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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