Jennifer Librach Nall
Partner, Baker Botts L.L.P.
Member, TVC National Volunteer Corps

Jennifer Librach Nall, an intellectual property partner at Baker Botts L.L.P. in Austin, Texas knows how to fight for her clients. But it's not just patent litigation where her dedication shines. Nall has been a pro bono attorney in our TVC National Volunteer Corps since 2010 and has spent the last eight years fighting for our nation's veterans. For her tenacity in these legal cases, Nall, 41, has been chosen as our TVC Volunteer Inspiring Pro Bono (VIP) for May 2018.

It's not always the victories that stand out, sometimes it's the journey and in Nall's most memorable case, the battle itself. When asked to discuss a meaningful case, Nall skipped over her many victories and chose to discuss a recent decision that went the other way. She took over a case that was originally argued by a lawyer hired by an Army veteran. The case had previously been remanded by the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (CAVC) and subsequently denied by the VA's Board of Veterans' Appeals (BVA), before the veteran came to TVC and Nall developed a new argument.

“We had the better argument and appealed to the federal circuit court," Nall says. But basically, the courts ruled that because the argument had not been raised before, it couldn't be raised on appeal. Nall tried to have the case heard by the U.S. Supreme Court, but the Court declined to hear the case. Nall's willingness to go the extra mile, taking the case pro bono to the US Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, then to the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, and even seeking review by the U.S. Supreme Court, are a great example of the dedication, determination, and selfless service.

“It was a procedural process matter and a tough issue," says Dave Myers, director of program development for TVC. “Excellent effort nonetheless. Well done, Jennifer, and thank you for your dedicated efforts as a member of our TVC National Volunteer Corps."

Despite the loss, Nall, a mother of three children, still refers to this as her favorite case. “It was nice to try so hard to fix something that was wrong with the law," Nall says. “I hope someday the law can be corrected so that more Veterans get the benefits they deserve."

On behalf of veterans and their loved ones in general, and her veteran clients in particular, TVC is deeply grateful for Jennifer Nall's pro bono service above and beyond the call of duty as a member of our TVC National Volunteer Corps.

Click here to read Jennifer's full biography »