CALLED TO SERVE
ADDRESSING T HE LEGAL NEEDS O F VETERANS
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2017 • 9:00 AM–11:00 AM
JW MARRIOTT MARQUIS • PLAZA 5 • 5TH FLOOR

The legal profession owes more than gratitude to our nation’s veterans. Legal barriers
often make it difficult, if not impossible, for those who have served in the military to
receive the rightful benefits and services that federal and state governments provide.
ABA President Linda Klein’s Veterans Legal Services Commission is positioning the
ABA to lead a holistic, sustainable effort to ensure that veterans have access to
justice and receive the legal support they, their families, and their caregivers deserve.
As part of this effort, members of the Access to Legal Services Workgroup of
the Veterans Legal Services Commission will present a special Midyear Meeting
program for bar leaders, public interest, private and government attorneys, and law
schools on the legal needs of veterans and how to establish pro bono initiatives to
address these needs in their own communities. The panel will include information
on the value of medical-legal partnerships and how to create them; establishment
of legal clinics at or near VA Medical Centers to aid this population in a myriad of
legal issues; innovative ideas to address the legal needs of rural veterans; and how
to work with law schools to aid or establish law school clinics that assist veterans.
The panel will also discuss the need to engage in culturally competent practices
when representing veterans including referrals to wraparound services to address
the needs of veterans and their families holistically. All Midyear Meeting registrants
are encouraged to attend.