Veterans' Benefits Clinic I & II

In this multi-disciplinary clinic, students will learn veterans disability law and procedure and will aid military veterans in the filing, adjudication, and appeal of their disability claims with the Veterans Administration. Law students will work within the curriculum to create and deliver outreach programs to veterans covering the legal aspects of a disability claim. Students will also advocate and negotiate for veteran clients orally and in writing to administrative boards and the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims to appeal adverse decisions of the veterans' claims. Students will work in conjunction with the psychology students at VCU to refer clients for assessment, counseling, and therapy as needed, and may work with graduate students from additional disciplines in responding to veteran client needs. Weekly class sessions and supervisory case meetings will be held, with occasional sessions at VCU. Students will also be required to staff weekly office hours to assist with veteran inquiries. VBC1 is three credits and graded pass/fail. Students interested in VBC2 must take VBC1.

Veterans' Benfits Clinic II

This course requires a 20 page paper or comparable project that identifies a problem with the current veterans disability process, and designs a solution to address that problem, or studies the impact of disabled veterans on a particular community, with identification of any anticipated need for additional resources, or increases awareness and education about the veterans disability process to veterans and their families. Two thirds of the grade will be based on the paper or the project, with one third of the grade awarded for a student's work in advocating for the clinic's veteran clients. This course builds on the student's work of VBC1. VBC1 is a prerequisite.