Sep 23/Ft. Riley - Assisting Our Heroes: Creating the Kansas Military #Legal Network

Did you know:

• More than 6,000 service members will return to Kansas from deployment in the next 12 months?
• Thousands of Kansans face special legal issues due to the military status?
• Kansas Lawyers have special education and skills that can assist active duty service members and those transitioning back to civilian life.

Title: Assisting Our Heroes: Creating the Kansas Military Legal Network
3 hours of Free CLE
September 23, 2011 1 – 4 p.m. (Registration begins 12:25)
On base at Ft. Riley, Kansas
(Access to Ft. Riley is available to anyone with a government issued photo ID.)
Space is limited for this event. You must register in advance by email
to Becky Wyre, Kansas Legal Services, wyreb@klsinc.org or phone
785-270-5664. You will receive a reply email with a map to the training
location on base.

How can you help:Sign up for the American Bar Association Military Pro Bono project
http://www.militaryprobono.org/about/item.668-Information_for_Attorneys_Interested_in_Pro_Bono_Cases
Starting in October, you will receive a weekly email listing Kansas cases of active duty service members who are seeking pro bono services to resolve civilian legal issues involving low income enlisted personnel. All referrals are made by JAG officers, who can provide advice, but not court representation, to service members. The ABA compiles referrals and emails them to Kansas attorney volunteers. You have complete choice in reviewing the list and volunteering for a case.
Become a part of the Kansas Military Legal NetworkThrough this training, which is offered in appreciation of your consideration of helping to meet this legal need, you can choose to be put on the referral list in your geographic and legal areas. This list is used by JAG staff and Community Support Coordinators to provide referrals to military service members and their families who are seeking legal help. You decide whether you charge full fee or reduced fee or pro bono services to these referred clients.
Periodic Continuing Legal Education events are planned to: recruit attorneys to this network; provide information to help participating attorneys better serve referred clients; and create a community of support for attorneys working in this legal area.
Seminar Sponsored by:Kansas Bar Association
Thanks to the Kansas CLE Commission which waives fees on programs presented without charge to participants.


More:
http://www.kansaslegalservices.org/files/Assisting%20Our%20Heroes%209.11%20on%20line%20layout.pdf

Servicemember & #Veterans with Post-911 Concussions Urged to Apply for Purple Hearts

Servicemembers and veterans who got concussive or mild traumatic brain injuries after September 11, 2001 are encouraged to apply for a Purple Heart, according to "Army clarifies guidance for Purple Heart award for concussion injuries" from U. S. Army Human Resources Command.
Qualification for the Purple Heart for concussion injuries include mild traumatic brain and concussive injuries that do not result in a loss of consciousness.
If you have previously been denied a Purple Heart for something like this, you may reapply and are encouraged to do so by following the directions in the memo.
If you're entitled to this award, why not go for it?


Thanks to Military.com for the head's-up on this!

Web-Based Training for Advocating for Veterans - the Basics on Benefits, Discharge Upgrades and Cultural Competency

Medical and financial assistance are available to men and women who have served in our military, but some who can qualify are not receiving the benefits that they need.  Attorneys can assist veterans with the problems that preclude them from receiving benefits:

• Veterans are not aware of the benefits to which they are entitled
• Injuries, both mental and physical, are not “connected to service” by a proper paper trail
• Some were given less than fully honorable discharges for behaviors that were related to post traumatic stress or minor disciplinary infractions and the status of their discharge makes them ineligible for benefits

Each of these issues will be addressed in this program.

Accreditation by the VA may take several weeks, so do not delay filing your application. Click here for application  http://www.va.gov/OGC/docs/Accred/VA21a.pdf. You can speed up the process by:

a. Emailing the form to OGCAccreditationMailbox@va.gov
b. In your email message to the VA, please indicate that you are a registered participant in the May 6th PLI training
c. Include a copy of your State Bar Certificate of Good Standing

Within 12 months of accreditation you are required to complete 3-hours of qualifying CLE. The morning session of this program satisfies that requirement.

Attorneys and other advocates who become accredited will be listed on a national VA list, and are entitled to represent veterans in their claims for benefits, on a pro bono basis, and for attorney’s fees on appeals, where they are available.
Title:
Advocating for Veterans - the Basics on Benefits, Discharge Upgrades and Cultural Competency
Host: Practicing Law Institute
More:
http://www.pli.edu/Content.aspx?dsNav=Ny:True,Rpp:1,Ro:0,Ns:sort_title|101|1|,N:4294924479-167&fromsearch=false&ID=133746

Oct 21/DC - Lawyer Training for Veterans Consortium Pro Bono Program

Veterans denied benefits by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) can appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims.

Thousands of veterans or their survivors have filed appeals in the Court. Most cases involve claims for VA disability or death benefits. Unfortunately, for many veterans the promise of effective judicial review has proved elusive. A majority of those who appeal to the Court do not have a representative at the time they file their appeal. Unrepresented veterans are at a significant disadvantage in litigating against the VA General Counsel’s Office, which represents VA in all Court proceedings. Mentally and physically disabled veterans may be especially disadvantaged.

The program offers attorneys an uncommon opportunity to repay those who served. Please consider participating and helping veterans and their families prove entitlement to benefits.

Training Date:	October 21, 2011
Sponsor:	DC Bar Pro Bono Program and the Veterans Consortium Pro Bono Program
Location:	DC Bar, Washington, DC
Time:	9:00AM to 5:00PM
Registration:	In order to attend the training, we request that you complete the application form at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/2VZNDSW.

Brochure:

http://www.vetsprobono.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Attorney-Brochure-20111.pdf

More:

http://www.vetsprobono.org/volunteer-today/training-dates-for-volunteer-attorneys/

Aug 22/Web - #Consumer Utility Rights (Texas Legal Services Center’s Veterans’ Legal Assistance Project)

Advocates Serving Veterans is a service offered as a part of Texas Legal Services Center’s  Veterans’ Legal Assistance Project. It is offering several FREE 1 hour teleconference CLEs on a variety of topics of interest to Volunteer and Legal Services attorney serving low income veterans. 

This event:

August 22, 2011, 12:00-1:00 CST- Consumer Utility Rights

More Topics and Dates Coming Soon!

 Attorneys interested in attending this telephone CLE program should contact the TLSC Veterans Legal Assistance Project at 1-512-637-5417.

More:

http://lonestarlegalaid4veterans.wordpress.com/2011/07/08/advocates-serving-veterans-free-cle-series/

About Lone Star Lawyers for Lone Star Veterans

LSLA honors Texas veterans and service members by prioritizing their unique civil legal needs through our initiative, “Lone Star Lawyers for Lone Star Veterans”. We engage LSLA staff, community partners and pro bono attorneys to provide free legal services, advocacy and education to veterans and service members. LSLA is the fourth largest legal service organization in United States; we provide free civil legal services to low income individuals and families who have immediate civil legal needs but cannot afford an attorney. LSLA offers a broad range of free civil legal services to qualifying individuals, including family matters, child advocacy, education and civil rights, public benefits, health care access, consumer issues, home ownership, tenants’ rights, employment, estate planning, probate matters and disaster relief. LSLA serves one-third of Texas, its service area spans 76 counties throughout Texas and Arkansas and includes Fort Hood, Houston and Waco, regions which have high concentrations of veterans and military families.