HARRISBURG (Nov. 18, 2010) - Marielle F. Hazen of Harrisburg has received the Excellence in Elder Law Award from the Pennsylvania Bar Association Elder Law Section.

Presented to Hazen during a ceremony at the Holiday Inn Harrisburg East, the award recognizes Hazen's "superior professional efforts in the field of elder law, significant contributions to the legal profession and noteworthy service to the elderly."

Hazen is actively involved in the legislative advocacy activities of the PBA Elder Law Section and the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys. She is past chair of the PBA section. She currently serves on the Grass Roots Advocacy Committee of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, of which she was a founding member and a past president of its Pennsylvania Chapter.

Hazen serves on the Elder Abuse Task Force for Dauphin County and is a pro bono monitor for the Dauphin County Orphans' Court guardianship monitoring program. She serves on the Board of Directors for the Special Needs Alliance, a national nonprofit organization of attorneys dedicated to disability and public benefits law.

Hazen is certified as an Elder Law Attorney by the National Elder Law Foundation, as authorized by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.

Hazen is accredited by the Department of Veterans Affairs for the preparation, presentation and prosecution of claims for veterans' benefits before the Veterans Administration.

Hazen frequently serves on the faculty of the Pennsylvania Bar Institute, which provides continuing legal education for lawyers. She has been a guest lecturer at Harrisburg Area Community College, Penn State, Penn State Dickinson School of Law, Temple University, and Widener University School of Law.

Members of the PBA Elder Law Section exchange ideas and information on substantive elder law issues to meet the needs of their clients. Section members also promote improvements in substantive law, legal education and ethical guidelines.

Founded in 1895, the Pennsylvania Bar Association exists to promote justice, professional excellence and respect of the law; improve public understanding of the legal system; facilitate access to legal services; and serve the 29,000 lawyers who are members of the association.