Veteran’s Legal Help Desk
May 10 @ 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Free***This Page is for VOLUNTEER ATTORNEYS ONLY, if you are a Law Student please use the St. Mary’s CORE website here; if you are a Veteran seeking services please complete an application here.***
The Veterans’ Legal help desk provides limited legal advice and counsel to low-income Veterans on a variety of civil and administrative issues. e.g. tenants seeking repairs or the return of their security deposit; requests/denials of occupational disability accommodations; domestic support issues; tax and mortgage problems; consumer issues; criminal record expunction and non-disclosure; VA benefit issues; and Military Discharge Upgrade actions. Although generally not necessary, SALSA staff attorneys and volunteer subject matter mentors are available for consult during the help desk for any legal issue that a volunteer may be unable to address.
When a Veteran comes to the help desk a Volunteer law student from St. Mary’s University will gather background information and attempt to identify the legal issues during intake. The Veteran and student are then partnered with a volunteer attorney who is asked to identify if an actionable legal issue exists and (a) provide advice and counsel to the client on how to proceed pro se; or (b) recommend SALSA take on the client for extended representation. Although some clients may be placed on the SALSA extended representation listing for pro bono assistance, representation of the client by the help desk volunteer attorney concludes at the end of the help desk. Volunteers are covered by SALSA’s malpractice insurance while working at a SALSA help desk, clinic, or on an extended representation case.
Veterans' Legal Advice Clinic
The Veterans’ Legal Advice Clinic provides limited legal assistance to low-income Veterans on a variety of civil and administrative issues. Volunteer law students from St. Mary’s University gather background information and identify the legal issues during clinic intake. Veteran and student are then partnered with a volunteer attorney who provides counsel and determines whether the Veteran would benefit from extended representation. Although some clients may be placed on the SALSA extended representation listing for pro bono assistance, representation of the client by the volunteer concludes at the end of the clinic. SALSA staff attorneys and volunteer mentors are available for consult during the clinic for legal issues which may be outside of a volunteer’s traditional practice area.