Veterans Law Clinic

The Veterans Law Clinic focuses on the legal needs of Veterans and their families who are experiencing difficulties navigating civil and administrative legal issues. The clinic primarily focuses on issues pertaining to eligibility and determination of benefits before the Department of Veterans Affairs including service connected disability, healthcare eligibility, and character of discharge determinations. Students advocate for Veterans and their families as they navigate complex civil procedure including the Federal Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims and VA Administrative Courts.  In the clinic, students serve as interns while being introduced to independent case management skills focused on client interviewing, legal analysis, drafting legal documents, motion practice, and professionalism.

Faculty

 

Examples of impact

The Veterans Law Clinic assisted an Army Veteran who received a Purple Heart after two combat deployments to Afghanistan. Due to the nature of his discharge from the military, the Veteran was not initially eligible for VA disability benefits. Clinic students drafted and submitted legal briefs to the Department of Veterans Affairs legal counsel arguing that our client should be eligible to receive benefits for his service related disabilities due to nuances in the law. An administrative law judge found their argument to be compelling and awarded the Veteran full benefits and retroactive pay of over $180,000. 

Students in the Veterans Law Clinic regularly represent Veterans before the Federal Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, a court specializing in disputes arising from the VA benefits process. In this setting, students review discovery, prepare motions, and draft comprehensive briefs in support of complex legal arguments to be presented before the Federal Court.