As president of Hofstra Law’s Veterans Law Student Association, one of Rebecca Falk’s responsibilities is to help organize the groups Veterans Legal Assistance Project (VLAP), a one-day free legal assistance clinic which is offered each semester for veterans.
The students involved in VLAP start each semester by reaching out to local organizations that serve veterans, local politicians, and media outlets, to ask them to publicize the clinic to their constituents. As veterans call and email VLAP, students perform client intakes and then reach out to attorneys in their attorney network to match attorneys with clients based on their legal needs. All of the work comes together at the one-day clinic, where attorneys meet with veteran clients, and students are usually able to join client meetings as well.
To date, VLAP has provided more than 400 military veterans with free legal services.
Rebecca discusses her experience participating in VLAP.
Getting Involved with VLAP
After participating in VLAP my first semester of law school, I realized what a rewarding experience it is to help local veterans with their legal matters. The veterans we help are always appreciative and express how helpful the VLAP program is. VLAP is also a great learning experience for students and we had 22 students volunteer their time. Even at my very first VLAP clinic, I sat in on three client meetings. I was able to speak to the attorneys after the meeting about their careers and ask them questions about the legal advice they provided to the veterans.
“My involvement in VLAP has solidified to me that two integral parts of a law career should be giving back to our service members and the larger community and participating in programs where law students can gain valuable guidance and mentorship from local attorneys who set the bar for service and professionalism.”
Organizing a Virtual Clinic
This semester, the clinic was completely virtual. In other years, clients can fill out disclosure forms when they arrive at the clinic, but this year we had to email, mail or fax disclosure forms to clients beforehand. We also had to organize a virtual way for clients to share relevant documents with the attorney and to address technology and ethical issues that arose. Although certain aspects were difficult to coordinate, with the help of my fellow students, Assistant Dean Franca Sachs and Professor Blair Thompson, everything went smoothly. All client meetings were conducted over Zoom or conference call, depending on the veterans’ comfortability with technology.
VLAP was able to help thirteen veterans during this semester’s clinic on December 6. Some of the veterans who participated had multiple legal issues and met with different attorneys. Unlike other years, we were able to help veterans that reside outside of the Long Island area, and our clinic even included clients from the Mohawk Valley Region.
Participating in Pro Bono Work
Through my involvement in VLAP, I’ve been able to connect with phenomenal attorneys and Hofstra law faculty members and students who really care about pro bono work and community service. My involvement in VLAP has solidified to me that two integral parts of a law career should be giving back to our service members and the larger community and participating in programs where law students can gain valuable guidance and mentorship from local attorneys who set the bar for service and professionalism.
VLAP will be hosting another virtual clinic on February 21, 2021. VLAP helps clients seeking assistance with a variety of legal issues, such as VA benefits and claims, family law, elder law, tax, wills, estates, disability, landlord-tenant disputes and Medicare/Medicaid. In addition to the virtual clinic, VLAP is working to create a handbook of legal services organizations for veterans.
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