Hispanic National Bar Association Proudly Announces the Veterans Legal Initiative Program

WASHINGTON, Jan. 23, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Hispanic National Bar Association (HNBA) is proud to announce the new HNBA Veterans Legal Initiative Program ("Veterans Initiative"), a new effort to provide free legal services to the men and women of the American armed services and their families. Started as part of National President Benny Agosto, Jr.'s "Year of the Advocate", the Veterans Initiative will organize HNBA members to volunteer at local Departments of Veterans' Affairs, American Legion posts, and Veterans of Foreign Wars locations, as well as opening their own free legal clinics to offer assistance to veterans who are unable to afford legal services.

"The transition veterans face upon returning from war can seem overwhelming due to looming hardships like landlord-tenant disputes, family and financial struggles, and more, on top of the already great pressure of military service itself," said National President Benny Agosto, Jr. "For these veterans, relief from that burden can come from the opportunity to talk to a lawyer one on one. We, as lawyers, are in the position to help our veterans. Our expertise in the law can be a lifeline."

This announcement follows closely in the wake of the return of the last of the American troops from Iraq, after nearly nine years of active duty. "Now is the time for the HNBA to advocate on behalf of the men and women of our armed forces, in order to ensure that they may enjoy the freedoms for which they sacrificed," added President Agosto.

With the help of volunteer attorneys, the Veterans Initiative will serve the veteran population in all of the HNBA's 19 regions. The HNBA will offer training to its members to allow them to reach out to their respective communities and provide legal services to those in need. Volunteer attorneys will serve as advisors and counselors to any veteran or spouse of a deceased veteran in various areas of the law including family, wills and probate, consumer, real estate and tax law, as well as disability and veterans benefits. No appointment will be necessary for a veteran to attend one of the clinics. Veterans who need ongoing legal representation and who qualify for legal aid will be referred a pro bono attorney to handle their case.

For more information on the HNBA's Veteran's Legal Initiative, please visit www.hnba.com/veterans.

For additional questions, please contact the office of Benny Agosto, Jr. at Abraham, Watkins, Nichols, Sorrels, Agosto & Friend, at [email protected] or (713) 222-7211, or through the HNBA National Office at [email protected] or (202) 223-4777.

About the Hispanic National Bar Association

The Hispanic National Bar Association (HNBA) is an incorporated, not-for-profit, national membership organization that represents the interests of the more than 100,000 Hispanic attorneys, judges, law professors, legal assistants, and law students in the United States and its territories. From the days of its founding four decades ago, the HNBA has acted as a force for positive change within the legal profession. It does so by encouraging Latino students to choose a career in the law and by prompting their advancement within the profession once they graduate and start practicing. Through a combination of issue advocacy, programmatic activities, networking events and educational conferences, the HNBA has helped generations of lawyers succeed.

SOURCE Hispanic National Bar Association