November 2020 Monthly Brief

November 2020 Hello!

In This Issue: Executive Director's Corner 2020 TVC Mission Partner Awards Recap Honoring & Serving Our Veterans: Successful Outcomes Quarles & Brady Hosts Veterans Day Training Pro Bono Week Legal Clinics TVC Staff on MST Panel And Hosts Legal Clinic EJW Fellow at Prince George's County Veterans Collaborative National Bar Association Holds Discharge Upgrade Clinic 2020 TVC Pro Bono Mission Partner Award Sponsors

Executive Director's Corner November is an important month for all of us who strive to honor our veterans and the sacrifices they’ve made for our nation. The Veterans Consortium operates under the belief that every day is Veterans Day, but in November, we make it a priority to honor the service of our nation’s defenders and their families in a number of ways with numerous outreach initiatives. We are proud that our TVC National Volunteer Corps can assist us in making positive, life-changing measures in the lives of our veterans and their family members.

We also celebrate National Military Family Month in November, when we pause to reflect on the often-overlooked military families who truly know what it means to serve and to sacrifice. Each year, we take the opportunity to recommit ourselves to providing the best legal services to not only our veterans, but their families, caregivers and survivors as well. We thank them for their service to our country.

As part of our outreach initiatives this month, TVC Pro Bono Mission Partner, Quarles & Brady LLP, hosted a CAVC training for over 140 attorneys on Veterans Day, which broke a record for training attendance. During the postevent wrap up call, I asked their team, “Why do you choose to partner with TVC?” I was pleased that their initial response had to do with our team - they just like working with us. They find us to be prepared, professional, helpful, resourceful and readily available to mentor our volunteers.

On October 29th, we hosted our TVC Pro Bono Mission Partner Awards. I’m exceptionally proud of the work of our Director of Communications and Development, Claudia Daley, Outreach & Communication Coordinator, Cate Jackson, and Communications Intern, Andrea Quiles-Sanchez. It was a first-rate event that told our TVC story, highlighted our 2020 awardees and left us feeling good with the music of Voices of Service. If you missed it, please watch the event in its entirety here. We set a record in funds raised through the generosity of our sponsors. Your faith in us is greatly appreciated and we will continue to work hard to ensure that your investment in TVC provides topnotch critical services our nation’s defenders. Thank you!

As we expand our legal services beyond supporting cases before theU.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, working with the Court is still our primary mission. We were pleased to continue as the 2020 Awards Sponsor for the National Veterans Law Moot Court Competition. The virtual format allowed for the largest number of law schools (28) on record to participate. Working with law schools as part of our TVC Legal Scholars Program is part of our mission to build the veterans law bar. Bravo Zulu to all of the law schools and law students involved!

This Thanksgiving, we want you all to know how grateful we are for the generous gift of time and resources from our volunteers, Mission Partners and supporters. To our veterans, our nation’s defenders, we are thankful for your service and sacrifice. I wish you all a safe and meaningful Thanksgiving, however you choose to celebrate with your loved ones.

Steve Jordon Executive Director

Congratulations to Our ​ 020 TVC Mission Partner Awardees 2 Our 2020 TVC Pro Bono Mission Partner Awards event was held on October 29.

Thank you to our generous Sponsors, Mission Partners, supporters, volunteers and dedicated staff for making this event a resounding success!

For those who were unable to view the event previously, please click below to watch. You must enter your email to do so.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH 2020 TVC Chairman's Award

Valerie Daye, Esq. 2020 TVC Law Firm Pro Bono Mission Partner Award

Accepted by Rene Kathawala, Esq. Pro Bono Counsel

2020 TVC Corporate Pro Bono Mission Partner Award

Accepted by David Zapolsky, Esq. Sr. Vice President & General Counsel

For more information about The Veterans Consortium's 2020 Pro Bono Mission Partner Awards recipients, Sponsors, Supporters and Mission Partners, please view the program by clicking below.

VIEW THE PROGRAM BY CLICKING HERE

Please enjoy the following collection of photos from our weekend filming!

Note: This production was made with special consideration for COVID-19 and all proper precautions, as outlined by the Center for Disease Control and District of Columbia guidelines, were followed.

This event was filmed and edited

by Deep Structure Productions, based out of Staunton, VA.

Honoring and Serving Our Veterans: Successful Outcomes Former volunteer and TVC Staff attorney, Jeff Janicke, took the case of an Army veteran suffering from non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma (NHL). The veteran worked as a nuclear weapons specialist in the 60’s, where his job was to clean and inspect nuclear artillery rounds. He worked in old, dusty basements with no ventilation and his protective gear was limited to latex gloves. Jeff secured a remand at the Court and continued representing the veteran back at the Board of Veterans Appeals. Unfortunately, after the Board remanded the case further down for a new expert opinion, the veteran passed away.

Jeff wasted no time in assisting the veteran’s widow with submitting an intent to file for survivor benefits, thereby ensuring any later death related benefits would be paid out with the most favorable effective date. He also helped her file the paperwork to be substituted in the place of her late husband so that if VA eventually granted his claim, she would receive the compensation in his place. Upon Jeff's departure, TVC's Samantha Farish took over the case. VA agreed that it was likely that the veteran's NHL was caused by his exposure to radiation and granted the accrued benefits claim as well as cause of death. In total, the veteran's surviving spouse received just over $195,000 from VA. She reported being shocked when she checked her bank account and saw the recent activity!

TVC Discharge Upgrade Program Director, Danica Gonzalves, assisted a Navy sailor who was sexually assaulted and raped by another servicemember.

She went to the hospital where they found bruises on her neck and body. She suffered from severe PTSD symptoms, but the service psychiatrist diagnosed her with an adjustment disorder and personality disorder. However, the psychiatrist did find that these conditions were exacerbated by the rape. Due to the conditions, she was discharged with an Uncharacterized discharge, due to a personality disorder. We provided evidence that the client did not have a personality disorder, but rather PTSD. The Board agreed and upgraded her discharge to fully Honorable.

Goodwin Proctor attorneys, Matthew Wheatley and Paul Jin assisted a Marine who sustained a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) from a car accident during service.

Prior to his TBI, he had an exemplary service record. There was a distinct change in his behavior after the accident and the injury. His TBI affected his ability to function, resulted in repeated AWOLs, difficulty managing relationships with his superiors, and a suicide attempt. Matthew Wheatley and Paul Jin successfully argued that his misconduct was due to his service connected TBI. The Board upgraded his discharge to a General. He is now eligible to receive the VA benefits that he deserves.

Virtual Veterans Day Training ​Hosted by Quarles & Brady LLP

In honor of Veterans Day, TVC Core Mission Partner, Quarles & Brady LLP, hosted a virtual training for a recordbreaking 147 attorneys. This training was led by TVC’s Director of Volunteer Outreach & Education, Courtney Smith, and included a special keynote from Chief Judge Margaret Bartley of the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims.

Quarles & Brady, led by Michael A. Levey (Partner), Dawn. R. Caldart (Director of Pro Bono & Professional Development) and Thomas McDonell (Associate), organized and spearheaded recruitment.

TVC greatly appreciates and is thankful to Quarles & Brady for their commitment and for hosting this very successful training. TVC is also thankful to the attorneys who spent their Veterans Day attending this training with a mindset to serve those who served.

To all who attended, welcome to our ​TVC National Volunteer Corps!

Great Turn Out for ​ ro Bono Week 2020 Legal Clinics P

(top to bottom, l to r): Caitlin Ens (The Veterans Consortium), Chesley Roberts (TVC Equal Justice Works Fellow, Sponsored by Lockheed Martin), Matthew Doyle (Georgetown University Law Center), Ikrom Omonov (Columbus School of Law), Ian Carrico (Georgetown), Joe Ferretti (Duane Morris LLP), Matthew Parker (George Washington University Law School), Krista Selnau (Equal Justice Works), Falen LaPonzina (LaPonzina Law, P.C.)

In honor of DC Pro Bono Week 2020, TVC hosted 3 simultaneous legal clinics to serve our nation's veterans on October 30th. This included our Legal Advice & Referral Clinic for all veterans and our Women Veterans Legal Clinic, both of which serve veterans in the DMV, and a Discharge Upgrade Legal clinic for veterans nationwide.

Together, we were able to serve many veterans and their family members in the DC metro area.

Thank you to the following volunteer attorneys and students who participated and helped make our pop up virtual legal clinics a success: LaPonzina Law, P.C. Falen La Ponzina

Duane Morris LLP Joe Ferretti Kristina Gill Ken Keane Heidi Lunasin

Equal Justice Works Krista Selnau Georgetown University Law Center Ian Carrico Matthew Doyle

Columbus School of Law Ikrom Omonov Emily Thomas The George Washington University Law School Natalee Ball Matthew Parker

Our Pro Bono Week Discharge Upgrade clinic served 23 veterans nationwide.

Attorneys from Blank Rome LLP and PNC Bank volunteered. This was the first virtual event for the Discharge Upgrade Program and we look forward to holding more clinics in the future.

Thank you to the following volunteer attorneys who participated in this very successful DU clinic: Blank Rome Jayme Butcher Thomas Cialino Frank Dante Richard McMahon Zachary Perkins Peg Hill Masha Trainor Alexandria Popovnak *A special thank you to Krystal Kane and Kathy Ochroch from Blank Rome for spearheading the effort.

PNC Bank Jamie Whetzel Jim O’Connell Bethany Miller Sharon Phillips Amelia Rideau Jonathan Salzman If you are interested in volunteering for our legal clinics, please contact Caitlin Ens at clinics@vetsprobono.org.

Women Veterans Interactive Features TVC

Staff on MST and Benefits Panel and Women Veterans Clinic

On November 12, TVC was happy to participate in a panel discussion called Know Your Rights: A Discussion of MST & How To Obtain Benefits as part of the 2020 National Women Veterans Leadership and Diversity Conference. This panel featured TVC's Director of Outreach & Development, Claudia Daley, as moderator, with TVC Director of Outreach and Education, Courtney L. Smith, and Justice Catalyst Fellow at New York Legal Assistance Group, Meghan Brooks as panelists. The topics they discussed were military sexual trauma (MST) and how to apply for benefits.

In addition to the panel, TVC also hosted a day-long virtual legal clinic for the attendees. Many women veterans nationwide were served. We hope to continue this successful relationship with WVI and wish to thank their charismatic founder, Ginger Miller, for allowing us to be a part of this fantastic event!

TVC Equal Justice Works Fellow Speaks at Veterans Collaborative T V C Equal Justice Works Fellow, Chelsey Roberts spoke at the Prince George’s County Veterans Collaborative about our TVC Women Veterans Legal Clinic and other initiatives to support women veterans. This event was part of a 3 part series called Engaging Our Heroes, which will focus on Women Veterans. Chesley’s fellowship, TVC’s Women Veterans Legal Assistance Program, is generously sponsored by Lockheed Martin.

The Prince George’s County Veterans Collaborative is a partnership between ServingTogether and Prince George’s County Veterans Affairs Office. At these meetings service providers and community organizations collaborate monthly to raise awareness of available resources, build capacity within the county, and facilitate collaborative solutions.

Moot Court 2020 Virtual Competition

TVC was proud to once again support the National Veterans Law Moot Court Competition (NVLMCC) as the trophy sponsor. The NVLMCC was first organized in 2009 as the Veterans Law Appellate Advocacy Competition and is the nation’s premier moot court competition focusing on veterans law. Now in its twelfth year, the competition continues to bring teams from around the country to Washington, DC, to argue before panels of distinguished practitioners and judges.

This year due to the COVID pandemic, the entire competition was held virtually and a record 28 teams participated. Practitioners from the Court’s staff, the VA, and the Court’s Bar participated as judges. The competition’s final round was judged by Chief Judge Bartley, Judge Hagel and Judge Moorman.

We would like to congratulate the following teams for distinguishing themselves in such a competitive field: Champion Team Students: Caitlin Huettemann, Jessie Nelson School: Baylor Law School Coach: Alejandra Garciacas

Runner Up - Respondent: Students: John-Thomas Malone, Ariel Shuster School: University of Cincinnati College of Law Coach: Nancy Oliver

Best Oral Advocate: Ariel Shuster School: University of Cincinnati College of Law Coach: Nancy Oliver Best Petitioner Brief: School: UC Hastings College of Law Students: John Paul, Hayden Soria Coach: Christina Connolly Best Respondent Brief: School: George Washington University Law School Students: Perry Denton, Roxanne Cassidy Coach: Lisa Schenck

Discharge Upgrade Program Hosts Training for National Bar Association

On November 12th, Danica Gonzalves, Program Director of TVC's Discharge Upgrade Program, held a DU training for members of the National Bar Association.

Founded in 1925, The National Bar Association is the nation's oldest and largest national network of mostly African-American attorneys and judges. The NBA represents the interests of over 65k lawyers, judges, law professors, and law students, with over 80 affiliate chapters around the world.

The attorneys who participated are now eligible to represent veterans in their discharge upgrade cases!

Welcome to our TVC National Volunteer Corps!

2020 PRO BONO MISSION PARTNER AWARDS SPONSORS

CHAMPION

FREEDOM

PATRIOT

GUARDIAN

HONOR GUARD

VETERAN'S DEFENDER

Valerie Daye, Esq.

TVC Quote of the Month “Knowing the veterans have someone that can help and speak for them means a lot. Thanking you all for [your] help and support.�

United States Army Veteran

NOTABLE NEWS Upcoming Training Information Appellate Advocacy before the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims

Training Information Coming Soon!!

Internship Information

Court's Oral Argument Schedule Click Here to View*

*Please note that all oral arguments are now being done virtually.

Shop Local, Veteran Owned Businesses This Holiday Season!

The 2021 David Isbell Internship is now open for students who wish to be introduced to the practice of appellate law and the law of veterans benefits in an active veterans legal service.

Please note: Due to the pandemic, this internship will be virtual.

Click Here To Download The Application

This year, the pandemic has forced over 650,000 small businesses to close, with over 100 in the DMV alone being impacted by loss of revenue. To continue your support of our veterans, please consider shopping small business that are veteran owned.

Do you know a Veteran in crisis?

Below is a small list of where you can start your search for unique, special gifts this holiday season!

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD PDF

You Can Also Support The Veterans Consortium This Holiday Season on Amazon

Many of us are shopping on Amazon for home-schooling supplies, disinfecting products, DIY projects and gifts for friends and loved ones. If your needs can't be met in your community, consider using Amazon Smile for your purchases, which will automatically donate a portion of your purchase price to The Veterans Consortium.

Available Pro Bono CAVC Cases ​for our current ​TVC National Volunteer Corps

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The impact of your pro bono service is real and tangible for our veterans. Please share this video with those you think may be interested in volunteering.

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GIVE TODAY

Click below to view our list of Available Pro Bono Cases in need of representation by a volunteer attorney. *Note: you must be a current volunteer who has taken our training and has been approved as a member on our website in order to log in and view the available cases.

CLICK HERE For assistance, email volunteer@vetsprobono.org

Your gift will help to ensure that our veterans & their loved ones can receive the care, the benefits and the compensation they earned by serving our country.

Click Here To Donate

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