John Marshall Law School's Veterans Legal Support Center & Clinic Awarded $350K Federal Grant

CHICAGO, Nov. 2, 2010 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Veterans Legal Support Center & Clinic (VLSC) at The John Marshall Law School recently was awarded a $350,000 grant from the United States Department of Justice's Office of Justice Programs. 

The grant will enable the VLSC to accomplish four key initiatives: work with the state court system to implement Veterans Courts, as provided in Public Act 96-924, signed into law by Gov. Patrick Quinn on June 14, 2010; develop the partnership with the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois to administer support for qualifying veterans appearing in Federal Misdemeanor Court;  serve as the strategic depository for all scholarship addressing domestic violence issues, to include presenting conferences and trainings to develop possible support programs; and assist other law schools across the United States in replicating the VLSC to serve their local communities.      

"This grant makes it possible for us to provide valuable legal support to those who have given so much to our country – the men and women who have served our nation in time of need," said The John Marshall Law School Foundation President John Lee.

John Marshall Dean John E. Corkery added, "We ask a lot of our veterans. We put them in harm's way. We ask that they give the last ounce of devotion that they possibly can and then sometimes when they get back state-side, we don't always give them the support that they need."

"That is one of the reasons for our veterans clinic – to try and make sure that we do give the men and women who are veterans the help that they need," he said.

Among the distinguished guests at a recent ceremony announcing the grant, Rep. Danny K. Davis (D-IL) congratulated the law school, not only for the VLSC's receipt of the grant, but also for its "tremendous outreach into the community."

"That's what a law school like this one should, in fact, be.  We know that the door is open both ways. Inside, so that people can, in fact, come in and learn all of the principles and practices of law.  But also outside, so that people get an opportunity to interchange, interact and exchange thoughts and ideas," he added.  

As one of the first such clinics in the country, The John Marshall Legal Support Center & Clinic has been dedicated to addressing the legal needs of veterans seeking benefits from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).  The VLSC assists veterans by investigating and researching their VA benefit claims. Additionally, the clinic refers qualified veterans to private legal counsel through a statewide network of pro bono attorneys. 

Assistant Professor Joseph Butler, co-executive director of VLSC says the grant is intended to help the VLSC expand its ability to assist veterans in criminal matters. He says that many times returning war veterans are not given the help that they need to reintegrate into society.

"We want to make sure that these people that we owe so much to don't end up being involved in the criminal justice system. And, if they do become involved in the system, we want to put a support system in place that ensures that they don't become repeat offenders and become incarcerated."

He added, "It's a national tragedy that so many of the people in prison today served our country. We are dedicated, with this money, to ensuring that that will not happen again."

SOURCE The John Marshall Law School