On Cornell’s Veterans Law Practicum

In honor of Veterans Day this year, I’m proud to announce that Cornell Law School has recently launched a new legal clinic serving veterans.  The Veterans Law Practicum aims to pair Cornell Law students with veterans in central and western New York for help with a variety of legal needs, including benefits appeals, discharge upgrades, and housing-related issues.  Currently, the vast majority of veterans applying for benefits (including service-connected disability, pensions, and education benefits) are unrepresented by an advocate.  Similarly, veterans applying for discharge upgrades (that is, an application to request a more favorable character of discharge which will allow them greater access to benefits and healthcare) are not assisted by an attorney to navigate the legal complexities of those claims. 

The Veterans Law Practicum is also honored to receive a new VA grant to serve veterans experiencing homelessness and housing insecurity.  Studies show that veterans experience homelessness or are at risk of being homeless or housing insecure at a much higher rate than the general population.  Service-connected mental and physical impairments increase the likelihood that a returning veteran will have difficulty transitioning to civilian life and maintaining their housing and economic security.

Moreover, the potential consequences of serving in the military, including experiencing PTSD, traumatic brain injury, or military sexual trauma, increase the chance that a veteran will exhibit behavioral issues that will result in a discharge under less than honorable conditions.  Such “bad paper” (as less than honorable discharges are called) prevent veterans from accessing critical healthcare, compensation benefits, and other supportive services.

The Veterans Law Practicum is the culmination of several years of effort, which would not have been possible without the work of the Cornell Law Veterans Association (including Patrick George, Daniel Imakyure, Josh Roth, Konner Robison, Donnavan Fischer, and Morgan Landers) as well as J.R. Clairborne of the Tompkins County Department of Veterans Services.  Special thanks to my co-instructor Lt. Col. Danielle Bernard. Jens Ohlin, Dean of Cornell Law School, and Beth Lyon, Associate Dean for Experiential Education.

If you are a veteran in need of advice or assistance with a legal issue, please contact our hotline at (607) 307-5116.

James Hardwick is an adjunct professor of law. and veterans law staff attorney at Cornell University .