IU Maurer launches Veterans Disability Law Clinic

A first-of-its-kind legal clinic in Indiana will provide free representation beginning July 1 to veterans who wish to appeal a denial of disability benefits or seek other services to receive VA benefits.

Indiana University Maurer School of Law Thursday announced establishment of the Veterans Disability Law Clinic. Second- and third-year law students will handle client intake, fact gathering and client representation under supervision of a Department of Veterans Affairs-accredited attorney.

Along with appealing benefit denials, the clinic will assist veterans seeking discharge upgrades or military record corrections in order to receive VA benefits. Services will be available to income-eligible veterans in Brown, Greene, Lawrence, Monroe, Morgan and Owen counties but also open to eligible veterans willing to travel to Bloomington.

“The process for getting veterans’ disability benefits can be confusing, complex and lengthy,” said Carwina Weng, clinical professor of law and director of the school’s Disability Law Clinic. “We hope that the clinic will help our clients navigate this difficult process so they can receive the benefits they have earned.”

Anyone interested in scheduling an appointment with the clinic or seeking more information may contact Weng at 812-855-9229 or at [email protected].

Weng expressed special thanks to Polli Pollem, director of the Indiana Legal Services Military Assistance Project; Tom Triplett, regional service to the armed forces manager, the American Red Cross Indiana regional office; Larry Catt, Monroe County veterans service officer; Margaret Baechtold, director of Indiana University Veterans Support Services; retired Col. John Tilford, U.S. Army Reserve and veterans advocate; Ashley Ahlbrand, IU Maurer School of Law; and Kirk White, assistant vice president and military liaison, Indiana University office of the president, for helping make the clinic possible.