The NYC Pro Bono Center thanks the City Bar Justice Center for sharing this volunteer feature on Kevin Hackett, partner at Proskauer Rose LLP. Read on to learn about the amazing work Kevin has been involved with as part of the Veterans Assistance Project.     

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Kevin Hackett
Partner, Proskauer Rose LLP

Kevin Hackett is a partner at Proskauer Rose LLP in its Corporate and Real Estate practice.  Beyond working pro bono on several Veterans Assistance Project (VAP) cases for the City Bar Justice Center, Kevin is always willing to take time from his extremely busy schedule to assist and serve as a point-of-contact at his firm for volunteers interested in assisting veterans through VAP. 

An Army veteran himself, Kevin’s case victories include work on behalf of a 96 year-old World War II veteran who came to the City Bar in November 2015.  The 96 year-old veteran had applied for Total Disability compensation from the VA but,  initially, the VA found the veteran still capable of maintaining substantial gainful employment despite his service-connected injuries.  Knowing this to be incorrect, Kevin went to work immediately.  Kevin and his team at Proskauer Rose, secured Total Disability for the veteran, $2,906 a month and over $37,000 in retroactive benefits.

In another case, Kevin assisted a Vietnam veteran who had struggled with homelessness.  Worried that the veteran might be suffering a degenerative condition related to Agent Orange exposure, Kevin urged the veteran to seek care for the condition at the VA.  The veteran was worried and resistant about seeking care at the VA, but Kevin knew the veteran needed to be examined and evaluated.  Kevin promised the veteran that if he would go to the hospital to be evaluated, Kevin would go with him to his appointment and buy him lunch.  The veteran agreed.  So, on a hot summer July afternoon, Kevin met the veteran and spent all afternoon with him at the VA’s Medical Center in Manhattan while the veteran was evaluated and received the care he needed.  When it was done, as promised, Kevin and the veteran visited over lunch.

"An Army veteran himself, Kevin’s case victories include work on behalf of a 96 year-old World War II veteran...a Vietnam veteran who had struggled with homelessness..[and] a female solider who was sexually assaulted and victimized by a fellow soldier."

Kevin’s selfless service to the veterans community is a credit to himself, Proskauer Rose, the City Bar Justice center and the profession.

In yet another case, Kevin assisted a female solider who was sexually assaulted and victimized by a fellow soldier.  The veteran had been victimized by a soldier senior in rank to her and had been made to feel helpless.  Kevin and his team worked to build trust and their client knows they will tirelessly fight on her behalf.

Kevin oversees a monthly veterans pro bono case’ lunch with Proskauer volunteers at which cases assigned to Proskauer volunteers are discussed, common issues in cases addressed, and ideas to move veterans’ cases forward are put forth.  

The City Bar Justice Center extends its deepest gratitude to Kevin and Proskauer Rose for their dedication and commitment to helping New York City’s most vulnerable veterans.  Kevin’s selfless service to the veterans community is a credit to himself, Proskauer Rose, the City Bar Justice center and the profession.

About the City Bar Justice Center: As the nonprofit 501(c)(3) affiliate of the New York City Bar Association, the City Bar Fund leverages the strengths of the City Bar through the Justice Center to provide pro bono legal services to low income clients.  From spearheading the legal services response to 9/11, to developing innovative solutions to the most pressing issues of the day, the City Bar Justice Center has been a leader in providing pro bono services in New York City.  The success of the Justice Center's projects is only made possible through the participation of dedicated pro bono volunteers who donate their time and expertise to clients who would otherwise not be able to afford legal services. You can learn more about the Veterans Assistance Project here.