On August 16, 2016, the WVU School of Law hosted a free, MCLE-approved Veterans Advocacy Bootcamp for our Veterans Advocacy Clinic students, West Virginia lawyers, and veteran’s legal advocates. The Bootcamp, which welcomed nearly 100 attendees throughout the program, was co-sponsored by the Washington, DC-based Veterans Consortium Pro Bono Program and the State Bar’s Veterans and Military Affairs Committee. Distinguished Bootcamp guest speakers and trainers included:
- Robert Booth Goodwin II, Partner, Goodwin & Goodwin, LLP and former United States Attorney for the Southern District of West Virginia
- Colonel Lewis Brewer, Co-Chair of the Veterans and Military Affairs Committee of the West Virginia State Bar
- Major C. Scott Applegate, Assistant Staff Judge Advocate, West Virginia National Guard
- Christian Capece, Federal Public Defendant for the Southern District of West Virginia, former Marine judge advocate, and current member of the West Virginia Air National Guard
- Mike Lyons, WV State Department of Veterans Affairs Operations Manager
- Edmund A. Glabus, Executive Director, Veterans Consortium Pro Bono Program
- David H. Myers, Director, Case Evaluation & Place Component, Veterans Consortium Pro Bono Program
- James Carlsen , Senior Fellow, Veterans Consortium Pro Bono Program
The Bootcamp’s agenda, training materials and guest speaker biographies can be viewed at: http://law.wvu.edu/veterans-advocacy-boot-camp. To view Bootcamp pictures, please click on the link below.
About the WVU Veterans Advocacy Clinic: There are approximately 170,000 veterans that currently reside in the state of West Virginia, many with acute and unique legal needs related to their military service or return to civilian life. Demonstrating its commitment to veterans across the state, the West Virginia College of Law is expanding its Veterans Assistance Project (VAP) from a practice area within the General Clinic to a stand-alone clinic, the WVU Veterans Advocacy Clinic (VAC), directed by Associate Professor Jennifer Oliva, a distinguished graduate of the United States Military Academy and an Army veteran. In the VAC, students will have the opportunity to represent West Virginia veterans in litigation before administrative agencies and courts, on benefits, discharge upgrades, employment claims and other civil and criminal matters. In addition, students will represent local and national organizations in non-litigation matters relating to the legal needs of veterans, including regulatory and legislative reform efforts, media advocacy, and strategic planning.
If you are interested in volunteering with the WVU Veterans Advocacy Clinic in any capacity, or know a veteran in need of services, please do not hesitate to reach out to us at your convenience. You can contact the clinic at Jennifer.Oliva@mail.wvu.edu or 304-293-7249.