Michigan Military adn Veterans Legal Service Guide - DAV Members

42 Pages·2014·1.55 MB·English

MICHIGAN ATTORNEY GENERAL
Prepared by
The Michigan Department of Attorney General
July 16, 2014
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Prepared by the Michigan Department of Attorney General
LEGAL AND RELATED SERVICES DEDICATED TO VETERANS 1
Legal Programs For Low Income Veterans 2
Law School Clinics and Related Programs 3
Legal Services Programs 4
Pro Bono Programs 5
Legal And Legal-Related Programs For All Veterans And Active Duty Military Personnel 6
Law School Clinics and Related Programs 7
Fee-Based Legal Referral Sources 8
Agencies, Hotlines and Websites for Information, Advice and Referrals 9
Consumer Protection Issues And Resources 10
Veterans’ Treatment Courts 11
Service Officers/Counselors Who Provide Assistance With VA Benefits 12
Service Officers Affiliated with Veterans’ Organizations 13
County Service Counselors 14
Veterans’ And Related Organizations 15
Resources For Vietnam And Other Veterans Exposed To Agent Orange 16
Other Resources 17
GENERAL LEGAL SERVICES FOR LOW INCOME INDIVIDUALS, INCLUDING VETERANS 18
Statewide/National Legal Services Programs 19
County/Regional Legal Services Programs 20
Law School Clinics And Related Programs 21
Pro Bono Programs 22
Hotlines and Websites For Information, Advice And Referrals 23
REFERRAL SERVICES FOR FEE-BASED LEGAL HELP FOR ALL INDIVIDUALS 24
State Bar Of Michigan Lawyer Referral 25
County And Local Bar Association Lawyer Referral Programs 26
Other Lawyer Referral Sources 27
LEGAL AID CLINICS 27
SELF-HELP RESOURCES FOR PRO SE ASSISTANCE 28
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Prepared by the Michigan Department of Attorney General
Legal Programs For Low Income Veterans
Law School Clinics and Legal Services Programs
Related Programs
Neighborhood Legal Services Michigan
University of Detroit Mercy School of Law Supportive Services for Veteran Families
(SSVF)
Project SALUTE, Veterans Law Clinic,
Veterans Appellate Clinic 7310 Woodward
Detroit, MI 48202
University of Detroit Mercy School of Law
Phone: [phone]
651 East Jefferson Avenue
Website: www.nlsmichigan.org
Detroit, MI 48226
Phone: [phone]
The main focus of the SSVF program is to help
Fax: [phone]
veterans and veteran families who are home-
Website: www.law.udmercy.edu
less or at risk of homelessness quickly regain
Email: [email protected]
stability in permanent housing after experienc-
ing a housing crisis and/or homelessness.
Project SALUTE provides pro bono assistance
The program provides support to very low-in-
with obtaining federal veterans’ benefits.
come veterans and veteran families by offering
Veterans Law Clinic advises, represents
case management; transportation services;
and refers low-income veterans and family
legal services; linkage to veterans’ and other
members on issues related to veterans’
benefits; referrals to health care services, food
benefits.
pantries and other providers of basic needs;
Veterans Appellate Clinic represents temporary financial assistance (paid directly to
veterans with cases pending, or to be filed, a third party for rent, utilities, deposits, mov-
at the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims. ing cost and child care); and other supportive
services to address housing stabilization.
Western Michigan Legal Services
Legal Aid of Western Michigan
Website: www.legalaidwestmich.org
Email: [email protected]
Legal Aid of Western Michigan provides
assistance to veteran’s families who are
homeless, in transitional housing or at risk of
homelessness. Cases are referred to LAWM
when there is a legal issue that can either
prevent homelessness or remove an obstacle
to permanent housing. For office locations,
refer to section II.
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Pro Bono Programs The Veterans Consortium Pro Bono Program
Website: www.vetsprobono.org
National Veterans Legal Services Program
(NVLSP) The Veterans Consortium Pro Bono Program
was created in 1992 with a focus to provide
Lawyers Serving Warriors Program
assistance to unrepresented veterans or their
Website: www.nvlsp.org
family members who have filed appeals at
The NVLSP’s Lawyers Serving Warriors the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims
Program offers pro bono legal help to (Court). Each appellant who requests Pro Bono
veterans from all eras with two types of Program assistance receives a thorough
disability claims: Combat Related Special review of his or her appeal. In the event that
Compensation (CRSC) and applications to a case is not accepted by the Program, the
the Physical Disability Board of Review for veteran will receive substantive legal advice
an increase in the military disability rating. about the case.
NVLSP also has a new pilot program for assis-
tance with VA denials of service connection for
PTSD due to military sexual trauma (MST).
Public Counsel: Center for Veterans
Advancement
Website: www.publiccounsel.org/practice_
areas/center_for_veterans_advancement
Public Counsel’s Center for Veterans Advance-
ment (CVA) provides representation, through
pro bono partners, to veterans and their
families in securing government benefits
(e.g., VA benefits; social security; health care
benefits), and assisting veterans in addressing
issues related to accessing employment,
housing, medical care and supportive services.
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Legal And Legal-Related Programs For All
Veterans And Active Duty Military Personnel
Law School Clinics and Fee-Based Legal Referral
Related Programs Services
Thomas M. Cooley Law School Attorneys Admitted to Practice at
Service to Soldiers Program U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims
Thomas M. Cooley Law School Website:
300 S. Capitol Avenue www.uscourts.cavc.gov/practitioners_info.php
Post Office Box 13038
Attorneys, organized by state, are knowledge-
Lansing, MI 48901
able of matters regarding veteran’s benefits
Phone: [phone]
and possibly willing to assist veterans in
Website: www.cooley.edu/probono/service_
other areas.
to_soldiers.html
Cooley Law School’s Service to Soldiers National Organization of Veterans’
Program offers free legal assistance to Advocates (NOVA)
Michigan military personnel who are deploying Website:
to, deployed, and returning troops of E5 rank www.vetadvocates.org/veterans-help/
and below with civilian legal problems they
NOVA is a national organization of attorneys
may be facing. The most common requests
and other qualified members who act as
for help are with family law, estate planning,
advocates for veterans in obtaining VA
creditor/debtor, and landlord/tenant issues,
benefits, and related areas. Attorney members
but attorneys are available to help in other
are organized by state.
practice areas as well. The court filing fees are
the responsibility of the client, but no legal
fees will be charged. Cooley’s volunteer
Agencies, Hotlines and
attorneys and students also assist in preparing
Websites for Information,
wills and powers of attorney at pre-deploy-
ment events Advice and Referrals
These resources provide advice or information
on particular issues and in some instances
may provide referrals.
Army Wounded Warrior Program (AW2)
Phone: [phone]
Website: http://www.polk.amedd.army.mil/
docs/meb/AW2ResourceGuide.pdf
Email: [email protected]
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AW2 assists and advocates for severely Military.Com
wounded, injured, and ill soldiers and their Website: www.military.com
families regardless of location or military
Provides general information and updates
status. The AW2 website also provides a list of
of interest to members and veterans of all
resources regarding benefits administered by
branches of the military.
the Military Services and the Department of
Veterans Affairs.
Military One Source
Phone: [phone]
BVA Ombudsmen
Phone: [phone] Air Force Palace Hart
Email: [email protected] Phone: [phone]
Website: www.militaryonesource.mil
Michigan Department of Military and
Military One Source is a confidential Depart-
Veterans Affairs
ment of Defense-funded program which
Website: www.michigan.gov/dmva
provides comprehensive information at no
Comprehensive website and state agency that cost to Active Duty, Guard, and Reserve
provides information and describes benefits component members, and their families.
available to Michigan Veterans. Information includes: deployment reunion,
non-medical counseling, marital problems,
Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency reintegration concerns, financial management,
Phoenix Bld., 5th Floor taxes, career services, relationship, grief and
222 N. Washington Square loss, spouse employment and education, and
P.O. Box 30104 parenting and childhood. Personalized sup-
Lansing, MI 48909 port and confidential services are available
Phone: [phone] hours a day by telephone and online.
Contact: Cynthia Engler
National Personnel Records Center (NPRC)
Phone: [phone]
1 Archives Drive
Website: www.michiganveterans.com
St. Louis, Missouri 63138
Email: [email protected]
Phone: [phone]
The Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency provides Toll Free: [phone]
resources relating to education, healthcare, Status Check: [email protected]
quality of life and housing. The agency also Website: www.archives.gov/st-louis/
connects veterans with services officers who Email: [email protected]
can help prepare the necessary forms,
Information regarding military personnel,
document claims with pertinent data and
health and medical records is made available
ensure proper submission and case manage-
upon written request with signature and date.
ment of claims.
Veterans can obtain copies of DD-214 and
military personnel records from NPRC. NPRC
also can provide service medical records un-
less records have been transferred to the VA
after the veteran filed a claim for service-
connected disability benefits.
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Agencies, Hotlines and Websites for Information, Advice and Referrals - continued
National Veterans Foundation Swords to Plowshares
9841 Airport Blvd., Suite 418 Website: www.swords-to-plowshares.org
Los Angeles, CA 90045
California-based website, which provides very
Phone: [phone]
good self-help resources for veterans in a vari-
Counselor: [phone]
ety of areas, including issues pertaining to un-
Website: www.nvf.org
desirable discharges and discharge upgrades.
The National Veterans Foundation assists with
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
crisis management services, by providing in-
formation and referrals to all U.S. veterans and Website: www.va.gov
their families through management and opera-
Comprehensive website which contains infor-
tion of its toll-free helpline.
mation and fillable forms. This is a good place
to start on any issue relating to veterans’ ben-
Navy Safe Harbor Program
efits. Also contains contact information for all
Phone: [phone]
VA regional offices and VA medical centers.
Website: http://safeharbor.navylive.dodlive.
mil/files/2012/02/NSH-Brochure-Page-2.pdf VA Benefits
Provides support to seriously wounded, ill and website: www.ebenefits.va.gov
injured sailors, Coast Guardsmen, and their
Veterans can enroll for e-benefits, and apply
families by using a holistic approach to provide
for disability benefits if claim is fully devel-
assistance throughout phases of the service
oped. Veterans also can access other helpful
member’s recovery, rehabilitation, and return
information, including the status of their claim
to duty or community reintegration
if they have registered with e-benefits.
Stateside Legal
VA Health Benefits Enroll by Phone
Website: www.statesidelegal.org
Phone: [phone]
Stateside Legal is a website for members of
VA Hotline for Women Veterans
the military, veterans, their families and advo-
cates. The goal of the website is to offer help in Phone: [phone]
accessing benefits, finding free legal help and
helping to better understand legal issues. VA Phone Number for Status of Pending
VA Claims
Real Warriors Campaign
Phone: [phone]
Website: www.realwarriors.net
VA Suicide Prevention
Multimedia public awareness campaign de-
signed to encourage service members and Phone: [phone]
veterans to seek help for traumatic brain injury
VA National Call Center for
and psychological issues. Website contains
Homeless Veterans
self-help materials on applying for a discharge
upgrade, as well as other helpful materials. Phone: [phone]
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