About the Clinic
The mission of the Lewis B. Puller, Jr. Veterans Benefits Clinic is to ensure that former military service members have access to the disability benefits that they earned while training tomorrow’s lawyers to become zealous advocates for our nation’s veterans.
According to the National Center for Veterans Analysis and Statistics, the projected U.S. veteran population is nearly 24 million people. With the continuing conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, the number of veterans filing disability claims is projected to continue to grow.
As a clinic program consisting of law students supervised by experienced veterans' law attorneys, the Veterans Benefits Clinic is in a unique position to provide veterans with disability claims services while simultaneously providing the next generation of American attorneys with hands-on experience working with real clients.
Veterans with legal concerns about their health often have a number of other concerns as well. These concerns can range from mental health/substance abuse problems and housing or employment problems to family law issues and other legal conflicts. The goal of the Veterans Benefits Clinic is to help our veteran clients find the help or advice that they need for all of their concerns.
Our relationship with the Center for Psychological Services and Development (CPSD) at Virginia Commonwealth University is a large step in the right direction to help our clients with a multi-disciplinary approach. The CPSD provides assessments, therapy, and a range of social work and counseling services for clients dealing with mental health concerns and other life challenges. They also provide referrals.
You may visit the CPSD website at: http://www.cpsd.vcu.edu/
Congratulations to the Lewis B. Puller, Jr. Veterans Benefits Clinic and to all of the attorneys and law students who have volunteered their time to help veterans gain access to the benefits that they have earned! These efforts were recognized by the Virgnia State Bar on April 15, 2013, when the Clinic was presented with the Lewis F. Powell, Jr. Pro Bono Award (bottom picture).