Chicago’s John Marshall Law School to Host National Conference on Creating Veterans Legal Clinics; Rep. Tammy Duckworth to Address Conference
(PRWEB) September 17, 2014 -- As law schools take a greater role in helping U.S. servicemembers with legal matters, The John Marshall Law School is hosting a national conference on how to establish, maintain and grow a veterans legal clinic.
On Sept. 26 and 27, presenters from John Marshall’s Veterans Legal Support Center & Clinic (VLSC) and clinics around the country will discuss best practices for all stages of a veterans legal clinic, from identifying and understanding community needs to fundraising and working with courts.
U.S. Rep. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) will deliver welcoming remarks on the first day of the conference. "I am proud of the work the John Marshall Veterans Legal Support & Clinic is doing on behalf of our veterans," Duckworth said. "This conference exemplifies their commitment to the Chicagoland community and veterans' wellness everywhere."
John Marshall’s clinic opened in 2007 and was among the first in the U.S. aimed at assisting veterans. As the numbers of U.S. veterans grow, law schools are becoming more active in addressing their legal matters. The American Bar Association recently adopted a policy advocating the spread of law school clinics like the VLSC.
The VLSC provides legal assistance to veterans, including service-connected benefits, pension benefits, survivor benefits, and education benefits, and works on all aspects of Veteran Benefits Administration appeals. The VLSC also is a founding participant in the Cook County Veterans Treatment Court in Chicago.
Since its inception, VLSC students have fielded on average more than 1,000 calls for assistance a year. From the color of paint on its walls to the open feel of its work areas, the clinic’s 5,300-square-foot space was designed to focus on the needs of veterans living with post-traumatic stress disorder.
EVENT DETAILS:
What: Veterans Legal Clinics: A How-To Conference (presented by The Veterans Legal Support Center & Clinic)
When: Sept. 26-27, 2014
Address by U.S. Rep. Tammy Duckworth: noon, Sept. 26
Where: The John Marshall Law School, 19 W. Jackson Blvd., Chicago
For more information, contact Public Affairs Director Christine Kraly at 312-427-2737 ext. 171 or [email protected]
Christine Kraly, The John Marshall Law School, http://www.jmls.edu, +1 (312) 427-2737 Ext: 171, [email protected]
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