About Patrick Schaffner
Patrick Schaffner Cawley built his legal foundation at the University of Notre Dame, earning a Bachelor of Arts before returning to the same campus for a Juris Doctor from Notre Dame Law School. He completed the academic path that many lawyers follow, but he steered his practice toward issues that touch families at their most vulnerable moments.
He is admitted to practice in Pennsylvania. Early in his career he concentrated on the legal problems that arise as people age and families plan for long-term care. Over time his work gravitated toward elder law and special needs planning, areas that demand both legal knowledge and an ability to explain complex rules in plain language.
Cawley holds memberships in several professional groups that reflect his practice interests. He is a current member of the Pennsylvania State Bar and also belongs to the American Bar Association. He joined the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys in 2019 and the Academy of Special Needs Planners in 2020. Those memberships keep him connected to developments in Medicaid rules, guardianship practice, and planning tools used to protect assets and benefits for older adults and people with disabilities.
His day-to-day work includes estate planning, Medicaid planning, special needs trusts, and matters that arise when incapacity becomes an issue. He handles will and trust drafting, advises on long-term care financing, and helps families through guardianship and conservatorship processes when necessary. He works with beneficiaries, family members, and care managers to align legal arrangements with practical care needs and public benefit rules.
Cawley practices at Keystone Elder Law P.C., where he counsels clients across Pennsylvania. The firm’s work centers on planning for elder care and protecting access to government benefits for those with disabilities. He combines courtroom filings and administrative advocacy when clients require it, and he spends substantial time drafting trust documents and advising on probate alternatives. His practice reflects long-term involvement in groups focused on elder and special needs law and aims to translate statutory and regulatory detail into actionable plans for clients.
He currently practices elder law and special needs planning at Keystone Elder Law P.C. in Pennsylvania.
