The Veterans Legal Corps will engage 260 law students in national service as AmeriCorps members to support the delivery of legal services to veterans, their families, and other individuals. Veterans Legal Corps law student members will improve the lives of veterans by providing legal services that enable low-income veterans to return to successful civilian life. Law student members will assist veterans with issues related to disability benefits claims, barriers to housing and employment, debt, family law, and other legal issues. Members will also assist attorneys with legal research, briefs, client outreach and intake screenings. They will serve at organizations across the country such as the Center for Arkansas Legal Services, Legal Services of Northern Virginia, LAF Chicago, Volunteer Legal Services Hawaii, Neighborhood Legal Service of Los Angeles County and many more.
Service Activities
Conducting client interviews and intakes, helping clients secure government benefits and other income supports, researching relevant legal issues, drafting documents, and assisting attorneys with active housing, health care and government benefit matters in court and other forums.
Community Need Addressed
Veterans Legal Corps law students will be handling a wide range of tasks including landlord/tenant evictions, public benefits application/appeals assistance, unemployment benefits application/appeals assistance, wills and power of attorney, child support modifications, and some military pay and bonus issues.
Position Outcomes
Improve the lives of our veterans. Making connections with individuals and other volunteers in the community for program outreach and program enhancement. Members with also assist AmeriCorps members and staff in programming and activities wail receiving training and assisting volunteers when appropriate.
Benefits
Education award upon successful completion of service
Education Benefits
Credential or Certification
Skills you will gain
Conflict resolution, time management, working with the public, etc.
Competencies You Will Develop
Communication
Demonstrate sensitivity and empathy, Lead group discussion, Listen to and consider others' viewpoints, Maintain open lines of communication with others, Speak clearly, in precise language and in a logical, organized and coherent manner, Turn taking, Write cleary and effectively
Creativity & Problem Solving
Able to identify and define the problem, Communicate the problem to appropriate personnel
Teamwork
Develop constructive working relationships and maintain them over time, Establish a high degree of trust and credibility with others, Stay positive and outcome oriented
Decisions
Identify and prioritize the key issues involved to facilitate the decision making process, Involve people appropriately in decisions that may impact them, Quickly respond with a back-up plan if a decision goes amiss
Tools
Consistently choose the best tool or technological solution for the problem at hand, Operate tools and equipment in accordance with established operating procedures, safety standards, and ethical guidelines
Planning
Able to prioritize various competing tasks, Create environment of contribution, Create plan of action, schedule tasks so that work is completed on time
Service
Be pleasant, courteous, professional and respectful when dealing with internal and external customers or clients, Recognize the importance of maintaining privacy and confidentiality of those being served, Understand and anticipate the needs of others