Newswise — Georgia State University’s Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) department, representatives of the State Bar of Georgia’s Military and Veterans Law Section and the College of Law will start a new legal clinic this month for more than 800 veterans enrolled at the university.
Professor of Law Roy Sobelson, associate dean for academic affairs, will provide faculty leadership and oversight for the new clinic, the Georgia State University Law Volunteer Clinic for Veterans.
“The new clinic for university veterans will allow law students to translate what they have learned in classes to real application in a setting where they are carefully supervised by experienced lawyers,” Sobelson says. “In addition, this is a vehicle by which we can inculcate in our students a spirit of public service, which is demonstrated by the dozens of volunteer lawyers who will work with this project.”
Georgia State Law students will assist in conducting initial interviews and counseling with the veterans in the new clinic. Students also will work with experienced volunteer lawyers who will serve as mentors while helping to address and resolve legal issues.
“Within four months, this clinic came together and everyone stepped forward quickly to begin helping,” says Norman Zoller, attorney coordinating the State Bar of Georgia’s Military Legal Assistance Program. “This clinic is a hybrid and different from others in the state in that it deals with veterans and service members in the National Guard and the active Reserves in a law school and in ROTC environments.”
“This clinic is another key component of the comprehensive strategy to be a truly military-friendly campus,” says Army Lt. Col. William J. Brooks, chair of the Georgia State Department of Military Science and Leadership, “This is just one more way we’re helping veterans achieve their education, continue their service to the military and realize the benefits they have earned.”
Students will assist with a wide range of legal matters from disability and pension claims to the more typical civil or criminal matters that can face anyone. Students will also get experience in such areas as drafting a will or handling a divorce or property dispute.
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