School of Law Veterans Services

The University of Georgia School of Law values military service and is committed to supporting veterans.

Veterans Legal Clinic

The Veterans Legal Clinic provides veterans in Georgia with legal assistance they might not otherwise have access to or be able to afford, with particular regard to denied or deferred claims before the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. It also includes an educational scholarship component. The clinic is based near the UGA campus in downtown Athens and serves veterans and their dependents across the state of Georgia.

Overseen by 30-plus year public service lawyer and educator Alexander W. Scherr, the unit is staffed by law students who work directly with veterans and their dependents to ensure access to benefits and services, especially for those with mental or physical disabilities resulting from their time in the military. The students who participate in the clinic will have a tangible impact on the lives of these veterans and their families while receiving real-world experience that will better equip them for their careers.

The clinic is funded by a lead gift from renowned trial attorney and alumnus James E. “Jim” Butler Jr. in memory of his father, Lt. Cmdr. James E. Butler Sr., who was a fighter pilot in the U.S. Navy. Butler Sr. was also the grandfather of James E. “Jeb” Butler III, a 2008 graduate of the law school. View the official press release for more information.

Individuals seeking help from the Veterans Legal Clinic can call (706) 542-6439 or write veteranslegalclinic@uga.edu .

Application Fee Waivers

The Office of Admissions offers application fee waivers to U.S. Military personnel who are active duty or have previously served. Email the office at ugajd@uga.edu before submitting your application to request a fee waiver.

Yellow Ribbon Program

The University of Georgia School of Law is proud to participate in the Yellow Ribbon Program, a provision of the law which created the Post-9/11 GI Bill. The Yellow Ribbon program allows institutions of higher learning to make additional funds available to fund tuition and fee expenses that exceed the tuition and fees covered by the Post-9/11 GI Bill. Under the program, the Department of Veterans Affairs matches school aid contributions made to eligible veterans. The School of Law has allocated funds for two annual scholarships at $5,000 each. This $5,000 will then be matched by the Department of Veterans Affairs for a total of $10,000 per academic year.

To receive benefits under the Yellow Ribbon Program:

You must be eligible for the maximum benefit rate under the Post-9/11 GI Bill
You must not be on active duty or a spouse using transferred entitlement

To learn more about eligibility, please visit the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs site: http://www.benefits.va.gov/GIBILL/yellow_ribbon.asp. If you are eligible and plan to apply for Yellow Ribbon funding at the School of Law, please contact Jenna Jackson, Assistant Director of Recruitment & Student Experience, at jennaj@uga.edu.

UGA Student Veterans Resource Center

The UGA Student Veterans Resource Center (SVRC) serves as a central location for information about the university’s services for student veterans while also offering support, advocacy and a convenient location for student veterans to gather throughout the day: www.svrc.uga.edu.