October 11/Philadelphia: National Organization of Veterans' Advocates New Practitioner Session

The 2012 NOVA conference, to be held at the Sheraton Society Hill in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, includes a one-day New Practitioner Session scheduled for Thursday, October 11, 2012. The general seminar, scheduled for Friday and Saturday, October 12 & 13, is filled with a wide array of interesting and informative topics and presenters.
The NOVA conference is intended for both new practitioners to the area of veterans’ law and more advanced practitioners. The seminar will increase your knowledge, confidence level, and expertise in representing veterans before the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims and the Department of Veterans Affairs. In addition, your time may be credited to your jurisdiction’s CLE requirements.
Title: 
National Organization of Veterans' Advocates New Practitioner Session
When/Where:
Thursday October 11, 2012
By: 
National Organization of Veterans' Advocates
Location: 
Sheraton Society Hill
Philadelphia, PA
Contact: 
Regina Alegre
National Organization of Veterans' Advocates
RAlegre-NOVA@cox.net
www.vetadvocates.org 
More Information:
http://www.vetadvocates.org/Brochure_8.2.12.pdf

VA Facilities Locator

Looking for your nearest VA Facility? Use this handy VA Facilities Locator!
Hosted by the VA itself (so it's pretty official) this web page helps you find your nearest VA facility using a map, a zip code, or other options:

Try it yourself at VA Facilities Locator!

For example, I went looking to see what's near me in Seattle. I clicked on the state of Washington, and got this list:

Then I decided I just wanted to look at the closest 5 facilities. I put in my zip code and got:

Attorneys Representing #Veterans for Rightful VA Benefits

If you're looking for a lawyer who might help you get the VA benefits that you are entitled to, one place to start is the website http://www.attorneys4veterans.com/

I checked several of the attorneys they listed and they did indeed seem to be licensed lawyers who represented veterans in such claims. I haven't checked them all, and you should always pick a lawyer
with as great care as you would pick a doctor, but this looks like a good place to start.

This website lists lawyers according to their state, so you can just scroll or Control-F down to your state to see those in your state.

Technology Note:
The list of state abbreviations at the top currently appears to be broken; I'll email the site admin to see if that can be fixed, but for now, scrolling should work.

Note For Lawyers:
If you are a qualifying lawyer, you might think about getting youself added to the site. Why not? It might steer some people your way.

October 26/Boston (but register now!) Veterans Consortium Pro Bono Program 2012 Training Seminar #MCLE

2012 training for the Veterans Consortium Pro Bono Program is open for applications now! An all-day training will be held in Boston on October 19, 2012, and can lead to a career-changing opportunity to "do well by doing good".
These trainings tend to fill up so register soon!
Title:
2012 Training Seminar
When/Where:
October 26, 2012
9:00AM to 5:00PM
Nutter McClennen & Fish LLP
Boston, MA.
By:

• Nutter McClennen & Fish LLP
• Veterans Consortium Pro Bono Program

Registration:

In order to attend the training, you must complete the application form, which is available here. You would be wise to register early, to avoid disappointment when the program fills up.
The Program provides training free of charge to attorneys who agree to represent a veteran/VA claimant or family member before the Veterans Court. As well as receiving the day-long training, attorneys who participate are assigned a case that has been screened for merit and provided a screening memo outlining the issues in the case. Volunteers are also assigned a mentor (a practicing veterans’ law lawyer or practitioner) to give advice and share sample pleadings. Attorneys also receive the Veterans Benefits Manual (VBM) and other resource materials.

• Malpractice insurance is provided.
• CLE credits are available.

Learn more at:

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

• Attorney Training Brochure & FAQs
• Training Dates for Volunteer Attorneys
• Current Volunteers
• Contact Outreach & Education