Veterans Legal Clinic
Overview
Students in the Veterans Legal Clinic have the opportunity to work closely with low-income former service members under the supervision of a licensed attorney. Clinic students assist service members, who are often severely impacted by mental health challenges, racial discrimination, and a lack of access to health care, correct injustices in their military records and advocate on their behalf before the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Through collaboration with their peers, students develop their client interviewing and counseling skills, conduct extensive case investigation, and draft legal arguments on behalf of their clients. They also work with medical professionals to better understand their cases and advocate on behalf of their clients.
Further, students tell the stories of the service member’s past to correct the injustices that are still adversely impacting them in the present and future.
The Veterans Legal Clinic is a 4 credit course open to 2L and 3L students. There are no prerequisites and military affiliation is not required.
Clinic Director
Eleanor Morales
- Represent low-income former service members to correct injustices in their records
- Direct client representation
- Conduct fact investigation
- Collaborate across disciplines
- Written and oral advocacy
- Develop client interviewing and counseling skills
- Understand the role of the lawyer while assuming responsibility for your case
- Engage in deliberate case planning and informal fact investigation
- Make a difference
Are You a Veteran?
For veterans seeking to access discharge upgrade referral resources, please visit Swords to Plowshares.
The Veterans Legal Clinic is the first time in law school that I worked directly with clients. Understanding that their future success rested on my present success, taught me more than any course I have taken in law school. The Veterans Legal Clinic taught me empathy and sympathy, in a profession that often fails to value both characteristics.
Brittany Taylor
Veterans Legal Clinic has been the single most rewarding activity of my law school career.
Jackie Seras