The University of Georgia Veterans Legal Clinic, since its establishment, has aimed to assist former military members in accessing benefits from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and provide law students with practical learning experiences. On Veterans Day, the School of Law announced that the clinic has made a significant impact over the past six years.
The clinic has generated an estimated financial benefit of nearly $11.5 million for veterans. It has increased monthly income by more than $6.5 million for veteran clients, handled inquiries from over 800 military families, and successfully managed more than 42 client cases across 94 counties in Georgia. Additionally, over 140 law students have contributed more than 33,000 service hours.
Veterans Legal Clinic Director and Clinical Professor Alexander W. "Alex" Scherr stated, “We can measure impact by the number of inquiries from clients, the number of cases handled, the size of the geographic service area, the number of student hours logged, the amount of benefits secured, or the long-term financial impact.” He also emphasized intangibles such as recognition and validation for veterans facing homelessness or financial distress.
The clinic's financial impact includes retroactive awards, debts waived due to overpayments in benefits, and future income value. The average value achieved per veteran is $277,500. Scherr highlighted that this impact is meaningful for veterans and their families who often face economic challenges due to service-related injuries or disabilities.
The clinic focuses on preparing claims thoroughly early in the VA process rather than appealing denials later. Scherr noted that other clinics often focus on appeals but emphasized starting claims correctly to avoid lengthy delays.
Third-year law student Kyle R. Nelson found working at the clinic valuable for learning case management skills including communication with clients and legal research. “The big advantage...is my writing skills,” he said.
Lindsay M. Smith, another third-year student, described her experience at the clinic as transformative: “It offers the opportunity to make a tangible difference in the lives of real people.”
Established through a donation from trial attorney James E. "Jim" Butler Jr., a 1977 alumnus who also supports scholarships for veterans at the law school through the Butler Commitment program, which now ranges from partial to full-tuition plus scholarships.
School of Law Dean Peter B. "Bo" Rutledge expressed gratitude towards those involved in making the clinic successful: "I am deeply grateful for...Jim Butler...and Professor Alex Scherr." Rutledge highlighted that this initiative exemplifies how they are redefining public legal education by offering opportunities while serving society.