Bulldog fan and travels to Athens as often as possible to see the Bulldogs play anything from football to baseball to gymnastics. Melanie also enjoys reading, spending time outdoors, and creating new jewelry and furniture from old pieces. Otherwise, Melanie loves spending time with her friends, family, and the most perfect pet in the whole world: her pug dog Agnes.

Linda Rambo

Paralegal

Don’t let the name, Rambo, scare you. Linda is polite, professional, and has a true compassion for the elderly and disabled.

Linda started with the firm as a legal administrator, but has been promoted to be our government benefits paralegal. Linda loves sharing with our clients and potential clients all the possible benefits we can assist them with as they travel through the health care journey. She also assures that our clients know we make home visits for those who are unable to come into the office.

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 old long-haired, cute, cute, cute dachshund named Callie Mae. Ms. Callie Mae is a garden hound as well, her favorite veggie being “Sun Gold” tomatoes and spinach. Linda also works with Dachshund rescue. In her spare time, she loves to travel, eat and go to an occasional Braves game.

 

Connie Lukens

Office Administrator

Connie is generally the first smiling voice you will hear when you call the office. She is a people person and truly enjoys her interaction with our clients – both in person and on the telephone. Connie provides individual attention to everyone who calls the office, often times offering comfort and a compassionate ear while determining the situational needs and which attorney may be most appropriate to assist them.

Connie is an Atlanta native who grew up on Dunwoody. She graduated from the University of West Georgia in Carrollton with a degree in Sociology/Criminal Justice. She has worked as a legal assistant/secretary for the past 20 years while raising her two daughters.

Connie enjoys spending time with her family, friends, and pets. She volunteers for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and Make-A-Wish Foundation, traveling around the country speaking at fun-raisers and conventions. She is also actively involved with the Gwinnett County Relay for Life, having sponsored and hosted a team for the past 10 years.