There are approximately 250,000 veterans currently residing in Connecticut, many with acute and unique legal needs related to their military service or return to civilian life. In this clinic, established in 2010, students have represented Connecticut veterans in litigation before administrative agencies and courts, on benefits, discharge upgrade, immigration, and pardon matters. In addition, students represent local and national organizations in non-litigation matters relating to the legal needs of veterans, including regulatory and legislative reform efforts, media advocacy, strategic planning, and other matters.

Clinic students also provide advice and conduct some intake at the New Haven Vet Center, which offers a range of counseling and other services particularly to combat veterans. The clinic makes special efforts to assist vulnerable veteran populations and those least connected to existing service networks, such as women, recently returned, non-citizen, LGBT, and elderly veterans. The seminar portion is a practice-oriented examination of advocacy on behalf of veterans and of social justice lawyering generally.

Faculty

Michael Wishnie
Renee Burbank
 

Justice Catalyst – Robert M. Cover Fellowship in the Veterans Legal Services Clinic

 

Resources for Veterans

Forms & Resources for Veterans Seeking Discharge Upgrade

Reports & Manuals

Clinic Casework

C-123 Veterans Association

An informal organization the United States Air Force Reserve who, after the end of the Vietnam War, flew C-123 aircraft that had been used to spray Agent Orange and other herbicides in Vietnam.

Camp Lejeune Water Contamination

A 2016 clinic suit seeks to compel VA to release the requested documents and provide much-needed transparency to its adjudication process for disability claims for veterans poisoned by contaminated drinking water at Camp Lejeune.

Cardona v. Shinseki

Carmen Cardona, a disabled Navy veteran was denied spousal benefits by the VA because she was married to a woman. The clinic was instrumental in her successful application.

CT MOS Task Force

Through the passage of Special Act No. 13-5, the General Assembly created a Task Force to determine how state licensing processes can be streamlined to aid Connecticut veterans as they transition from the military to the workforce.

Connecticut Veterans Legal Center Military Service Academies

On behalf of the Connecticut Veterans Legal Center, students in the Veterans Legal Services Clinic prepared a report analyzing the gender disparities in congressional nominations to the U.S. Military Service Academies.

Connecticut Veterans Legal Center Pretrial Diversionary Programs

Students in the Veterans Legal Services Clinic researched and drafted a bill to expand access for veterans to several of the state’s diversionary programs.

Cowles v. McHugh

The clinic represents William Cowles, an Army National Guard veteran who was honorably discharged but illegally denied medical retirement.

Dolphin v. McHugh

The clinic represents William Dolphin, a disabled Vietnam combat veteran awarded a Purple Heart, denied medical care by the VA because of his his bad conduct discharge.

Giammarco v. Johnson

The clinic represents Arnold Giammarco, a recently deported U.S. veteran. Mr. Giammarco arrived in the United States as a lawful permanent resident at the age of four in 1960.

Military Sexual Trauma Rulemaking & Litigation

The clinic submitted a petition for rule-making to the VA seeking to reform regulations regarding disability claims filed by veterans suffering from PTSD related to rape, sexual harassment, or sexual assault.

Monk v. Mabus

A class action lawsuit seeking relief for tens of thousands of Vietnam veterans who developed Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) during their military service and subsequently received an other than honorable discharge.

Monk v. Wilkie

A lawsuit that seeks to compel the Secretary of Veterans’ Affairs to decide long-pending disability compensation appeals through aggregate resolution of all similarly situated veterans’ claims.

Reid v. Donelan/In re Reid

The clinic veteran who was placed in removal proceedings and detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) based on minor criminal convictions such as drug possession.

Service Women's Action Network MST FOIA

The clinic represents Service Women’s Action Network (SWAN) in its campaign to persuade the Department of Defense to more forcefully address military sexual trauma (MST) within the ranks.

Service Women's Action Network Military Service Academies

The Veterans Legal Services Clinic represents the Service Women’s Action Network (SWAN) in its efforts to combat gender inequality at the Military Services Academies.

Shepherd v. McHugh

The clinic represents a disabled Vietnam combat veteran awarded a Bronze Star with Valor Device, in his application to upgrade his discharge status and obtain VA benefits.

In re: Trotman

The clinic represented a veteral of the Air Force in the 1970s was denied medical benefits for problems related PTSD.

In re: Venter

The clinic represented a veteran’s widow in her claim for dependency and indemnity compensation, death pension, and accrued benefits due to death from exposure to Agent Orange.

VVA-Personality/Adjustment Disorder

The clinic represents Vietnam Veterans of America in a multi-pronged effort to end the unlawful discharge service members on the alleged ground of a personality or adjustment disorder and to secure redress.

VVA and NVCLR – PTSD Upgrade FOIA Suit

In May 2015, Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) and the National Veterans Council for Legal Redress (NVCLR) filed a federal lawsuit against the Department of Defense after it failed to respond to Freedom of Information Act requests. VVA and NVCLR had initiated these FOIA requests to gauge the Army, Navy, and Air Force’s compliance with former Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel’s PTSD Upgrade Memo of September 2014.

VVA-PTSD Discharge Upgrades

On September 3, 2014 a memorandum was issued to the Secretaries of the Army, Navy, and Air Force to fully consider applications submitted by veterans who seek a discharge upgrade on the basis of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

Veterans Education Success

The clinic represents Veterans Education Success (VES), a D.C.-based organization, in its efforts to protect veterans against deceptive recruiting practices by predatory colleges.

Spires v. James

On November 18, 2016 H. Edward Spires sued the Secretary of the Air Force seeking an upgrade of his Undesirable discharge to Honorable after the AFBCMR twice denied his upgrade applications, claiming his records were lost in a 1973 fire. The Air Force discharged Mr. Spires in 1948 for reason of homosexuality. He became eligible for a discharge upgrade in 2011 after the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell. On January 6, 2017 the AFBCMR upgraded Mr. Spires’s discharge status to an Honorable discharge.

Presidential Pardon for Veterans with Bad Paper

In the fall of 2016, Vietnam Veterans of America retained the Veterans Legal Services Clinic to examine whether President Barack Obama could issue a presidential pardon for veterans with other-than-honorable discharges.
 

Kennedy v. Esper

A nationwide class-action lawsuit, on behalf of the approximately 60,000 less-than-Honorably discharged Iraq- and Afghanistan-era veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder—or PTSD—and other, related mental-health conditions. The lawsuit challenges the United States Army’s unconstitutional and improper treatment of these veterans.

Palomares FOIA Litigation

On January 17, 1966, two U.S. Air Force planes collided over Palomares, Spain. The collision dislodged four hydrogen bombs, which fell to the earth and released clouds of radioactive dust over the Spanish countryside.

POD + CVLC MST FOIA Litigation

On December 13, 2017, Protect Our Defenders POD) and the Connecticut Veterans Legal Center (CVLC) filed suit in U.S. District Court to compel the Department of Defense and the Department of Homeland Security to release records related to gender disparities within the military justice system, and to the military record correction boards’ handling of cases involving sexual assault and harassment.

IAVA-CT State Benefits Advocacy for Veterans with Bad Paper

The Connecticut Chapter of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA-CT) carries out IAVA’s mission to connect, unite and empower post-9/11 veterans in the state. IAVA-CT is dedicated to ensuring that all Connecticut veterans – including those who were discharged from the military under less-than-honorable conditions – are welcomed back home, and continue to receive effective support and care in their communities. Most recently, IAVA-CT proposed and advocated for legislation aimed at ensuring equal access to state veterans’ benefits.

Manker v. Spencer

On March 2, 2018, Tyson Manker and the National Veterans Council for Legal Redress (NVCLR) filed a nationwide class-action lawsuit on behalf of thousands of less-than-Honorably discharged Navy and Marine Corps veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and related conditions from the Iraq and Afghanistan era.

POD+CVLC VA Bias FOIA Litigation

POD+CVLC VA Bias FOIA Litigation

IAVA-CT: Protecting Veterans from Employment Discrimination

The Connecticut Chapter of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA-CT) carries out IAVA’s mission to connect, unite and empower post-9/11 veterans in the state. In partnership with IAVA-CT, the Connecticut Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities (CHRO) recently released new guidance to ensure that all veterans receive equal treatment when seeking employment opportunities.

Petition for Rulemaking to Change VA Motto

The clinic submitted a petition on behalf of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), Service Women’s Action Network (SWAN), and NYC Veterans Alliance to the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (the VA), asking the VA to replace its current motto with one that is inclusive of all veterans, including women.

Skaar v. Wilkie Class Action

The Veterans Legal Services Clinic represents a class of veterans who cleaned up after the 1966 Palomares, Spain nuclear disaster. The class is led by named appellant retired Air Force Chief Master Sergeant Victor Skaar before the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (CAVC).

Jerome N. Frank Legal Services Organization

The Jerome N. Frank Legal Services Organization (LSO) provides legal representation to individuals and organizations in need of legal services but unable to afford private attorneys.

Learn more
LSO Summer Fellowship

Ways to Engage

Our Clinics

Yale Law School offers more than 30 clinics that provide students with hands on, practical experience in the law on a diverse range of subject matters.

Simulation

Yale Law School offers a suite of innovative simulation courses based on real-world case studies.

Centers and Workshops

Yale Law School enhances the intellectual life of its academic community by sponsoring a variety of centers, programs, and workshops, inspired by the interests of its faculty and students.