WSBA Call to Duty Program - Washington State

The WSBA Call to Duty Pledge asks you to commit in serving Washington veterans in 2014. As part of the pledge we will support you by providing resources both legal and non-legal to serve veterans, education and CLEs, and the chance to answer the various calls to duty in serving veterans.
By taking this pledge, you commit to serve veterans this year in one or more of the following ways:

• Use my legal skills to advise a nonprofit organization that serves veterans
• Mentor those who take pro bono cases that served a veteran
• Teach at a CLE on veterans legal issues
• Volunteer for one of the Call to Duty’s Days of Service or with the WA Vets Will Clinic
• Take a low-fee veteran's case through the WSBA Moderate Means Program
• Take a pro bono case from an organization who serves veterans
• Become certified to take a VA benefits case.

Pledges are automatically added to our “Call to Duty Pledge” list serve. This list serve provides the following announcements and opportunities:

• Monthly “Lunch and Learn” sessions – these webinars will highlight legal and non-legal resource helpful to serving veterans and their families 
• Volunteer openings across the state
• Access to free CLEs on issues veterans face
• Pro bono case placement
• Success stories from our members and our veterans
• First to sign-up for the Days of Service.

Members who fulfill the pledge will receive a pin, be distinguished in NWLawyer magazine, and invited to a WSBA Call to Duty awards ceremony each January.

Learn more now!

Veterans Consortium Pro Bono Program Training - Sign up Now!

This program provides training free of charge to attorneys who agree to counsel and/or 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.
Attorneys who participate receive free training in exchange for a commitment to handle at least one appeal that is before the Veterans Court. Attorneys with little or no prior veterans’ law experience are generally able to capably represent an appellant before the Veterans Court provided they attend the training seminar and maintain contact with their mentor. Most cases can be completed in 50 to 60 hours; many cases may require fewer hours. A typical case lasts about 1 year from the time that the attorney enters the case. Some cases may be resolved more quickly and some may take longer.
These trainings tend to fill up quickly, so register asap.
Title:
Veterans Consortium Pro Bono Program Training
When/Where:

Friday, May 2, 2014
9:00AM to 5:00PM
1101 K Street NW
Washington DC 20005
Wednesday, May 7, 2014
9:00AM to 5:00PM
300 North LaSalle, 11th Floor
Chicago IL 60654
The registration link will be posted February 18.Credit:
These trainings have always featured a great many free CLE credit recognized in most or all mandatory CLE states.
More Information and Registration