Wisconsin Experience:
Law School Helps Vets
Volunteer attorneys, paralegals, and UW law students opened the new Veterans Law Center in November to provide pro bono legal services to current and returning veterans in the Dane County area. The center provides basic legal information and guidance for civil cases. Common issues facing veterans include foreclosure, housing, divorce, child custody matters, and unemployment benefits.
Forty students have been trained for the program and are working with practicing attorneys and paralegals. Two attorneys and two law students are scheduled for each clinic, and they work as partners, with the practicing attorney taking the lead during client interviews.
“We’re always looking for pro bono opportunities for students,” says Ann Zimmerman, pro bono director for the Law School. “The center provides a wonderful opportunity for our students to learn about veterans, gain experience handling legal problems, and discover how to make a real difference in our community.”
The free legal center is funded by a $5,000 Pro Bono Initiative grant from the State Bar Legal Assistance Committee. The project is administered by the UW Law School’s Pro Bono Program and is a collaborative effort with support from the Dane County Veterans Service Office, the Dane County Bar Association, Porchlight, Inc,. and representatives from the William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital in Madison. Habush Habush & Rottier SC recently contributed an additional $5,000 to fund the center.