Show Me Access: Rural Veteran Service Program (Tigers for Troops)
In 2019, the Veterans Clinic launched an exciting new initiative called “Tigers for Troops” to provide assistance to veterans in rural Missouri. Under the program, the Clinic partners with the University of Missouri Extension to have students and supervising attorneys visit extension offices throughout the state to educate veterans about available resources, as well as to assist them with disability claims and appeals, and discharge upgrades. This program serves the vital purpose of giving rural veterans access to resources they normally would not have.
The Tigers for Troops Program is directed by the Clinic’s Thomas Fellow. Martha Bradley. Kleinhesselink, an attorney in the Veterans Clinic, currently serves as the Clinic’s Thomas Fellow and directs the Tigers for Troops program.
Training
As part of the program, clinic personnel also train attorneys on veterans’ law to increase the number of attorneys qualified to help veterans in Missouri’s rural areas as well as accept referrals from the Veterans Clinic. If you or your law firm would like the Clinic to provide training for you to represent veterans with their VA claims, please contact us. Additionally, if you are an attorney who would like to accept referrals from the Veterans Clinic, please contact us here.
Show Me Home: Homeless Veterans Initiative
Veterans who are homeless or at risk for homelessness often face legal issues that make it difficult for them to obtain or maintain stable housing. The Department of Veterans Affairs published a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) in October 2022 for more than $11 million in grants to entities that will provide legal services to eligible Veterans who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. The University of Missouri School of Law Veterans Legal Clinic is fortunate to have been one of the chosen grant recipients.
The Show Me Home Program will focus on Discharge upgrades, Character of Service upgrades and Service Connection claims/appeals.
Criteria
Both of the following criteria must be met for Veterans to be eligible for LSV-H Program services:
- Veteran served in the active military, naval, air, or space service, and who were discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable.
- Veteran is homeless as that term is defined in the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act and 38 CFR 79.15(a); or at-risk for homelessness (as defined in 38 CFR Part 79.15(b))
Show Me Support: Military Lawyer Transition Initiative
The Military Lawyer Transition program is designed to help Mizzou Law students entering a Judge Advocate General Corps (JAG) program. This program is needed because there is a period of time between graduation and reporting for active duty (typically six to eight months) where the military does not provide pay to the student. This program allows the Clinic to pay the student to work in the Veterans Clinic while he or she is waiting to report to their first duty station. The program will give the future JAG officer financial support as well as an opportunity to work on behalf of veterans in the clinic.
The Military Lawyer Transition Program is funded through generous donations from Susan Combs of Combs and Co. and Diana Pendleton, through her friend Dorothy Connell Berry. To provide financial support to the Military Lawyer Transition Program click here.
Previous Participants in the Veterans Clinic Military Lawyer Transition Program
- Adam Rushin | Navy Judge Advocate General Corps
- Justin Brickey | Army Judge Advocate General Corps
Show Me Advocacy: Policy and Amicus Briefing Initiative
In addition to advocating for veterans with their VA claims and discharge upgrades, the Veterans Clinic also participates in other forms of advocacy, including high-level amicus briefs and scholarly articles.
Amicus briefs are “friend of the court” briefs that allow a third party to file briefs in court to advocate legal and policy positions. The Veterans Clinic has been involved in major amicus brief efforts that have changed the landscape of veterans benefits law.
