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Lending a legal hand

By Scott Fitzgerald, The Southern

Thursday, July 24, 2008 10:51 AM CDT

CARBONDALE -The Southern Illinois University School of Law knows how it will operate a new program designed to help veterans with legal needs.

Like a law firm.

"We've got four to six case managers who are law students in their second and third years. We've got two paid student workers who are like paralegals. I will be like a senior partner. Every Friday, we meet with case management to review our cases," said John Lynn, the law school's assistant dean for administration.

This isn't a simulated model or demonstration.

With a $100,000 veteran's cash grant awarded Wednesday to the SIUC law school, students under Lynn's direction will help veterans who cannot afford or do not have access to legal representation in appealing service-connected disability claims.

"This program is critical and will provide Illinois veterans with quality legal services to ensure that they get the benefits they have rightfully earned," said Tammy Duckworth, director of the Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs.

The grant money was raised by offering a veterans cash, scratch-off lottery ticket earlier to Illinois lottery ticket buyers. According to the state's veterans' affairs department, 100 percent of the sale proceeds from the tickets go to non-profit organizations that help provide a wide range of services to veterans including health care, post-traumatic stress disorder treatment, disability benefits and housing assistance.

Acting chancellor Sam Goldman and state Rep. Mike Bost, R-Murphysboro, were present also at the check presentation.

Goldman said the initiative being provided by the state veteran's department and SIU's law school will help veterans "who have made tremendous sacrifices for all of us."

Law school students will get hands-on experience to enhance their education and gain satisfaction from helping others, Goldman said.

scott.fitzgerald@thesouthern.com  

351-5076