Mizzou Law Veterans Clinic Files Amicus Brief with United States Supreme Court

Attorneys in the Mizzou Law Veterans Clinic have filed an amicus brief with the United States Supreme Court in a crucial case awaiting consideration involving veterans seeking certiorari to challenge a decision made by the Federal Circuit.   The veterans in the case argue that the Federal Circuit erred in its judgment, contending that the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (CAVC) must consult the complete agency record in every case to determine the proper application of the benefit-of-the-doubt rule. This rule, rooted in a longstanding history and codified by Congress, is a vital safeguard for veterans seeking…

Housing heroes: New program to support veterans experiencing homelessness

Contact: Courtney Perrett, 573-882-6217, cperrett@missouri.edu Since 2009, the number of veterans experiencing homelessness across the United States has shrunk by more than 50%, according to a 2022 Department of Housing report. With the support of a $150,000 grant from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), the University of Missouri School of Law Veterans Clinic is aiming to continue this trend here at home with a new program designed to further empower veterans in taking steps out of homelessness. The Veterans Outreach Program will help attorneys connect with veterans experiencing homelessness with the goal of offering them the legal…

Brent Filbert Named NIMJ Fellow

University of Missouri School of Law Veterans Clinic Director Brent Filbert has been named a fellow at the National Institute of Military Justice (NIMJ). Professor Filbert was selected as a fellow of the institute based on his abilities and expertise in the fields of military law and veterans law. He will serve a two-year term as fellow, from 2023-2025. “To become a fellow in the National Institute of Military Justice is an amazing honor,” Filbert said. “The NIMJ is made up of our nation’s most accomplished military justice attorneys and scholars and is widely recognized as the leading authority on…

Mizzou Law Veterans Clinic Names New Director

Officials at the University of Missouri School of Law are pleased to announce the hiring of Brent Filbert to join the faculty as the new director of the Mizzou Law Veterans Clinic and associate clinical professor. Professor Filbert rejoins Mizzou Law after spending several years as a supervising attorney within the MU Veterans Clinic. In recent years, Professor Filbert has served as the director of Military Law at the Veteran Advocacy Project. As the new director, he is replacing Clinic founder Angela Drake, who is retiring in December. Professor Drake will remain on the faculty until the end of…

USSC Justice Cites Mizzou Law Veterans Clinic Amicus Brief in Dissenting Opinion

An amicus brief written by Mizzou Law Veterans Clinic students and faculty was cited three times by U.S. Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch in his dissenting opinion in George v. McDonough. The case, decided on June 15, found that discharged military veteran Kevin George was not entitled to have his earlier decision denying veterans benefits for preexisting mental health issue, exacerbated by his time in service, revised to conform to the law. The case involved the scope of “clear and unmistakeable error” in agency decisions. In George’s case, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs denied his benefits initially…

Coming together for veterans

Contact: Sara Diedrich, 573-882-3243, diedrichs@missouri.edu The Mizzou Law Veterans Clinic has announced a new program to partner with medical students from the University of Missouri School of Medicine. This partnership will involve collaboration between the two professional schools with regard to securing Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) disability compensation benefits for veterans. Mizzou medical students will collaborate with law students and staff at the clinic to review medical records and provide guidance on medical issues. This partnership will enhance the ability of the clinic in its zealous advocacy for veterans. Mark Buck, a second-year law student…

Veterans Clinic to offer free legal consultations for veterans in Cape Girardeau County

WHAT: The University of Missouri School of Law Veterans Clinic, through its Tigers for Troops program, will offer free legal consultations to veterans in Cape Girardeau County, regarding United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) disability benefits, discharge upgrades and VA healthcare. This event will be held on Friday, Feb. 18, at the VFW Post 3838, 1049 N Kingshighway, Cape Girardeau, Mo. Veterans can register for an appointment here or by calling 573-882-5733. Registration will close at noon on Wednesday, Feb. 16. WHO: The Veterans Clinic is located in the University of Missouri School of Law. Under the supervision of…

Thank You to Mizzou Law Veterans!

Veterans Day is a special day in our country as we honor our veterans who have sacrificed so much of themselves for us and this nation. It is a good time to remember that our freedom isn’t guaranteed. It is and has been protected by the men and women in our Armed Services since before this nation came into being. Mizzou Law is proud and thankful for the more than 25 students, faculty and staff and the hundreds of Mizzou Law alumni who have served and continue to serve our country. Pictured above our some of our Mizzou Law veterans,…

Mizzou Law Veterans Clinic Announces Julia E. Rives as the New Clinical Director

The Mizzou Law Veterans Clinic recently announced the hiring of Julia Rives as its new clinical director. As clinical director, Julia will be primarily responsible for the classroom component of the clinic, supervision of the students, and the clinic’s amicus brief writing efforts. Julia grew up in Louisville, Kentucky. She attended the University of Missouri and received her Bachelor of Science in 2013. After graduating, she was awarded the Tim Heinsz scholarship to attend the University of Missouri School of Law. Julia worked on several veterans’ disability compensation cases as a law student for the Veterans Clinic, including two military …

Veterans Clinic announces new Military Lawyer Transition Program

With generous donations from Susan Combs of Combs and Co. and Diana Pendleton, through her friend Dorothy Connell Berry, the Mizzou Law Veterans Clinic recently announced the creation of the Military Lawyer Transition Program (MLTP). This new program is designed for Mizzou Law students who will be entering a Judge Advocate General Corps (JAG) program in one of America’s armed forces. There is a period of time between when law students who will work in the JAG program graduate, typically 6-8 months, and when they first report for active duty. During this time, the military does not provide pay to…