Press Stories Hail Veterans Benefits Clinic as "National Model"
Preparing Students to Practice Law William & Mary Law School is home to nine legal clinics, including the Lewis B. Puller, Jr. Veterans Benefits Clinic. Photo by David Morrill
Helping Veterans Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) spoke at the November 11, 2010 event celebrating the naming of the Lewis B. Puller Veterans Benefits Clinic. Photo by Gretchen Bedell
The work of the Lewis B. Puller, Jr. Veterans Benefits Clinic at William & Mary Law School has been featured twice recently in the pages of the Daily Press of Hampton Roads, Va., and also in Stars and Stripes.
Cutting the VA Backlog: William and Mary may have national model
An April 30 Daily Press article quoted Senator Mark Warner who recommended that the Puller Veterans Benefits Clinic serve as a "national model" to create law school clinics across the country to help solve the Veterans Administration's backlog of cases. Stars and Stripes and the Virginia Gazette also featured the story.
In an on-air interview with WAVY-TV (NBC's Hampton Roads affiliate), Senator Warner said that he's "asked the head of the VA to look at the model that was created at William & Mary [Law School] ... that actually can help those veterans with complicated cases."
Helping Hands
On May 2, the Daily Press's Editorial Board characterized the clinic's work with veterans as a "win-win situation." "This volunteer work," the board wrote, "will undeniably benefit these aspiring lawyers, who are developing their skills not only for paperwork but also for legwork. And best of all, it helps our military veterans ..."
A Month of News for the Puller Veterans Benefits Clinic
The past month has been a busy one for the clinic. Its volunteer attorneys and students were honored on April 15 with the 2013 Lewis F. Powell, Jr. Pro Bono Award by the Virginia State Bar. On March 22, the clinic's HMVHE, a consortium of universities and colleges in Virginia that have joined forces to serve veterans, had their second meeting at William & Mary.
Clinical Programs Director Patricia E. Roberts said she's delighted that the clinic is receiving recognition as being part of a solution to help veterans.
"The Puller Clinic staff, students and volunteers remind us that the passion and expertise of higher education institutions can be instrumental in solving our nation's most comprehensive problems," she said. "William & Mary Law School is proud to help our nation keep its promise to veterans, while simultaneously training future professionals in the ethical practice of law."