Law 693:  Veterans Legal Clinic

The Veterans Legal Clinic (VLC) offers students the opportunity to learn holistic, client-centered lawyering through representing military veterans in a broad array of civil legal matters.  While some of the cases the VLC will handle are specific to this client population, such as discharge upgrades, the majority of the clinic's cases involve broader civil legal issues, including family law, housing, consumer disputes, public benefits, disability, employment, etc.  The clinic seeks to foster in its students a strong professional identify, advocacy skills, and consistent engagement in reflective, intentional practice while providing excellent legal services to a severely underserved population.  Students will take the lead in all aspects of their cases, including client interviews, pleading drafting, fact investigation, discovery, negotiation, and court hearings.  Students will also have the opportunity to interact professionally with a wide variety of social service, medical, mental health, and other providers in the effort to meet their client needs.

Sequence and Prerequisites: A student must be eligible for certification under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 711 which requires, among other things, that a student has completed 45 semester hours toward graduation.

Evaluation: This is a five credit, graded course that includes both a clinic and seminar.  Students will be expected to complete a minimum of 225 hours during the semester.

Course Classification: Experiential