How We Help
We represent veterans and their family members when they cannot afford an attorney. We strive to help veterans and their families attain the maximum degree of stability and financial well being. We focus our representation on the following areas of law:
- Appeals at all levels in Federal Veterans’ Benefit cases (including Service-Connected Disability Compensation Benefits, VA Pension, Dependency and Indemnity Compensation Benefits)
- Appeals at all levels in Massachusetts Veterans’ Services Benefits cases (Chapter 115 cases)
- Access to VA healthcare and other healthcare resources
- Discharge upgrades and correction of military records cases
- Estate planning matters (wills, health care proxies, funeral planning directives, living wills/medical directives, and special needs trusts, guardianships and conservatorships, and VA Fiduciary appointments)
We also provide legal education trainings to community groups and service providers on topics relevant to veterans. If you are interested in receiving or hosting a training, please contact us.
The Veterans Law Unit is the primary vehicle through which LSC serves the legal needs of veterans. In the Veterans Law Unit, we represent veterans (and their survivors) in cases involving VA benefits, Massachusetts Veterans’ Services Benefits, discharge upgrades, and estate planning matters. The Veterans Law Unit, however, is not the only way LSC helps veterans who have unmet legal needs. Four other LSC projects focus either exclusively or substantially on representing veterans. These are:
We encourage you to click on the links for these projects to learn more about these areas of law and LSC’s commitment to meeting the legal needs of veterans.
For more information, please check out our Veterans Legal Clinic Brochure.
Eligibility
Service Area: We primarily represent clients who live in Greater Boston. When unique or particularly important legal issues are at stake, we will also consider cases from outside our primary geographic service area and cases involving the representation of organizational clients.
Financial Eligibility: Our focus is on helping veterans and family members who otherwise do not have access to attorney representation. We therefore screen clients for financial eligibility and consider a variety of factors, including the client’s income, assets, and expenses, and the potential availability of alternative representation.
Case Acceptance Decisions: Our decision to accept a case for representation depends on a number of factors, including the legal merits of the case, the client’s financial circumstances, and our available resources.
Apply for Assistance
Prospective clients can apply for representation from the Veterans Law Unit by calling (617) 390-2525.
Prospective clients can also come to the Veterans Legal Clinic during regular business hours. If an attorney or law student intern is unable to meet with you upon your arrival, you will receive an appointment for the next available intake slot on that day or another day.
Team Overview
Daniel Nagin, Clinical Professor of Law
Destini Agüero, Attorney and Clinical Instructor
Betsy Gwin, Attorney, Associate Director, and DAV Charitable Service Trust Fellow
Dana Montalto, Attorney and Clinical Instructor
Rebekah Sexton, Intake and Pro Bono Paralegal
Legal Disclaimer
This website is neither a solicitation nor an offer to represent you concerning any legal problem. The information conveyed on this website is not legal advice and is not intended to and does not create an attorney-client relationship between you and our law firm or any attorney with our firm. Please be aware that unsolicited letters, emails, and faxes do not create an attorney-client relationship, and you should not send any confidential information to us unless and until you and our firm enter into a formal agreement establishing an attorney-client relationship.
Contact Information
Telephone: Reception Desk: (617) 522-3003; Intake Line: (617) 390-2525
Office Location: 122 Boylston St., Jamaica Plain, MA 02130. We are located right next to the Stony Brook T stop on the Orange Line in the Jamaica Plain neighborhood of Boston. We are a short distance from the Jamaica Plain VA Medical Center. We also have free parking behind our building off of Amory St.
We are grateful to the DAV Charitable Service Trust for its generous support of our legal services program for disabled veterans.