Militarily Speaking, Now You Can Help Veterans
Vermont Law School Clinic Offers Free Veterans Advocacy Training to Lawyers and Community Members Locally and Nationally
April 26, 2025
South Royalton, VT — Want to help a veteran? Take a closer look at Vermont Law and Graduate School’s South Royalton Legal Clinic (SRLC). With experienced faculty as the legal practitioners who oversee a cadre of students each semester, the SoRo Legal Clinic (SRLC) takes on clients throughout Vermont, from families and children, to our nations veterans, to immigrants in need of legal representation. Now, you can get trained to help our veterans, for free, by attending the VLGS Veteran’s Advocate Training Program now streaming online (see link below).
The SRLC provides free legal services to Vermonters and veteran’s nationally who can’t afford counsel—from domestic violence disputes to child custody issues, and across a range of issues specific to veterans and their families. The SRLC, through its Veteran’s Legal Assistance Project, now provides free training for lawyers AND non-lawyers who want to advocate for veteran’s locally and nationally by helping them get certified to practice before the Veteran’s Administration (VA).
Case in point was yesterday’s free training offered to the community to prepare lawyers and non-lawyers to advocate for and represent veteran’s in front of the VA. The 2nd Annual VLGS Veteran’s Advocate Training Program saw more than forty people, in-person and online, learn how to help veteran’s face a range of issues. When it comes to serving low-income Vermonters and veteran’s locally and nationally, there’s little the SRLC won’t do to offer free civil legal services. Now, that can include you.
Don Hayes JD’10, director of the SRLC, organized and moderated yesterday’s training along with help from VLGS students and staff. Through this program, people can become accredited to practice before the Veteran’s Administration. I’ll emphasize again, this program is for lawyers and non-lawyers alike. It’s supported by the Thomas M. French Veteran’s Advocacy Fund as a way to recognize long-time Brattleboro, VT attorney Tom French who has been representing veteran’s for decades, and who is, himself, a veteran. Tom appeared on screen from his home to thank yesterday’s participants for their willingness to help and serve veterans. Tom’s son, Tom French JD’93, made the trip up from Brooklyn, NY, stopping at his dad’s house along the way to get him set up with camera and computer to make a virtual appearance at the training.
Among those in attendance were Jackie Brilling JD’79, a VLGS alumna who is a member of the school’s Board of Trustees. She made the trip from Albany, NY, while her husband, a retired doctor, watched the livestream from their home. Jackie’s experience as a NY State hearing officer and former secretary of New York’s Public Service Commission, along with Michael’s long-time medical background, will make these two a dynamic team and powerful force for good in advocating for veteran’s rights. How better to spend some time together in retirement than helping our country’s veteran’s in need? We’re grateful to Jackie and Michael, and to both Tom French the elder and Tom French JD’93 the younger, and all participants and panelists, for their passion and desire teach, learn, and promote this program nationally.
The livestream of yesterday’s Veteran’s Advocate Training Program is now online on the VLGS YouTube webpage at This Link. Thus, anyone with a computer can start down the path of becoming certified to advocate for veterans. It’s a five-and-a-half-hour program, well worth your time if you have an interest in veterans’ rights. If you’re an attorney thinking about opening up a new practice area serving veterans, this is your chance. All the school asks is that you handle one veteran’s case on a pro bono basis in the year following certification. Otherwise, this training is free and available to lawyers and non-layers in the community—locally and nationally.
Vermont Law and Graduate School, located in South Royalton, VT with an office in Burlington, VT, gives back to our nation each day thanks to its many faculty, students, and alumni who care. Supporting veteran’s throughout Vermont and across the country is just one way VLGS and its many law and policy clinics offer free legal services to people in need. Now, it’s expanding the universe of free advocacy services to a broad audience nationally through this Veteran’s Advocate Training Program online. Please consider becoming a veteran’s advocate yourself.
Dave Celone is vice president of alumni relation and development at Vermont Law and Graduate School. He writes from South Royalton and Sharon, VT.