A free virtual legal clinic for Georgia veterans will happen on Saturday, June 5, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Veterans in Northwest Georgia can access the clinic in person in Dalton, Georgia. Veterans from other parts of the state can connect by webcam or telephone.
The Georgia Veterans Outreach Project offers legal advice on issues important to veterans. These include veterans and military benefits, as well as consumer, family, housing and other civil issues. The project cannot help with criminal matters.
According to Alexander W. Scherr, who directs the University of Georgia School of Law's Veterans Legal Clinic, the project's goal is to assist veterans in small towns and rural areas in Georgia. "It can be hard for veterans to find legal help in these areas," he said.
Veterans lacking reliable phone or internet service can travel to Dalton, where there will be computers that veterans can use. Project staff will help veterans at this location. Participants will be asked to maintain social distancing and to wear face coverings.
Veterans must register in advance. They can call (706) 542-6439 or email uga.veteransclinic@gmail.com. Registration closes at 12 p.m. on Wednesday, June 2. After registering, the project will let veterans know how they can connect on the day of the clinic.
Registration helps the project match veterans with attorneys, co-organizer Christopher Pitts, director of the Military Legal Assistance Project of the Georgia Legal Services Program, said. "The project will ensure that there are enough attorneys to provide quality advice and guidance to veterans who register."
This is the fifth of six virtual clinics hosted by the project in the last seven months. Previous clinics occurred in Athens, Augusta, Columbus, Macon, Savannah, and along the Florida border. The last clinic will occur July 10 and will reach veterans in Northeast Georgia.
The Georgia Veterans Outreach Project represents a partnership between the Veterans Legal Clinic and the Georgia Legal Services Program and is funded by the American Bar Association.
The School of Law's Veterans Legal Clinic is funded by a lead gift from renowned trial attorney and 1977 law school alumnus James E. "Jim" Butler Jr., who also supports the school's Butler Commitment that guarantees financial aid to 100 percent of student veteran law school matriculants.