| LW. / LW. Professor Ryan Foley Open to 3L and 2L students; LLMs if space is available Maximum of 8 students |
Not offered 2025-26 5 credits* No prerequisites or co-requisites. |
Course Description
The Veterans' Rights Externship introduces students to the challenges faced by military veterans in accessing federal benefits. NYLAG’s Veterans Practice has focused its efforts on addressing two areas: eligibility issues related to discharge status and lack of representation in the disability claims process. Students will work closely with NYLAG attorneys to effectively and compassionately advocate for veteran clients as they navigate the discharge upgrade and VA disability benefit processes.
Course Description
Fieldwork
Student participants will be paired with an attorney in NYLAG’s Veterans Practice who will act as a mentor and teacher for the student as they work directly with veteran clients on different stages of discharge upgrade applications and VA disability benefit appeal cases. Students will consult with clients, review military and medical records, conduct legal, factual, and medical research, and prepare documents for submission to the Department of Defense and/or Department of Veterans Affairs, including personal statements, legal briefs, and other types of client-related evidence. Depending on timing, there may be opportunities for students to advocate in front of military discharge boards or veteran administrative law judges. Students must commit to an average of 10 hours of fieldwork per week.
Seminar
The weekly classroom component will help students recognize and understand the unique issues that can arise with military service. The seminar will discuss the benefits available to military veterans, the challenges veterans face in the different application processes, and how we as legal advocates can make a difference. While the substantive aspects of the class will be focused on the area of Veterans Law, the skills gained by learning effective lawyering techniques and how to apply those techniques to assigned clients, will help students grow as an attorney, regardless of their chosen career path and area of practice after law school.
Application Procedure
Students should submit the standard application, resume, and transcript online through CAMS. Interviews are not required, although the professor is happy to talk with interested students about the clinic’s requirements.
* 5 credits include 3 clinical credits and 2 academic seminar credits.