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6/3/13 Fighting for Veterans' Rights | EmoryWire Magazineaddressed and how John Marshall had handled these. We also explored ways toprovide substantive training for student volunteers on handling veterans benefitclaims,” Shanor explained.The Emory Law Volunteer Clinic for Veterans opened in mid-February 2013. Bunt andco-founder Rachel Erdman 14L, both members of the National Security Law Societyand winners of the Trailblazers Award, drew inspiration from the career and militaryexperience of U.S. Army veteran H. Lane Dennard, Jr. A highly decorated veteran whohas received the Silver Star, Air Medal, Army Commendation Medal, and Purple Heartwith Oak Leaf Cluster, Dennard is now the clinic’s co-director in addition to his role asadjunct professor to the Emory School of Law.“Professor Dennard’s experience is essential in guiding students through tough cases.His passion for helping and expertise in veterans’ affairs makes him an enthusiasticmentor and an invaluable part of the clinic,” says Erdman.An internationally recognized expert in military and counterterrorism law, Shanor says,“The clinic is a wonderful opportunity for students to experience the best aspects oflawyering: serving clients, analyzing problems, and helping to articulate and solvethose problems. Through this clinic experience, they learn to become better lawyers.”The clinic offers student volunteers a chance to earn pro-bono and public service hourswhile partnering with many lawyers currently working on veterans’ law. Erdmanprovides organizational leadership and scheduling for student volunteers. The EmoryLaw Volunteer Clinic for Veterans has trained forty-three law student volunteers onhow “to handle interesting, difficult, problematic cases with more consequences due tothe veterans’ administration courts,” says Bunt, who was recently awarded theOutstanding Grad School Organization President Award.Sixteen cases are in process including a disability ratings case for traumatic brain injuryand post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a petition for discharge upgrade before theBoard for Correction of Naval Records, two cases before the U.S. Court of Appeals forVeterans’ Claims, a pension case for the widow and four children of a veteran, a caseinvolving access to records, and VA healthcare issues, a matter for the GeorgiaVietnam Veterans’ Alliance. Both the Military Veterans’ Law Section and the MilitaryLegal Assistance Program of the Georgia bar actively support the clinic.In addition, student volunteers and their mentors aim to help establish an initiative fora Veterans Court in Georgia. Dennard points out, “Their work includes a review of draftlegislation, research on constitutional issues, and analysis of the economic impact ofveterans’ courts. The goal is to offer medical treatment and monitoring through theVeterans Administration as an alternative to standard criminal sentencing.”Veterans’ Law Clinic Grow sFrom its grassroots beginnings with a goal to serve the close to 800,000 veterans inGeorgia (including 200,000 in metro Atlanta alone), the development of the Emory LawVolunteer Clinic for Veterans has made Emory Law “the first law school in Georgia andone of the first in the South to provide a legal clinic specifically to meet the needs ofour veterans,” says Erdman.Initial funding helped to initiate program fundamentals for basic equipment, part-timeadministrative support, and other organizational expenses. Now, the clinic seeks toexpand and attain funding for public service internships and full-time staff.Erdman points out, “We have had immense support and interest in veterans pro-bonowork from the student body, but we need more mentors.” She explains, “Pairingstudents with attorney mentors benefits both parties. The students learn how tonavigate veterans’ pro-bono work and can continue this work after graduation. Theattorneys can give some of the work-load to the student, saving time.”As funding for the program increases, the Emory Law Volunteer Clinic for Veteranshopes to increase caseload, hire more permanent staff and support personnel, andexpand its website and facilities. Shanor says, “Lawyers who will be doing the probonowork ultimately have responsibility for the cases. Students are working on cases,so that is a win-win.” He notes that enhancing infrastructure will allow them to offersummer public service internships and post-graduate fellowships which are bothprogram goals.“The benefit to veterans is tangible,” says Bunt. “For each client’s case, we provide apracticing attorney plus two or three student assistants who research legal issues,write or draft papers, and provide legal advocacy.”“The response to our efforts on behalf of veterans has been truly remarkable,” Buntwww.alumni.emory.edu/emorywire/issues/2013/june/of_note/story_1/index.html 2/3122