Legal Research

"Veterans' Issues as a Practice Area"

Posted by Carolyn Elefant: "A few years back, I highlighted a small firm specializing in veterans' issues.  Now, four years later demand for legal services for veterans remains high.  Fortunately, for solos considering veterans rights and benefits as a practice area, there are multiple opportunities for first rate, hands on training.

Today, the Maryland Daily Record discusses the HPRP Veterans' Benefits Project, which launched last year.  The program trains lawyers in the benefits process, and in turn the lawyers agree to help at least one veteran with the claims process.  Forty-four lawyers have taken part in training sessions since the program began with thirty clients obtaining assistance.  And if appellate work, rather than benefits applications is your thing, you can volunteer for the National Veterans' Legal Services Program in Washington D.C. where you'll receive training and have an opportunity to brief and argue a case before the Veterans' Court of Appeals.

As a solo, you're probably thinking that this pro bono all sounds great for laid off biglaw associates with generous severance packages but that it's not much value for lawyers who need to earn a living.  That's where your'e wrong.  First, handling a case pro bono is small compensation for the kinds of training that these pro bono programs provide - training that is transferable to a for-fee practice...

 Second, even if you take on a pro bono case, you never know where it could lead...

Pro bono cases give you a chance to get out and work with other lawyers and lose the isolation that you can feel as a solo.   And they give you a chance to sample a new practice area without commitment.  If you don't enjoy veterans' work or find it too complicated, just finish up your pro bono work and move on to another practice area.

So why not think about serving those who've served?" 

Full text and active links are available at the source site listed below.

Source: My Shingle, 26 May 2009

Full post as published by Stark County Law Library Blawg on May 27, 2009 (boomark / email).