Announcement of the new Veterans Legal Advocacy Center

Van Cleave, Rachel A.

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Golden Gate University School of Law: Digital Commons

Golden Gate University School of LawGGU Law Digital CommonsVeterans Legal Advocacy Center Centers & Programs11-2014The Veterans Legal Advocacy CenterRachel A. Van CleaveGolden Gate University School of Law, rvancleave@ggu.eduFollow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.law.ggu.edu/vlacPart of the Other Law CommonsThis Newsletter or Magazine is brought to you for free and open access by the Centers & Programs at GGU Law Digital Commons. It has beenaccepted for inclusion in Veterans Legal Advocacy Center by an authorized administrator of GGU Law Digital Commons. For more information, pleasecontact jfischer@ggu.edu.Recommended CitationVan Cleave, Rachel A., "The Veterans Legal Advocacy Center" (2014). Veterans Legal Advocacy Center. Paper 1.http://digitalcommons.law.ggu.edu/vlac/111/12/2014 myemail.constantcontact.com/Veterans-Lead-The-Way-At-Golden-Gate-Law.html?soid=1108953471107&aid=DEDpUkkwrWMhttp://myemail.constantcontact.com/Veterans-Lead-The-Way-At-Golden-Gate-Law.html?soid=1108953471107&aid=DEDpUkkwrWM 1/2Professor Devoy This Veterans Day I write to express my deep respect for all whohave served their country.  In particular, I feel profound gratitudetoward our students, faculty, staff and alumni who have worn theuniform to protect our deepest values:  Virtue, Honor, Respect,and Understanding, to name a few.There is a lot we can learn from our veterans, those who volunteered to be placed inharm's way so that the rest of us might prosper.  These lessons extend not only to ourdaily lives, but to the realm of law and legal education.Please take a moment to read about what GGU Law does for veterans. Below is anexpose on our new Veterans Legal Advocacy Center, and a review of our Second AnnualVeterans Law Conference, which featured Will Gunn and John Keker.The Veterans Legal Advocacy Center"[The VLAC] worked on my claim and succeeded in doing what I could not in 40 years, they got the VA tofinally acknowledge my service-connected injuries and grant me VA healthcare." - David Jackson, Navy VeteranGolden Gate University School of Law is the first law school inNorthern California to develop a legal center to address thegrowing needs of a traditionally under-served population:  Ourveterans.The Veterans Legal Advocacy Center (VLAC) began at GGU Law inthe fall of 2014, under the direction of Army combat veteran andGGU Law Professor, Daniel Devoy.  The VLAC's initial serviceswere procuring veteran benefits for veterans who had earnedthem, and advocating for discharge upgrades for personsquestionably released from military service. Recently, the VLAC has begun providing on-site legal services to incarcerated veterans as the Center prepares to integrate with, andwork in support of the Bay Area Veterans Treatment Court.11/12/2014 myemail.constantcontact.com/Veterans-Lead-The-Way-At-Golden-Gate-Law.html?soid=1108953471107&aid=DEDpUkkwrWMhttp://myemail.constantcontact.com/Veterans-Lead-The-Way-At-Golden-Gate-Law.html?soid=1108953471107&aid=DEDpUkkwrWM 2/2The VLAC aims to give every law student the opportunity to help meet the legal needs ofour nation's returning service men and women, and to support our veterans' successfultransition to civilian life.  In doing so, the VLAC offers students specialized courses inveteran law and access to various veteran service organizations.  Further, GGU Law hasmore than doubled the number of veterans in this year's 1L class while providing YellowRibbon Tuition Assistance to 100% of all qualifying applicants.Links:VLAC in LawdragonVLAC WebsiteSecond Annual Veterans Law Conference "Law students and practitioners alike must recognize this in the vets who are their clients. Go back to the factthey were volunteers, they see themselves as warriors, self controlled, independent, capable, in charge ofthemselves. The idea of being labeled as suffering with a disorder or dependent on others, that stigma is very,very hard for these people to accept."  - John Keker   This year, Golden Gate University School of Law hosted its second annual Veterans Law Conference as we work to address the growing health, legal, and employment needs ofour nation's returning veterans.  The conference was a great success.Assembling some of the greatest minds in the country, GGU Law featured prominentspeakers such as John Keker, Partner at Keker & Van Nest,  and Will Gunn, formerGeneral Counsel for the Department of Veterans Affairs.  They were joined by expertpanelists to address areas of care and the best means of addressing the growing needsof returning veterans.  We were very fortunate to have a journalist from Lawdragon attend the event and writeabout our speakers and what GGU Law does for its veterans.  Please read the Lawdragonarticles below.Read:About Will Gunn's SpeechAbout John Keker's Advice  More on the Veterans Law Conference  This Veterans Day, we ask that you join us in supporting our nation's veterans through agesture of good will, whether it be a helping hand for a veteran in need or through asmall donation to a non-profit organization that supports veterans near you. Sincerely,  Dean Rachel Van Cleave Golden Gate University School of Law

The Veterans Legal Advocacy Center

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The Veterans Legal Advocacy Center

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Golden Gate University School of Law: Digital Commons

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