About Jim and Dawn

Ask anybody and they will tell you that  Jim and Dawn have lived up to the Lincoln ideal of mastery of the law, honesty and integrity.  And, they are down to earth “just folks” as well.  They treat all callers with the respect they deserve.

Jim Schuster, Certified Elder Law Attorney, Ret’d

Jim Schuster has been licensed as an attorney since 1978 and practiced Elder Law before he retired.  Jim is still active in educating attorneys and consumers about Elder Law through articles on this website and in legal publications.   And note Jim’s office was in a real 1930’s log cabin in the city of Southfield, Michigan.

Jim is:

  • An active member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys since 1995
  • Author of many articles recently published in the NAELA News and NAELA Journal, an education source for Elder Law Attorneys.
  • A former member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys’ Council of Advanced Practitioners, an “invitation only” honor.
  • A Former Chair of the Elder Law and Advocacy Section of the Michigan State Bar.
  • The fourth attorney to be a certified elder law attorney in Michigan.  The certification came through the A.B.A. accredited National Elder Law Foundation.
  • One of the first attorneys in Michigan to practice Elder Law.  He wrote the first article on  Elder Law, published in the Michigan Bar Journal in February 2002
  • Jim intimately understands the difficulties of aging. After all he is an Elder himself!
Prior to attending law school Jim Schuster was a social worker for the Department of Social Services (now the Department of Health and Human Services). After he passed the bar he worked as a law clerk for United States District Judge Noel P. Fox. He later served as the Judge for the Chippewa Ottawa Conservation Court.

About Dawn Roffey, Paralegal

Dawn Roffey is still Jim’s paralegal, handling all matters of communication and managing the Jim Schuster Facebook page!  She attended the University of Michigan-Dearborn and received her Legal Assistant associate’s degree from Macomb Community College. Dawn is involved with rescuing and rehoming Scottish Terriers and educating good pet owners!

Have Elder Law or dog questions?  Just call and leave a message at  248-356-3500.