Advancing education and advocacy in elder law in Maryland and the District of Columbia
Advancing education and advocacy in elder law in Maryland and the District of Columbia
Nearly every member who responded believes the Maryland/DC Chapter is moving in the right direction. Even more encouraging, respondents overwhelmingly praised the Chapter’s educational programming, communications, and collegial culture while offering thoughtful ideas for making an already strong Chapter even stronger.
The 2026 Maryland/DC Chapter Member Survey was designed to do more than measure member satisfaction—it was an opportunity to better understand what members value most, identify emerging needs, and gather ideas that will help shape the Chapter’s future. Part I of the survey invited members to anonymously share their perspectives on the Chapter’s strengths, opportunities for improvement, educational priorities, and overall direction.
In the sections that follow, we’ll explore:
Most importantly, this report reflects the voices of the members who continue to shape the future of the Maryland/DC Chapter.
Nineteen members completed the anonymous first part of the survey, representing attorneys at every stage of NAELA membership.
Respondents also reflected varying levels of Chapter participation.
In other words, the survey reflects feedback from both newer and long-time members, as well as members who participate frequently and those who engage more selectively.
Members expressed a high level of confidence in the Maryland/DC Chapter and its direction.
These results suggest that the Chapter continues to provide meaningful value while maintaining the trust and confidence of its members.
If there was one clear takeaway from the survey, it was this: members place tremendous value on the Chapter’s educational programming. Respondents consistently identified education as one of the primary reasons they remain engaged with the Maryland/DC Chapter.
The survey confirms that members value educational programs they can immediately apply in their practices, along with opportunities to learn from experienced colleagues and stay current on developments in elder and special needs law.
Beyond educational programming, members consistently identified the Chapter Listserv as one of the most valuable benefits of membership. More than just an email forum, the Listserv serves as a trusted resource where members can seek guidance, share knowledge, and collaborate with colleagues facing similar issues.
The survey responses reinforce that the willingness of members to share their knowledge and experience is one of the Chapter’s greatest strengths and a defining characteristic of our professional community.
While the survey results reflect a high level of member satisfaction, respondents also offered thoughtful suggestions for strengthening the Chapter in the years ahead. Rather than calling for major changes, members encouraged the Chapter to build upon its existing success by expanding opportunities for connection, learning, and professional development.
These suggestions reflect a shared desire to build on the Chapter’s strong foundation while continuing to meet the evolving needs of our members.
Members shared a wide range of ideas for future educational programming, reflecting the diverse practices and interests within the Maryland/DC Chapter. While Medicaid planning and estate planning remain core areas of interest, respondents also expressed enthusiasm for emerging topics and practical guidance that can enhance both client service and law practice management.
The breadth of these suggestions demonstrates that members value educational programming that is both timely and practical. The Board will use this feedback to help shape future Lunch & Learn programs, webinars, and other educational initiatives.
One of the most encouraging findings from the survey is that member satisfaction remained consistently high regardless of how long respondents had belonged to NAELA. While newer and long-time members naturally emphasized different priorities, both groups expressed strong confidence in the Chapter and its future.
The survey suggests that the Maryland/DC Chapter is successfully serving attorneys throughout every stage of their careers while creating opportunities for experienced practitioners and newer members to learn from one another. As the Chapter looks ahead, strengthening those connections through mentorship and collaboration will benefit the entire membership.
The 2026 Chapter Member Survey confirmed that the Maryland/DC Chapter is on a strong path forward. Members expressed overwhelming confidence in the Chapter’s direction while providing thoughtful ideas that will help shape its future.
The soon be created Board of Directors will carefully review every survey response as it develops future educational programs, networking opportunities, and Chapter initiatives. We are grateful to everyone who participated in the survey and shared their perspectives.
Thank you for helping shape the future of the Maryland/DC Chapter. Your voice matters, and together we will continue building a Chapter that educates, connects, and supports elder law and special needs practitioners throughout Maryland and the District of Columbia.
Transparency is important to the Maryland/DC Chapter. To allow members to review the survey results for themselves, we have included the complete anonymous response data from Part I of the 2026 Chapter Member Survey.
The information below contains the survey responses exactly as submitted. We encourage members to explore the results and see the wide range of perspectives and ideas that informed this summary.
Download the complete anonymous survey results:
View the Full Part I Survey Results (CSV)
We hope this level of transparency demonstrates the Board’s commitment to listening to our members and using your feedback to guide future educational programming, networking opportunities, and Chapter initiatives.