In March 2007, as the difficulty veterans were encountering in receiving disability benefits became more evident, several law firms contacted the City Bar Justice Center to start a project to assist veterans in applying for these benefits.  Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison, LLP; Reed Smith, LLP; Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton, LLP; Covington & Burling, LLP; Howrey, LLP, McCarter & English, LLP; Mayer Brown LLP; Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe, LLP; Shearman & Sterling, LLP; and Winston & Strawn LLP stepped forward to coordinate the Veterans Assistance Project.

From left to right: William Purcell; Sara Chang; Marcia Maack; Elise Collins; Kwanza Butler; Rene Kathawala; Saralyn Cohen; Carrie Grimm; Eric Stone; Michael Taub; Barbara Berger Opotowsky; William Bagliebter; and Carol Bockner.

The City Bar Justice Center and the firms met weekly to identify the issues and determine the legal needs of the veterans. Additionally, we met with the Veterans Administration and veterans advocacy groups, studied VA regulations, wrote comments on proposed regulations and researched the best outreach locations to let veterans know of our offer to help.  Paralegals from the firms visited homeless shelters, advocacy centers, VA medical facilities and other locations to deliver flyers announcing a free legal clinic to assist veterans.  The hard work of the firms culminated in a training held at the City Bar on October 24th and the first veterans legal assistance clinic held on October 25th.  About 20 veterans were assisted with issues relating to their disability benefits.  Many had been waiting years to receive benefits. 

The founding firms and the City Bar continue to meet each week to discuss ideas for improving future clinics.  The dedication of these firms has been extraordinary, and their desire to work together to ease the difficulties encountered by those who have served in the military, but not received the disability benefits to which they are entitled, is striking.

“We’re pleased to be collaborating with so many large firms dedicated to pro bono work,” said Barry Kamins, President of the New York City Bar.  “Through our clinic, we will assist veterans with the complicated process of filing disability claims and documenting their need for benefits,” Kamins said.

As for the law firms, William Purcell, a partner at Howrey, LLP, commented, “As a Vietnam vet myself, it has been especially gratifying to work with this group and the City Bar Justice Center to get this project started.  In fact, my first client is a Vietnam vet, and I am looking forward to helping him get his benefits.”

“We are excited about the possibility of having a positive impact on the quality of life of veterans in our community.  Personally and professionally, we hope our current relationship with our client is the start of a long collaboration with the Veterans Assistance Project,” noted Terence Gilroy and Jaculin Aaron of Shearman & Sterling.

We hope to expand the Project to train more attorneys from firms throughout the city and assist many more veterans in the coming year. As Rene Kathawala from Orrick Herrington noted, “This particular clinic has really galvanized widespread interest at our firm, and significantly, from some attorneys who have never done pro bono work.” 

Thank you to all the firms that made this Project possible!