Washburn Law Students Expand Commitment to Veterans and Service Members

Photograph: VLAC February 2017 Photograph: VLAC February 2017

Washburn University School of Law and its students showed their dedication to serving veterans and other service-connected individuals through a Veterans Legal Assistance Clinic (VLAC) on February 25, 2017. This was the eighth VLAC event, with the first held on October 11, 2014. 

Clinic interns and student volunteers convened early on a Saturday morning to help out with the event, which aimed to assist veterans with estate planning and expungement cases. The Clinic was staffed by Washburn Law students who provide their services pro bono under the close supervision of faculty.

As a result of the event, the Clinic took in nine new clients for long-term representation. Approximately 65 clients have been helped to date.

The Veterans Legal Association of Washburn (VLAW) held a fundraiser at the Law School before the Clinic to purchase bus passes for veterans who might have needed transportation to the event. VLAW raised $468, which purchased 260 bus passes for homeless veterans. The bus passes could also be used for transportation to the VA Medical Center or job interviews. The passes were given to the Topeka Rescue Mission for distribution via outreach vans.

Photograph: VLAW Fundraising Photograph: Bus Passes