Veterans and Servicemembers Legal Clinic

In this appellate advocacy clinic in a federal administrative law setting, supervised students assist in representing veterans in claims before the VA regional office, appeals before the US Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims and Board of Veterans’ Appeals, and discharge upgrade petitions before the military branches’ boards of correction of military records and review boards. In these cases, students: (1) interview clients and witnesses, (2) research federal statutes, regulations, and cases, (3) review military service records, VA decisional documents, treatment records, and other lay and medical evidence, (4) draft motions, memoranda, and briefs, and (5) work with medical experts, clients, and witnesses to develop evidence. In cases before the Veterans Court, students negotiate settlements with opposing counsel from VA. Before the Board, students may represent clients in hearings. Students also research and draft amicus briefs before the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and SCOTUS. Moreover, students work to improve the system by drafting petitions for VA rulemaking and comments on proposed VA rules. Also, students prepare and deliver know your rights presentations to veterans and future military officers and draft research papers to assist military lawyers in providing legal assistance to military personnel.