Established in 2018, the UGA Veterans Legal Clinic focuses on veterans receiving benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs and provides free legal assistance to veterans to help them manage their pension entitlements and compensation for service-related disabilities. According to Scherr, Georgia has the ninth largest veteran population in the United States. At UGA, the number of veteran online students has increased by 45% since spring 2018. Online student veterans make up 10% of all student veterans identified as UGA. The University of Georgia is the No. 3 Tier I research university in the country according to the 2020-2021 Military Friends Ranking. The Military Friendly Schools Survey is the longest and most comprehensive review of college and university investment in military and veteran students, and for the third year in a row, the UGA ranks among the top three schools. The clinic is funded by a prominent gift from renowned litigator and graduate attorney James E. “Jim” Butler Jr. in memory of his father, Lt. Commander James E.
Butler Sr., who was a fighter pilot in the U.S. Navy. Butler Sr. was also the grandfather of James E. “Jeb” Butler III, who graduated from law school in 2008. More information can be found in the official press release. Notes are based on the quality of your legal work; your demonstrated knowledge of the law, procedure and policies underlying the practice; your management of the day-to-day requirements of the practice of law; and your professional development as reflected in your work and reflective writing. As in other clinics, half of the accumulated credit hours receive an alphabetical grade and half of the accumulated hours are “pass/fail”. Law students who work at the clinic will gain experience: The Veterans Affairs Legal Clinic is available to students (amounts) 2L and 3L in the spring, summer and fall semesters. Students can repeat the clinic for more than one semester.
One of the clinic`s clients is Richard Stafford, who served in Vietnam and decades later was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, a disease associated with exposure to Agent Orange (a tactical herbicide used by U.S. forces in Vietnam during their service). The disease limited Stafford`s mobility in both legs. He says he can barely walk 100 meters without having to stop to rest and relieve the severe pain in his feet. The law school is grateful to a group of Columbus supporters who have focused their efforts on ensuring that our nation`s military gets the help they need. This group includes renowned litigator and alumnus James E. “Jim” Butler Jr., who was a strong supporter of those who served in the U.S. military. Butler made a major donation to found the Law School`s Veterans Legal Clinic, which helps Georgia veterans file claims before the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. He also founded the Butler Commitment, which guarantees 100% financial support for law school student veterans. The GMO will enable both the Veterans Legal Clinic and the Georgia Legal Services Program to fully realize a remote clinic system that will improve awareness among veterans across the state.
The events will remove barriers faced by purely personal clinics, including health and safety concerns highlighted by the coronavirus pandemic. Directed by Alexander W. Scherr, a lawyer and educator over 30 years old, the unit is made up of law students who work directly with veterans and their loved ones to ensure access to benefits and services, especially for people with mental or physical disabilities resulting from their time in the military. Students who participate in the clinic will have a tangible impact on the lives of these veterans and their families, while gaining hands-on experience that will better prepare them for their careers. Stafford sought full disability compensation, which the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs refused. He needed the clinic`s help to gather medical evidence and make his case to appeal the refusal. Finally, the clinic will promote a public service ethic that reflects Abraham Lincoln`s call to care for those who fought and their loved ones.
In addition to the Veterans Legal Clinic, the University of Georgia remains committed to providing online resources for students and additional resources for military, veterans and dependents. The Student Veterans Resource Centre also offers resources accessible to student Veterans online via email, phone or virtual meetings. Other services include bridging coaching, mentoring, scholarships, student counselling and career preparation counselling. The Veterans Legal Clinic at the University of Georgia School of Law, in partnership with the Georgia Legal Services Program, received funding from the American Bar Association to expand its work to veterans throughout the state of Georgia. They work in the clinic`s offices in downtown Athens. Your job will allow you to gain valuable skills: building relationships with clients; Interview; Consultation; assessment of legal affairs; evidence development; advocacy at hearings; Cooperation with law students, lawyers and other professionals; and negotiate. For more information on the clinic`s initial scope and mission, see this proposal. School of Law Clinic expands veterans` work throughout Georgia Veterans without phones or reliable internet can participate via the program`s computers at locations near their homes set up by GMOs. Virtual clinics are housed in areas of Georgia where specific legal aid for veterans is lacking, giving priority to veterans in rural areas who often lack access to lawyers and legal advice.
Improving the lives of veterans living in Peach State is the goal of the University of Georgia School of Law`s Veterans Legal Clinic. The impact of this 18-month clinic is real and growing. The Veterans Legal Clinic recruits students to help veterans learn about their needs and experiences and learn about advocacy in administrative and judicial forums. The Veterans Clinic represents Veterans and their dependents in VA and military benefit applications. The clinic serves the entire state of Georgia. Students interview and advise clients, advocate on their behalf before the VA and other agencies, and engage in public relations. Students work with other related professionals, including psychologists, social workers, and other providers who work with veterans. A weekly seminar teaches the law in terms of practice, provides perspectives on veterans` experience, and includes regular assessment of ongoing cases. Students can earn between 4 and 6 credits, depending on the hours they work. There is general agreement that this influence will increase exponentially as the Veterans Legal Clinic adds a full-time lawyer in August to help clinic director Alexander Scherr manage cases and mentor students. Since April, the clinic has secured more than $230,000 in additional financial assistance for former members of our country`s military. The UGA Faculty of Law clinic opened on May 29, 2018 and focuses on veterans receiving benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs.
While the clinic does not treat cases involving other civil law needs, such as housing or family issues, it does offer educational resources to refer clients to other sources. The clinic specializes in deferred or denied claims before the Department of Veterans Affairs and provides Georgian veterans with legal assistance they may not otherwise be able to obtain or afford. Those seeking help at the clinic can call 706-542-6439 or email veteranslegalclinic@uga.edu. The clinic consists of seven law students who spend many hours interviewing veterans and building their cases, a graduate law researcher who oversees cases, and Alexander W. “Alex” Scherr, the clinic`s director. Veterans who are University of Georgia students online or on campus can now get free legal advice to help them navigate the new veterans legal clinic for pensions and disability compensation. You can register for the Veterans Legal Clinic for four, five or six credit hours. These credits include a two-hour weekly seminar with related readings. The remaining credits depend on the number of hours per week the student works at the clinic, from 10 hours per week for four credits to 20 hours per week for six credits. In addition to the written work required for practice, you will submit several reflective texts during the semester. “We get two to three new calls every week from veterans from all over the state,” he said.
“We rank each appeal based on our goal of helping as many veterans as possible while maintaining our commitment to training law students to deal effectively with administrative law cases.” The clinic also helped organize a coalition of advocacy groups at UGA to identify academic initiatives that can help veterans and communities across the state with varying needs. “With the arrival of Kelly Parker from the Veterans Advocacy Law Clinic at West Virginia University, we have doubled the number of active cases treated by our clinic and law students,” Scherr said. The Veterans Legal Clinic provides Georgian veterans with legal assistance that they otherwise have access to or cannot afford, particularly with respect to denied or deferred applications in the United States.
