Massachusetts Veterans Service Officers Association Summer Conference 1 Massachusetts Veterans Service Officers Association Summer Conference #vetsprobono www.vetsprobono.org © The Veterans Consortium 2017

2 CREDO We believe our Veterans in need —our Nation’s defenders— deserve the benefits and compensation they were promised, and the best legal services free of charge, to meet their challenges. #vetsprobono www.vetsprobono.org © The Veterans Consortium 2017

A Year-in-the-Life of PBP 3 Field approximately 15,000 phone calls Receive > 27,000 website users (74% new visitors); growing Assist about 3,000 veterans and their loved ones Process 500 to 600 applications for pro bono representation Train 200 to 250 new TVC Volunteer Corps attorneys and related professionals nationwide Deliver about $7 million in pro bono services yearly from the TVC volunteer corps (~ $93.5 million since Oct 1992) #vetsprobono www.vetsprobono.org © The Veterans Consortium 2017

Core Pro Bono Program Services 4 Pursuant to P.L. 102-229, provide competent pro bono representation worldwide to every veteran in need and their qualifying families, caregivers, or survivors at the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (CAVC) Conduct outreach to Veterans and their loved ones Recruit and train volunteer attorneys in veterans law and CAVC procedures Carefully match clients with pro bono representatives Provide advice and support to attorneys and clients Facilitate veterans law studies in general, and pro bono service in particular, within law school clinical programs #vetsprobono www.vetsprobono.org © The Veterans Consortium 2017

Our Track Record (24 Years) 5 Supreme Court 2 Federal Circuit ~95 4,441 cases represented; 82% win rate (lifetime!) 3,620 WON Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims 821 Lost Not Accepted = 6,393 (no jurisdiction, ineligible, no issues of merit) ~150 Active Cases 205 Client Declined 11,184 cases screened from FY93 - FY16 #vetsprobono www.vetsprobono.org © The Veterans Consortium 2017

Additional Program Services 6 Assist pro se appellants through a Pro Bono Program (PBP) legal information Helpline service Enable and enhance post-remand service by pro bono representatives, at the VA Arrange pro bono and “low bono” medical reviews for post-remand cases, continuing at the VA Refer veterans to local pro bono resources for local legal issues (e.g., landlord-tenant disputes, child custody, etc.) Lead by example, with dynamic in-house pro bono efforts by the staff from The Veterans Consortium (TVC), including discharge upgrades for PTSD/TBI-related cases #vetsprobono www.vetsprobono.org © The Veterans Consortium 2017

Quality: Our Track Record 7 #vetsprobono www.vetsprobono.org © The Veterans Consortium 2017

How We Can Help You, Help Veterans 8 How We Can Help You, Help Veterans Procedural Progression of an Appealed Claim to the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (CAVC): Regional Office Decision Notice of Appeal (NOA) You can appeal an unfavorable BVA decision (denial) to the Court through a Notice of Appeal, and The Veterans Consortium can help. Once a BVA decision is issued the Veteran only has 120 days to file their Notice of Appeal. Our new online application tool is available to Veterans and Service Officers to promptly file an appeal of a BVA decision to the CAVC. If you’re not sure whether to appeal, call us/email us the BVA decision and we will review it. Appeal: Notice of Disagreement (NOD) Statement of the Case (SOC) Substantive Appeal (Form 9) Board of Veterans Appeals Decision #vetsprobono www.vetsprobono.org © The Veterans Consortium 2017

New Website New tools for Veterans, Service Officers, and Volunteers 9 New tools for Veterans, Service Officers, and Volunteers More robust and secure Significant platform investments by Microsoft and LSC #vetsprobono www.vetsprobono.org © The Veterans Consortium 2017

New Web Application for Support 10 Veteran or Service Officer can use Fill out contact information Answer a few appeal questions Sends e-signature appeals forms to TVC TVC reviews & can submit to the CAVC Digitally requests a pro bono attorney #vetsprobono www.vetsprobono.org © The Veterans Consortium 2017

11 Application © The Veterans Consortium 2017

12 The preliminary information page allows for Veterans to appeal their case and also request The Veterans Consortium’s services. © The Veterans Consortium 2017

13 After addressing basic information such as name and date of birth, the Veteran can request a waiver of the $50.00 filing fee based on financial hardship. #vetsprobono www.vetsprobono.org © The Veterans Consortium 2017

14 The “Email & Comments” section of the application allows for Service Officers to leave any comments related to the case for TVC to review when we receive the application. Backup Slides #vetsprobono www.vetsprobono.org © The Veterans Consortium 2017

E-signature is available! 15 E-signature is available! When you request to e-sign your application forms, you will add your email address and an email will be sent with a link to the forms. #vetsprobono www.vetsprobono.org © The Veterans Consortium 2017

16 How to E-Sign Once you open the link you will click agree and continue: The e-signature tool will ask you to “adopt your signature” and sign: #vetsprobono www.vetsprobono.org © The Veterans Consortium 2017

Myth-Buster Quiz: True or False? 17 After the initial signature box, the e-signature will only require one click on the “sign” tabs listed in the documents. You’re done! #vetsprobono www.vetsprobono.org © The Veterans Consortium 2017

Myth-Buster Quiz: True or False? 18 Pro bono means “free” except when my Veteran pays 20% after the court win = FALSE (free means free, unlike others) My claim is too small = FALSE (no issue of merit is too small) Pro bono means you have to be turned down first by a for- pay private lawyer = FALSE (pure scuttlebutt) We can’t refer for legal services = FALSE (Congressional program operated by a charity; you’re not referring to a specific lawyer or law firm) It’s too hard to win in federal court = FALSE (we have a > 80% lifetime win rate in federal court; plenty of pro bono lawyers) #vetsprobono www.vetsprobono.org © The Veterans Consortium 2017

Judy Donegan Staff Attorney (202) 733-3325 (Direct) 19 Judy Donegan Staff Attorney (202) 733-3325 (Direct) Judy.Donegan@vetsprobono.org #vetsprobono www.vetsprobono.org © The Veterans Consortium 2017