THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS Click here for a complete list of sponsors for the event.
IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER National Pro Bono Week 22 - 28 Oct 2017 National Day of the Deployed 26 Oct 2017 TVC Second Annual Legal Muster[SM] 27 Oct 2017
ANNUAL REPORTS ARE AVAILABLE ONLINE Click here to view.
The Veterans Consortium is the leading national 501(C)(3) charity providing pro bono legal services in federal venues for veterans in need. We participate in donations through the CFCC program. Please assist us in expanding our outreach to veterans by including us in your annual charitable giving planning. CFC#: 95004 For more information on donating, please click here. CONNECT WITH US
Visit our website at www.vetsprobono.org |
The Veterans Consortium Announces 2017 Pro Bono Mission Partner Awardees & Recognition of Honorary Co-Counsel of 5,000th Case Washington, DC — The Veterans Consortium (TVC) is pleased to announce the following recipients of The Veterans Consortiums 2017 Pro Bono Mission Partner Awards: Duane Morris LLP received the 2017 TVC Law Firm Pro Bono Mission Partner; Google Inc. received the 2017 TVC Corporate Pro Bono Mission Partner, and the team of BakerHostetler and Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company received the TVC Law Firm/Corporate Pro Bono Mission Partners Award, at TVCs Silver Anniversary Dinner and Pro Bono Awards Banquet, at Union Station, on Wednesday, October 4, 2017, in front of a crowd of veterans, volunteers from across the nation, members of Congress, senior representatives of partnering national veterans service organizations, and community supporters who gathered to celebrate 25 years of pro bono legal service to veterans and their families, caregivers and survivors. Also recognized at the event, The Honorable William H. Webster, former Director of the FBI and the CIA and current Chair of the Homeland Security Council, and Ms. Linda Klein, Immediate Past President of the American Bar Association, as the honorary co-counsel for TVCs milestone 5000th federal case currently before the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (CAVC), with TVC litigation director Judy Donegan, Esq. Honorary co-counsel for TVCs 1000th case were U.S. veterans, The Honorable Robert J. Dole and The Honorable George J. Mitchell. Acknowledging TVCs 5000th case and celebrating the outstanding contributions of these four pro bono mission partners is an opportunity for TVC to celebrate 25 years of service to veterans, their families, caregivers, and survivors by helping them win access to the care, benefits and compensation they earned through military service. TVC has operated the federal Pro Bono Program for veterans on behalf of the U.S. CAVC since 1992. Judge Webster was invited to serve as co-counsel because of his highly distinguished career of national public service. After serving as a US naval officer, attorney and federal judge, he was appointed by President Carter to lead the FBI and then appointed by President Reagan to serve as Director of the CIA until his retirement from public office in 1991. He currently serves as co-chairman of the Homeland Security Advisory Council. Ms. Klein was invited to serve as co-counsel because of her recent work as the President of the ABA and her efforts to focus on improving access to justice and providing legal assistance to our nations veterans. We have learned that many veterans do not know the problem they have is a legal one, said Klein. These are men and women who put their life on the line for our country, in defense of our liberty. When our justice system fails these people, we must answer their call and fight on their behalf. Linda Klein is a senior managing shareholder at Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz and the first woman to serve as president of the State Bar of Georgia. #theyfoughtforus  Honorary Co-Counsel for 5000th Case The Honorable William H. Webster, and Ms. Linda Klein with Mary Ann Gilleece, Chairman, TVC Executive Board; Gary Butter, Vice Chair, TVC Executive Board  2017 TVC Law Firm Pro Bono Mission Partner Award Duane Morris LLP Accepted by Patrick McPherson, Esq. and Valentine Brown, Esq. (Photo courtesy of Bittner Photography)  2017 TVC Corporate Mission Partner Award Google Inc. Accepted by Sybil Strimbu, Google, Washington, DC (Photo courtesy of Bittner Photography) .jpg) TVC 2017 Law Firm/Corporate Pro Bono Mission Partners Award BakerHostetler / Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company Accepted by Roger Eckelberry, BakerHostetler, and Mark Howard, Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company (photo courtesy of Bittner Photography) Click here for more photos of the event. Contact TVC, a national 501(c)(3) charity celebrating 25 years of pro bono legal service to U.S. veterans and their loved ones in federal venues. Our website:www.vetsprobono.org.
Veterans Inspiring Pro Bono: Michael J. Nardotti
Major General Michael J. Nardotti {U.S. Army, Retired) Senior Partner Squire Patton Boggs
TVCs Volunteer Inspiring Pro Bono (VIP) is Major General Mike Nardotti (US Army, Retired and former The Judge Advocate General, US Army), Senior Partner, Squire Patton Boggs. Mike represents clients on a broad range of defense, national security and other significant issues at all levels across the Department of Defense and other federal agencies and on matters of special interest to members of Congress. A decorated combat veteran, Mike served for more than 28 years on active duty as a soldier and lawyer. He was The Judge Advocate General the senior military lawyer in the Army from 1993 to 1997, advising military and civilian leaders on sensitive, complex and highly-visible legal and policy issues of importance to the Department of Defense, Congress and the media. Mike was recently recognized by The Veterans Consortium Pro Bono Program for over 20 years of service to veterans and their families, caregivers and survivors, as a member of TVCs National Volunteer Corps. Over the past 25 years, Squire Patton Boggs has supported The Veterans Consortium with over 92 attorney engagements in Federal courts, participated in specialized Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (CAVC) trainings, and assisted TVC in taking dramatic steps forward in our capacity to provide free legal services to veterans and their loved ones. With Volunteers Inspiring Pro bono (VIPs) like Mike Nardotti and his colleagues at Squire Patton Boggs, TVCs National Volunteer Corps now stands at more than 2500 attorneys from both law firms and corporate legal teamsand paralegals and other pro bono professionals from coast to coast. As the leading national nonprofit focused on providing legal services free of charge to veterans - our nations defenders TVC consistently delivers on our belief statement that our veterans deserve the care, benefits, and compensation they were promised, and the best legal services free of charge, to meet their challenges. TVCs 82% success rate in federal court cases is achieved by the passionate commitment of our National Volunteer Corps members like Mike Nardotti. As The Judge Advocate General, he also served as the leader and senior partner in one of the worlds largest law firms, the Army Judge Advocate Generals Corps. His team of 4,000 full- and part-time military and civilian attorneys and 5,000 full- and part-time military and civilian support staff provided comprehensive legal support and services to a worldwide community of more than one million Active, Guard, and Reserve commanders and soldiers and over one million family members. Mike Nardottis military awards and decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal, the Silver Star, the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart. In 2006, he was inducted into the U.S. Army Ranger Hall of Fame, a high honor accorded those specially selected from the nominees of Ranger units and associations representing each era of Ranger history. We are privileged to have professionals like Mike Nardotti on the rolls of TVCs National Volunteer Corps, and we salute his pro bono service as above and beyond the call of duty , noted Ed Glabus, Executive Director, The Veterans Consortium. Ed Glabus, Executive Director, The Veterans Consortium, presenting Major General Mike Nardotti (U.S. Army, retired) and Senior Partner, Squire Patton Boggs, with a Silver Anniversary Compass for his service to veterans and their loved ones as a member of The Veterans Consortium National Volunteer Corps. Photo courtesy of Katharine McKenny
Training Update Upcoming CAVC Attorney Training and Reception Date: November 14, 2017 Registration NOW OPEN! TVC's Federal Pro Bono Program CAVC attorney training session hosted by Alston & Bird LLP, Troutman Sanders, The State Bar of Georgia, and has been scheduled for Tuesday, November 14, 2017. Registration now open! Location: Alston & Bird One Atlanta Center 1201 West Peachtree Street Atlanta, Georgia 30309 Time: 9:00AM - 5:00 PM EST Networking Reception: 5:00 - 6:30 p.m.  For any questions or more information, please email Leigh Hillebrand, Coordinator, Volunteer Training and Placement
Pro Bono Week Second Annual Legal Muster[SM] The Veterans Consortium is excited to announce upcoming events during National Pro Bono Week! In honor of National Pro Bono Week 2017, TVC will be facilitating and coordinating our Second Annual TVC Legal Muster[SM] on October 27, 2017, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., at three simultaneous Pop-Up legal clinics for veterans across the nations capital (NE, NW, SE). During the legal clinics, volunteer attorney and law student teams will triage stated needs and offer limited legal information, identify resources available, and suggest referrals as appropriate. For more information, visit our website. TVC's Veterans Pro Bono Legal Clinic every Friday at the VA Medical Center 50 Irving Street, NW, Washington, DC Volunteers and Veterans Please Note Schedule Changes to TVC Pro Bono Clinics: Effective December 1, 2017, The Veterans Pro Bono Legal Clinic will be operating from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. each Friday. The Clinic will be closed on the following days in conjunction with federal government holiday weekends: November 10 - Clinic Closed November 24 - Clinic Closed December 22 - Clinic Closed December 29 - Clinic Closed We stand ready to assist with your pro bono veterans cases, please let us know how we can help. For more information, please email Leigh Hillebrand, Coordinator, Volunteer Training and Placement.
Faces of TVC: Samantha Stiltner
Samantha Stiltner, Esq. TVC Staff Attorney & Program Manager, TVC Legal Scholars Program
As part of the Legal Scholars Program, Ms. Stiltner manages the weekly Veterans Pro Bono Legal Clinic at the DC VA Medical Center. Ms. Stiltners passion for veterans law began in law school where she had the opportunity to work in a veterans legal clinic and at federal and county veteran treatment courts; in addition to serving as a research assistant for veterans law publications. She found it fulfilling and educational because for the first time she got real world experience by working one on one with veterans and seeing the impact that pro bono work makes for the underrepresented. When a staff attorney position opened up with TVC in August 2016, she thought it would be a good fit, and upon meeting the rest of the team she knew it was exactly where she belonged Summarizing her experience at TVC, she noted It is rewarding for me to develop and support our legal clinics because I am able to give back to the community while simultaneously fostering a pro bono interest in students that they can take with them into their careers. Samanthas favorite thing about working at The Veterans Consortium is the supportive and creative atmosphere. Due to the supportive nature of our team, she always felt as though she has the opportunity to present an idea or brainstorm in a collaborative setting to serve veterans. The Veterans Consortium will be holding our Second Annual Legal Muster[SM], organized by Ms. Stiltner, for DC Pro Bono Week 2017 to provide limited legal information, resources, and referrals, as appropriate, for underserved veterans in the Nations Capital. The Annual TVC Legal Muster[SM] was launched in 2016 to increase legal services outreach in support of community efforts to enhance wrap-around care for veterans who are often unaware of available resources. TVC National Volunteer Corps members will triage legal needs for veterans on 27 October 2017 at three locations: the DC VA Medical Center, Neighborhood Legal Services Program - DC, and U.S. VETS - DC. Please visit our website for details. The legal Pop-Up clinics will match DC area attorneys with law students. To read more about Samantha, click here. |