The Veterans Strategic Legal Resource Pro Bono Challenge is a unique aspiration. The Challenge articulates a single, unitary standard for one key segment of our honored society and the ability of the legal profession to contribute to it. We solicit attorney/law firms to become Signatories to the Challenge and acknowledge their institutional, profession-wide commitment to provide pro bono legal services to low-income and disadvantaged veterans and their families and nonprofit groups. To help attorneys/firms honor this commitment, the Veterans Strategic Legal Resource Project assists attorneys/law firms in creating a supportive environment promoting pro bono service. |
VSLR/Mobile 2.0 We are currently in the process of collecting information needed for a feasibility study that would diminish the Veterans Administration's 4th national unmet need - Legal Services for disadvantaged veterans and their families. MISSION STATEMENT The mission of VSLR/Mobile 2.0 is to prevent, facilitate, or resolve legal problems that confront disadvantaged veterans and their families by providing professional legal counseling and assistance where legal service would not otherwise be readily available. VSLR/Mobile 2.0 also seeks to educate veterans about their legal rights and responsibilities through informational programs, materials, and individual counseling. Assistance with legal problems is an unmet and essential service for veterans, as legal issues can jeopardize a veteran's performance and development in making a smooth transition back into mainstream society. VSLR/Mobile 2.0 hopes to assist in alleviating these obstacles that prevent disadvantaged veterans from the most basic of services and opportunities to maximize the quality of fundamental civil rights. Abstract: A project to transport veteran legal resources to veterans around the nation is now being evaluated based on seven objectives: (1) to publicize information on veterans' legal services provided by the project, (2) to make available legal resources and other veteran services otherwise not available, (3) to demonstrate influential pro bono veterans legal services and to educate the community of unmet needs, (4) to develop a nationwide veterans legal services network, (5) to make available materials and support that legal service providers can use to assist veterans' unmet needs by utilizing technological innovation and unconventional possibilities, (6) to develop a partnership with local attorney/law firms and to explore and identify new approaches to - and resources for - the provision of legal services to disadvantaged Veterans and their families and other individuals or groups that assist veterans in securing legal assistance to address critical problems. (7) to make veterans' services information available to survey a state-by-state awareness of services and satisfaction. PROJECTED SERVICES and POLICIES Principal Functions In furtherance of its mission, the principal functions performed by VSLR/Mobile 2.0 will be: 1. Counseling the veteran regarding a legal problem and describing the options available to the veteran, including answering questions or explaining the individual's legal rights and responsibilities. This counseling is privileged and confidential. 2. Negotiating on behalf of the veteran with other parties to a legal problem, e.g., landlords, creditors, insurance companies, public and private dispensers of consumer services, and various government departments. 3. Drafting letters and legal documents for the veteran or assisting the veteran in drafting these documents. 4. Aid the veteran in seeking the assistance of an attorney who can represent them in cases where courtroom appearances are likely and providing appropriate service or referrals. 5. Preparing and presenting programs and materials on legal issues of interest to veterans, e.g., speaking at Veteran Service Organizations, conducting workshops for veteran groups, disseminating brochures on common legal problems, and developing and maintaining an informational Web site. 6. Training and supervising staff who volunteer to present veterans' cases at Veteran Committee hearings. 7. Training law students from Law Schools to interview and counsel veterans, as well as to perform research, drafting, and other legal services for the veteran client. 8. Recruit attorneys/Firms and Law Students to become partners. 9. Strategically establish a VSLR satellite branch within each state. 10. Focus on the ethical underpinnings of this program; every lawyer's fundamental responsibility is to ensure equal access to justice. Linked to this moral imperative is the pivotal role played by VSLR in maintaining the professionalism of the legal profession. As lawyers seek to preserve the highest ideals of their work, they must concern themselves with the bottom line and the greater public good. |
LAW LIBRARY |
MISSION STATEMENT The primary mission of Veterans Strategic Legal Resources, Inc shall be to operate as a Non-Profit-501 (c)(3) organization for the social and the economic welfare of U.S. Armed Forces Veterans; provides substantial hands-on assistance directly to homeless veterans, disadvantaged veterans, their families, and nonprofit groups that support these populations, long-term transitional assistance, linkage with case management and rehabilitation, available income support, and permanent housing assistance in legal service acquisition continued education, employment assistance, and conduct programs for charitable, literary, and educational purposes, care and assistance to hospitalized veterans, sponsor or participate in activities of a patriotic nature, and provide social and recreational activities for veterans and their families. Founder/Chairman Emeritus - Vincent DaSilva |
V.I.P. Veterans In Prison |
NO VETERAN LEFT BEHIND |
A NATIONS RESPONSIBILITY |
A COMMUNITIES RESPONSIBILITY |
WHITE PAPER |