On September 29, 2016, the Washington, DC-based Veterans Consortium Pro Bono Program awarded the WVU Veterans Advocacy Clinic (VAC) a grant in the amount of $10,000 to advocate on behalf of veterans in need of comprehensive legal services throughout the state of West Virginia. Commander David H. Myers presented the grant award to the VAC at the Louis A. Johnson VA Medical Center’s 2016 Veterans Stand Down. Commander Myers, a Navy Veteran and former Navy judge advocate, currently serves as the Consortium’s Director of Case Evaluation and Placement.
Demonstrating its commitment to veterans across the state, the West Virginia College of Law has expanded its Veterans Assistance Project from a practice area within the General Clinic to a stand-alone Veterans Advocacy Clinic (VAC). The VAC is staffed with eight student attorneys and directed by Associate Professor Jennifer Oliva, a graduate of the United States Military Academy and an Army veteran. Under Professor Oliva’s leadership, the VAC has develop a partnership with the Veterans Consortium in which the clinic students represent veterans before the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (CAVC) and the Veterans Consortium provides the clinic with client referrals, training, mentoring support and grant opportunities.
In the VAC, students represent West Virginia veterans in litigation before administrative agencies and courts, on benefits, discharge upgrades, employment claims and other civil and criminal matters. If you are interested in volunteering with the VAC 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 or Professor Oliva at Jennifer.Oliva@mail.wvu.edu or 304-293-7249.