In a recent post on the Office of Clinical and Pro Bono Programs’ Blog, a former student from the Veterans Legal Clinic reflected on her experiences advocating on behalf of veterans. Part of her post focused on the advocacy the Clinic is doing related to the problem of military sexual trauma:
I spent half of my semester working on an appeal brief to the Court of Appeals for Veterans’ Claims challenging a denial of VA disability benefits for post-traumatic stress as a result of military sexual trauma. One in three military women is sexually assaulted, and one in five women veterans will develop post-traumatic stress (PTS) as a result of military sexual trauma and other traumatic experiences while in service. Few of these women can successfully access the VA healthcare system, disability benefits, or educational loans to receive the assistance they so desperately need to rebuild their lives post-service. This leads tens of thousands of women veterans into poverty and homelessness—many are single mothers, and suicide rates are staggering. . . . After decades of neglect by an unfair system, with our help, our client finally attained a measure of justice—and an opportunity for income assistance—she so needs and deserves. It was unquestionably my most meaningful experience in law school.
Read the complete post here: http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/clinicalprobono/2015/05/22/clinic-student-finds-a-meaningful-experience-in-representing-veterans/