Since its inception, the Veterans Legal Clinic has had dual goals. One is aiding former members of the military in accessing all of the benefits they are entitled to through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, while the other is giving current law students a hands-on learning experience so they can become skilled legal leaders.
The School of Law is pleased to share that the Veterans Legal Clinic is fulfilling its mission. Since June 1, 2018, the clinic has:
- Amassed an estimated financial impact for veterans of over $12.5 million
- Collectively added more than $10 million in monthly income for veteran clients
- Fielded inquiries from more than 850 military families
- Successfully handled more than 47 client cases
- Spoken with veterans in 94 Georgia counties, primarily outside of the greater Atlanta area
- Logged more than 40,000 hours of service by over 140 law students
“Measuring the impact of a teaching law practice can take many forms,” Veterans Legal Clinic Director and Clinical Professor Alexander W. “Alex” Scherr said. “We can measure impact by the number of inquiries from clients, the number of cases handled, the size of the geographic service area, the number of student hours logged, the amount of benefits secured, or the long-term financial impact.
“We can also look at intangibles for veterans – the recognition and validation of past injuries and of future stability for those who may face homelessness or financial distress. And finally, we can look at the impact that training future lawyers has on their own professional development and their own understanding of the rewards of public service,” he said.
Third-year law student Lindsay M. Smith described the Veterans Legal Clinic as her favorite law school experience. “It offers the opportunity to make a tangible difference in the lives of real people,” she said. “When I started law school … all I knew was that I wanted to use my law degree to help people; thanks to the VLC, I got to start actually helping people much sooner than I ever expected.”
Alumnus Jim Butler (J.D.’77) (third from left) with Veterans Legal Clinic participants – (l. to r.) third-year students Lindsay Smith and Kyle Nelson, and second-year students Maggie Camfield, Rosalie Vendrell and Ethan Hammond.
The Veterans Legal Clinic was established through a lead gift from renowned trial attorney James E. “Jim” Butler Jr. The 1977 School of Law alumnus also supports the school’s Butler Commitment, which guarantees financial support for every veteran who enrolls at the law school.
