October 24, 2018

SIU School of Law will host free Veterans Legal Clinic Nov. 6

by Pete Rosenbery

CARBONDALE, Ill. — A free Veterans Legal Clinic designed to help veterans with a myriad of issues will be held next month at Southern Illinois University Carbondale.

The inaugural event Nov. 6 at the SIU School of Law will pair veterans with licensed attorneys who will offer legal advice and assistance on civil issues including:

  • Evictions and housing.
  • Education.
  • Consumer issues.
  • Divorce.
  • Public benefit issues.
  • Sealing/expungement of cases.
  • Wills and power of attorney.
  • Discharge upgrades.
  • Department of Veterans Affairs benefits.
  • Social Security Disability/SSI claims.

The event is from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Hiram H. Lesar Law Building, 1150 Douglas Drive, Carbondale.

Advanced registration encouraged

Veterans are encouraged to pre-register for eligibility pre-screening and to schedule an appointment by calling the Illinois Armed Forced Legal Aid Network (IL-AFLAN) at 855/452-3526.

Same-day appointments will be accepted but scheduled appointments are preferred, said Martin Parsons, an adjunct professor at the SIU School of Law who oversees the law school’s Veterans’ Legal Assistance Program.

Received grant in 2017 to provide legal aid services

The law school and Land of Lincoln Legal Assistance Foundation received grants to provide legal aid services as part of the state’s Armed Forces Legal Aid Network. The SIU program focuses on helping veterans with discharge upgrades and Veterans Affairs benefit appeals. 

Meanwhile, in addition to accepting referrals from the hotline, Land of Lincoln Legal Assistance Foundation has developed a new medical legal partnership with the Marion VA Medical Center. 

The law school works to meet the needs of veterans in a 15-county region in Southern Illinois, while SIU Carbondale has a longstanding commitment and history of assisting veterans, active-duty military members, reservists and their dependents. 

Several partners are involved with the Veterans Legal Clinic 

In addition to the SIU School of Law, the Land of Lincoln Legal Assistance Foundation, and IL-AFLAN, the Public Interest Law Initiative, and Marion VA Healthcare System are partners in the event.

For more information, contact the Illinois Armed Forces Legal Aid Network at 855/452-3526.