There are approximately half a million veterans in Washington, many of whom return from service with complex legal needs. Veterans Clinic students engage in trauma-informed advocacy on behalf of local low-income veterans with mental and physical disabilities, and veterans kicked out of service consequent to military convictions and administrative discharges. This includes representation on U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs disability benefits appeals, U.S. Department of Defense discharge upgrades, and appeals to federal court. Students also engage in policy advocacy grounded in their work with individual veterans.
The Veterans Clinic welcomes students with diverse interests, backgrounds, and career aspirations. Prior experience with veterans law is not required. Students participate in a seminar through which they learn substantive veterans law and general lawyering skills. Students also support one another's case work through collaborative case rounds. Clinic activities, such as brief writing and oral advocacy, build lawyering skills widely applicable to legal practice.
Professor Rose Carmen Goldberg and two students from the Veterans Clinic traveled to Washington, D.C., for Senate testimony in April.
King County Executive Dow Constantine and the University of Washington School of Law announced a forthcoming free civil legal services clinic to help King County’s veteran community obtain Veterans Affairs benefits.
This program receives funding from the King County Veterans, Seniors, and Human Services Levy (VSHSL).