Newswise — The Georgia State University College of Law and the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps will officially open a Law Volunteer Clinic for Veterans that will serve 800 veterans enrolled as students at the university at 4 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 11.
The facility is a hybrid and different from others in the state in that it deals with veterans and service members in the National Guard and the active reserves in a law school and in ROTC environments. A ribbon-cutting ceremony at the ROTC campus office at 120 Courtland St., will include representatives of the partnering ROTC Department and the College of Law and representatives of the State Bar of Georgia’s Military and Veterans Law Section
“The veterans clinic illustrates how a law school can provide a valuable community service,” said Steven J. Kaminshine, dean and professor of law. “Offering legal assistance to all Georgia State student veterans, the clinic will allow our students to work with experienced volunteer lawyers and receive pro bono credit.”
“In addition to the Law Volunteer Clinic for Veterans, Georgia State offers the opportunity for fellowship through the Georgia State chapter of the Student Veterans Association, support and assistance through the Military Outreach Center and a host of other programs and services designed to make veterans successful during and after their time in school," said Army Lt. Col. Josh Brooks, chair of the Department of Military Science and Leadership.
Military veterans return from active duty and often face legal issues from financial to family-related matters. Military veterans Steven (J.D. ’05) and Patricia Shewmaker (J.D. ’08) of the Atlanta law firm Shewmaker and Shewmaker LLC, are among the alumni volunteers.
“Georgia State Law and the ROTC Department have combined to create a well-founded program in a remarkably short period of time,” said Norman Zoller, the attorney coordinating the State Bar of Georgia’s Military Legal Assistance Program. “Law student volunteers and attorney mentors have been successfully recruited. The program has already provided useful legal assistance to some of the more than 800 veterans enrolled at Georgia State.”
“It’s especially gratifying that so many of the volunteer lawyers are our graduates, and that well over 70 law students have already signed on for this endeavor,” said Roy Sobelson, associate dean for academic affairs and professor of law. “This is a great opportunity for our students to render important services, gain practical experience, and become part of the legal profession’s dedicated corps of volunteers.”
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