Veterans Legal Clinic at SU College of Law receives $150K state grant

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — The Betty and Michael D. Wohl Veterans Legal Clinic (VLC) at the Syracuse University (SU) College of Law will use a $150,000 state grant to help provide services to Central New York veterans. The New York State Department of Veterans’ Services awarded the school a Justice for Heroes grant, according to a post on the department’s Facebook page. The SU College of Law is one of just five law schools in New York state selected for the grant funding, SU noted. Besides the SU College of Law, Cornell Law School, Hofstra University School of Law, University at Buffalo School of Law, and Albany Law School were also awarded grants, per the Facebook post. With this funding, Syracuse University says the VLC will expand its legal support for local veterans and launch a new initiative to serve military-connected students, faculty and staff at the University, described as a “first-of-its-kind effort in higher education” in the SU announcement. The grant will also strengthen the College of Law’s capacity to provide legal representation in areas such as U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health and disability benefits, while simultaneously training the next generation of veteran-focused legal advocates, SU noted. “This grant will enable the VLC to build upon its 10-year track record of delivering exceptional level services and representation to the veteran community and their families,” Beth Kubala, executive director of the Office of Clinical Legal Education, director of the VLC, said. “This grant program demonstrates New York state’s dedication to improving the lives of veterans and their ongoing support of law school outreach programs.” Kubala is also a teaching professor in the College of Law and a U.S. Army veteran. The VLC represents veterans and their families in claims for VA benefits and military discharge upgrades, SU said. Student attorneys, under faculty supervision, gain hands-on experience with real clients, navigating federal agencies and honing their legal skills — all while learning the value of pro bono service and engaging directly with military culture. “The Veterans Legal Clinic exemplifies our commitment to experiential learning, community service, and public interest law,” Terence Lau, dean of Syracuse University College of Law, said. “We are proud of the clinic’s impact and grateful to the Department of Veterans’ Services for supporting this important work.”