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Veterans Advocacy Clinic

The Veterans Advocacy Clinic stands beside West Virginia’s veterans, offering free legal help to those who have served our country.

WVU Law students work to help veterans with benefits, discharge upgrades, family law matters, and stability in work and housing. Many veterans face unique legal challenges tied to their service and return to civilian life, and this clinic provides students an opportunity to give back to them.

Client Eligibility and Application

In the past 5 years, the clinic has reached 350 veterans across the state. Since 2023, our student attorneys have secured over $550,000 in backpay and more than $15 million in future benefits.

Our efforts have helped veterans win long-overdue compensation, achieve 100% disability ratings, and restore hope for themselves and their families.  Serving veterans in all six branches of the U.S. military, the WVU Veterans Advocacy Clinic fights for the recognition every veteran deserves.

Veterans: Apply for Services

From Our Client

– US Military Veteran

“The clinic helped do something for me in six months that I had been trying to do by myself for years. Some veterans give up on trying to get their benefits because the VA makes it such a long and confusing process, but the clinic gave me a huge relief because I knew I wasn’t doing it alone anymore.”

Veterans Advocacy Clinic Benefits

Hands-on experience, real clients, and practical skills that prepare you for legal practice.

Education in Action

  • 200+ hours of legal work per month

  • 450+ Veterans supported by the clinic

  • 7 student attorneys

  • 25+ student attorneys who have worked in the clinic over the past 3 academic years

Students: Get Involved

From the Director’s Desk

“Teaching our students that each veteran matters, no matter how big or small the case may seem, matters to that veteran.”

– Jed Nolan, Co-Director of the Veterans Advocacy Clinic

Student Insight

“

My experiences at the Veterans Advocacy Clinic have become the highlight of my law school journey. I’ve had the chance to prepare legal paperwork, appear in court, and successfully present an adoption matter. The work was truly humbling, especially after seeing the family united in the courtroom. I learned that some of the most meaningful legal work often happens quietly, through careful preparation and attention to detail that can change lives.

Portrait of Gracie Davis

Gracie Davis Class of 2026

Your Support is Critical to Our Success

Help Provide Legal Aid

We’re thankful for our partnership with the WVU College of Law and for the resources the college provides to empower our work. To complement these resources, the clinic also raises funds to fulfill our mission of serving West Virginia’s veterans.

These donations support the ability of the clinic to represent more veterans in the future, many of whom can’t afford legal services without pro bono support from WVU Law. Funding goes toward outreach events where we teach veterans, veterans’ families, communities, and other legal providers the current rules, regulations, and statutes involving benefits, family law, consumer protection issues, and wills and estates. Your donations also help our clinic partner with community providers, participate in homeless veterans’ outreach events, and support the West Virginia National Guard in their critical missions around the world.

Visit give.wvu.edu or contact:

Portrait of Jed Nolan

Veterans Advocacy Clinic Co-Director

Jed Nolan

Email: jnolan3@mail.wvu.edu Phone: 304-293-7249

Portrait of Ashley Talbott

Veterans Advocacy Clinic Co-Director

Ashley Talbott

Email: ashley.talbott@mail.wvu.edu Phone: 304-293-7249