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Veterans Law Institute - About Our Partnerships

Stetson University College of Law partners with a number of local and national organizations to fulfill the missions of the Veterans Law Institute and the Veterans Advocacy Clinic. Our partnerships include the University of South Florida, the National Veterans Legal Clinic Consortium, the American Bar Association, and the Military and Veterans Affairs Committee of the Hillsborough County Bar Association, to name only a few.

Bay Pines VA Healthcare System Medical Legal Partnership

Veterans Administration logoStetson Law students work with Department of Veterans Affairs social workers and legal aid attorneys to assist low-income veterans in the area with their civil legal needs through the Bay Pines VA Healthcare System Medical-Legal Partnership (MLP) program.

Through the Medical Legal Partnership program, qualifying low-income veterans in the area can secure legal assistance for non-criminal offenses in a range of areas, from veterans benefits and Social Security disability benefits to family law matters, guardianship, and landlord-tenant disputes.

Learn more about the Bay Pines VA Healthcare Medical Legal Partnership 

USF College of Medicine

media/USF_Health.jpgStudents and faculty from Stetson University College of Law and the University of South Florida Health work together in a first-of-its-kind collaboration to help veterans secure entitled disability benefits faster.

The program assists veterans to prove entitlement to Department of Veterans Affairs disability benefits and it helps the Department of Veterans Affairs make accurate decisions on complicated medical claims. Through the partnership, Stetson's Veterans Advocacy Clinic refers veteran clients to USF Health for diagnosis and assessment of mental health issues and a variety of physical health concerns. USF may also refer veterans to Stetson's Veterans Advocacy Clinic for assistance with legal concerns regarding VA disability compensation.

Learn more about the USF College of Medicine Partnership

National Law School Veterans Clinic Consortium

National Law School Veterans Clinic Consortium logo

In 2017, Stetson Law along with William & Mary Law and John Marshall Law (now the University of Illinois, Chicago) formed the National Law School Veterans Clinic Consortium (NLSVCC). NLSVCC is a nonprofit organization composed of veterans clinics at law schools across the country that work together to improve legal representation for military veterans. Through the NLSVCC, veterans clinics and other pro bono advocates learn from each other what works best in helping veterans navigate a difficult claims process. NLSVCC also helps law clinics work together to train future lawyers who may either practice in veterans advocacy or volunteer pro bono time to the effort. It also acts as a national referral network to help law schools assist veterans outside their geographic areas or with legal issues outside of their scope. NLSVCC also joins together to advise on legislation and to advocate for veterans' issues in the courts and government.

Learn more about the National Law School Veterans Clinic Consortium Partnership

MyVA Community Engagement Board

myVA logoStetson's Veterans Law Institute is a proud member of the St. Petersburg/Bay Pines MyVA Community Engagement Board (CEB). The board's purpose is to bring together local veterans' service providers, resources, advocates, and other stakeholders to improve outcomes for veterans, service members, and their families. As partners in the CEB, we provide information through a Veterans Resource Guide and legal services offered through the Bay Pines VA Medical-Legal Partnership.

MVAC Veterans Legal Assistance Registry

Military and Veterans Affairs Committee, or MVAC, is a list of attorneys who are licensed to practice in Florida and who may be available to assist veterans and active-duty personnel. The registry lists their areas of practice and contact information. Veterans and active-duty military personnel who need legal assistance may directly contact a lawyer through the registry.

Upon contacting a lawyer through the Registry, you may be asked certain personal questions by the lawyer and his or her staff for the purpose of evaluating your legal claim, ascertaining whether any critical concern is impending, and determining a suitable fee arrangement, should the lawyer agree to represent you. Those inquiries may include personal financial information, the nature, and date of your claim, from what county or state your claim originated, and information about your military service. Attorney’s fee options may include a full fee arrangement, a sliding fee scale, a reduced rate, or a pro bono (no charge basis).

Learn more about the MVAC Veterans Legal Assistance Registry