Our Work and Impact
Veterans Benefits Appeals
Clinic students provide pro bono (free) legal representation services to veterans concerning appeals of veterans disability, pension and education benefit claims before the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, and the Federal Circuit. Clinic students also sometimes comment on pending legislation or rule making, and advocate for changes in veterans and military law.
State and Federal Policy
The Clinic seeks to influence and/or develop state and federal legislation that affects veterans or servicemembers, including, but not limited to: policies addressing military voting issues, creation of Veterans’ Courts, issues arising under the Uniform Deployed Parents Custody and Visitation Act, and regulations to improve the lives of those sexually assaulted during military service.
While working in these areas, clinic students:
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Interview and counsel clients
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Conduct medical and legal research
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Investigate facts, obtain documents, and review and summarize medical records, military records, and claim file documents
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Develop legal theories for service-connection and increased ratings
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Draft briefs, statements in support and VA submissions
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Work with treating physicians and medical experts to develop medical evidence
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Plan appellate strategy
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Draft amici briefs, present testimony at administrative hearings, and conduct oral argument
"I was grateful for the opportunity to participate, and would highly recommend the clinic to anyone wanting to develop their skills in a way that will benefit veterans and work toward improving their quality of life."
Dan Clarke, Class of 2022
Faculty Supervision
The Clinic is directed by Professor Michele Vollmer, former senior counsel in the Division of Enforcement at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, where she was responsible for conducting all facets of complex financial fraud and insider trading investigations and litigation, including high profile investigations of Waste Management Corp., and Enron Corp. In 2006, she received an award from the Department of Justice for her work in assisting the Enron Task Force with its criminal prosecutions. She also worked as a senior counsel in the General Counsel's Office of the SEC handling EEOC, appellate, and litigation matters, and as a partner in a law firm handling commercial litigation matters.
Related Courses
Civil Pre-Trial Practice and Advocacy
Disposition before trial occurs in the vast majority of civil lawsuits (e.g., 98% of federal cases), which makes pre-trial advocacy the dominant part of legal practice at most law firms and agencies. This experiential learning course will engage students with a robust client fact pattern, including analysis of client documents and procedural and substantive law. Students will learn how to draft pre-trial advocacy pleadings, discovery, disclosures, and motions, culminating with learning how to draft a motion for summary judgment. Students will learn how to take depositions and negotiate a settlement.
Veterans Benefits Law
This course is designed to teach students about the veterans benefit system, by analyzing the statutes and regulations that govern that system, studying the administrative agency tasked with applying the law and distributing the benefits, and analyzing both administrative and judicial decisions interpreting those laws.