MICHIGAN ATTORNEY GENERAL Prepared by The Michigan Department of Attorney General July 16, 2014 2 Prepared by the Michigan Department of Attorney General LEGAL AND RELATED SERVICES DEDICATED TO VETERANS 1 Legal Programs For Low Income Veterans 2 Law School Clinics and Related Programs 3 Legal Services Programs 4 Pro Bono Programs 5 Legal And Legal-Related Programs For All Veterans And Active Duty Military Personnel 6 Law School Clinics and Related Programs 7 Fee-Based Legal Referral Sources 8 Agencies, Hotlines and Websites for Information, Advice and Referrals 9 Consumer Protection Issues And Resources 10 Veterans’ Treatment Courts 11 Service Officers/Counselors Who Provide Assistance With VA Benefits 12 Service Officers Affiliated with Veterans’ Organizations 13 County Service Counselors 14 Veterans’ And Related Organizations 15 Resources For Vietnam And Other Veterans Exposed To Agent Orange 16 Other Resources 17 GENERAL LEGAL SERVICES FOR LOW INCOME INDIVIDUALS, INCLUDING VETERANS 18 Statewide/National Legal Services Programs 19 County/Regional Legal Services Programs 20 Law School Clinics And Related Programs 21 Pro Bono Programs 22 Hotlines and Websites For Information, Advice And Referrals 23 REFERRAL SERVICES FOR FEE-BASED LEGAL HELP FOR ALL INDIVIDUALS 24 State Bar Of Michigan Lawyer Referral 25 County And Local Bar Association Lawyer Referral Programs 26 Other Lawyer Referral Sources 27 LEGAL AID CLINICS 27 SELF-HELP RESOURCES FOR PRO SE ASSISTANCE 28 3 Prepared by the Michigan Department of Attorney General 4 Prepared by the Michigan Department of Attorney General 5 Prepared by the Michigan Department of Attorney General Legal Programs For Low Income Veterans Law School Clinics and Legal Services Programs Related Programs Neighborhood Legal Services Michigan University of Detroit Mercy School of Law Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) Project SALUTE, Veterans Law Clinic, Veterans Appellate Clinic 7310 Woodward Detroit, MI 48202 University of Detroit Mercy School of Law Phone: (313) 964-1975 651 East Jefferson Avenue Website: www.nlsmichigan.org Detroit, MI 48226 Phone: (888) 836-5294 The main focus of the SSVF program is to help Fax: (313) 596-9825 veterans and veteran families who are home- Website: www.law.udmercy.edu less or at risk of homelessness quickly regain Email: [email protected] stability in permanent housing after experienc- ing a housing crisis and/or homelessness. Project SALUTE provides pro bono assistance The program provides support to very low-in- with obtaining federal veterans’ benefits. come veterans and veteran families by offering Veterans Law Clinic advises, represents case management; transportation services; and refers low-income veterans and family legal services; linkage to veterans’ and other members on issues related to veterans’ benefits; referrals to health care services, food benefits. pantries and other providers of basic needs; Veterans Appellate Clinic represents temporary financial assistance (paid directly to veterans with cases pending, or to be filed, a third party for rent, utilities, deposits, mov- at the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims. ing cost and child care); and other supportive services to address housing stabilization. Western Michigan Legal Services Legal Aid of Western Michigan Website: www.legalaidwestmich.org Email: [email protected] Legal Aid of Western Michigan provides assistance to veteran’s families who are homeless, in transitional housing or at risk of homelessness. Cases are referred to LAWM when there is a legal issue that can either prevent homelessness or remove an obstacle to permanent housing. For office locations, refer to section II. 6 Prepared by the Michigan Department of Attorney General Pro Bono Programs The Veterans Consortium Pro Bono Program Website: www.vetsprobono.org National Veterans Legal Services Program (NVLSP) The Veterans Consortium Pro Bono Program was created in 1992 with a focus to provide Lawyers Serving Warriors Program assistance to unrepresented veterans or their Website: www.nvlsp.org family members who have filed appeals at The NVLSP’s Lawyers Serving Warriors the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims Program offers pro bono legal help to (Court). Each appellant who requests Pro Bono veterans from all eras with two types of Program assistance receives a thorough disability claims: Combat Related Special review of his or her appeal. In the event that Compensation (CRSC) and applications to a case is not accepted by the Program, the the Physical Disability Board of Review for veteran will receive substantive legal advice an increase in the military disability rating. about the case. NVLSP also has a new pilot program for assis- tance with VA denials of service connection for PTSD due to military sexual trauma (MST). Public Counsel: Center for Veterans Advancement Website: www.publiccounsel.org/practice_ areas/center_for_veterans_advancement Public Counsel’s Center for Veterans Advance- ment (CVA) provides representation, through pro bono partners, to veterans and their families in securing government benefits (e.g., VA benefits; social security; health care benefits), and assisting veterans in addressing issues related to accessing employment, housing, medical care and supportive services. 7 Prepared by the Michigan Department of Attorney General Legal And Legal-Related Programs For All Veterans And Active Duty Military Personnel Law School Clinics and Fee-Based Legal Referral Related Programs Services Thomas M. Cooley Law School Attorneys Admitted to Practice at Service to Soldiers Program U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims Thomas M. Cooley Law School Website: 300 S. Capitol Avenue www.uscourts.cavc.gov/practitioners_info.php Post Office Box 13038 Attorneys, organized by state, are knowledge- Lansing, MI 48901 able of matters regarding veteran’s benefits Phone: (517) 371-5140 and possibly willing to assist veterans in Website: www.cooley.edu/probono/service_ other areas. to_soldiers.html Cooley Law School’s Service to Soldiers National Organization of Veterans’ Program offers free legal assistance to Advocates (NOVA) Michigan military personnel who are deploying Website: to, deployed, and returning troops of E5 rank www.vetadvocates.org/veterans-help/ and below with civilian legal problems they NOVA is a national organization of attorneys may be facing. The most common requests and other qualified members who act as for help are with family law, estate planning, advocates for veterans in obtaining VA creditor/debtor, and landlord/tenant issues, benefits, and related areas. Attorney members but attorneys are available to help in other are organized by state. practice areas as well. The court filing fees are the responsibility of the client, but no legal fees will be charged. Cooley’s volunteer Agencies, Hotlines and attorneys and students also assist in preparing Websites for Information, wills and powers of attorney at pre-deploy- ment events Advice and Referrals These resources provide advice or information on particular issues and in some instances may provide referrals. Army Wounded Warrior Program (AW2) Phone: (800) 237-1336 Website: http://www.polk.amedd.army.mil/ docs/meb/AW2ResourceGuide.pdf Email: [email protected] 8 Prepared by the Michigan Department of Attorney General AW2 assists and advocates for severely Military.Com wounded, injured, and ill soldiers and their Website: www.military.com families regardless of location or military Provides general information and updates status. The AW2 website also provides a list of of interest to members and veterans of all resources regarding benefits administered by branches of the military. the Military Services and the Department of Veterans Affairs. Military One Source Phone: (800) 342-9647 BVA Ombudsmen Phone: (202) 461-8032 Air Force Palace Hart Email: [email protected] Phone: (888) 774-1361 Website: www.militaryonesource.mil Michigan Department of Military and Military One Source is a confidential Depart- Veterans Affairs ment of Defense-funded program which Website: www.michigan.gov/dmva provides comprehensive information at no Comprehensive website and state agency that cost to Active Duty, Guard, and Reserve provides information and describes benefits component members, and their families. available to Michigan Veterans. Information includes: deployment reunion, non-medical counseling, marital problems, Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency reintegration concerns, financial management, Phoenix Bld., 5th Floor taxes, career services, relationship, grief and 222 N. Washington Square loss, spouse employment and education, and P.O. Box 30104 parenting and childhood. Personalized sup- Lansing, MI 48909 port and confidential services are available Phone: (800-642-4838) 24 hours a day by telephone and online. Contact: Cynthia Engler National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) Phone: (517) 284-5223 1 Archives Drive Website: www.michiganveterans.com St. Louis, Missouri 63138 Email: [email protected] Phone: (314) 801-0800 The Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency provides Toll Free: (866) 272-6272 resources relating to education, healthcare, Status Check: [email protected] quality of life and housing. The agency also Website: www.archives.gov/st-louis/ connects veterans with services officers who Email: [email protected] can help prepare the necessary forms, Information regarding military personnel, document claims with pertinent data and health and medical records is made available ensure proper submission and case manage- upon written request with signature and date. ment of claims. Veterans can obtain copies of DD-214 and military personnel records from NPRC. NPRC also can provide service medical records un- less records have been transferred to the VA after the veteran filed a claim for service- connected disability benefits. 9 Prepared by the Michigan Department of Attorney General Agencies, Hotlines and Websites for Information, Advice and Referrals - continued National Veterans Foundation Swords to Plowshares 9841 Airport Blvd., Suite 418 Website: www.swords-to-plowshares.org Los Angeles, CA 90045 California-based website, which provides very Phone: (310) 642-0255 good self-help resources for veterans in a vari- Counselor: (888) 777-4443 ety of areas, including issues pertaining to un- Website: www.nvf.org desirable discharges and discharge upgrades. The National Veterans Foundation assists with U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) crisis management services, by providing in- formation and referrals to all U.S. veterans and Website: www.va.gov their families through management and opera- Comprehensive website which contains infor- tion of its toll-free helpline. mation and fillable forms. This is a good place to start on any issue relating to veterans’ ben- Navy Safe Harbor Program efits. Also contains contact information for all Phone: (877) 746-8563 VA regional offices and VA medical centers. Website: http://safeharbor.navylive.dodlive. mil/files/2012/02/NSH-Brochure-Page-2.pdf VA Benefits Provides support to seriously wounded, ill and website: www.ebenefits.va.gov injured sailors, Coast Guardsmen, and their Veterans can enroll for e-benefits, and apply families by using a holistic approach to provide for disability benefits if claim is fully devel- assistance throughout phases of the service oped. Veterans also can access other helpful member’s recovery, rehabilitation, and return information, including the status of their claim to duty or community reintegration if they have registered with e-benefits. Stateside Legal VA Health Benefits Enroll by Phone Website: www.statesidelegal.org Phone: (877) 222-8387 Stateside Legal is a website for members of VA Hotline for Women Veterans the military, veterans, their families and advo- cates. The goal of the website is to offer help in Phone: (855) 829-6636 accessing benefits, finding free legal help and helping to better understand legal issues. VA Phone Number for Status of Pending VA Claims Real Warriors Campaign Phone: (800) 827-1000 Website: www.realwarriors.net VA Suicide Prevention Multimedia public awareness campaign de- signed to encourage service members and Phone: (800) 273-8255 veterans to seek help for traumatic brain injury VA National Call Center for and psychological issues. Website contains Homeless Veterans self-help materials on applying for a discharge upgrade, as well as other helpful materials. Phone: (877) 424-3838 10 Prepared by the Michigan Department of Attorney General