Jim,

I am a young attorney with about 4 years of legal experience. My practice has focused on personal injury work (thus, I am reasonably comfortable with medical records, proving injury, etc.), family law, and criminal defense. I live next to the Fort Lewis and McChord Air Force base in Tacoma, Washington, and have many family members and friends who are veterans. I have also been honored to render legal assistance to many of our veterans dealing with family- and criminal-law related matters.

I am interested in steering my practice towards veterans disability claims, but realize that this is a complex area. It is my plan to review the links you have provided in various online forums. I also have a copy of the Veterans Benefits Manual by Stichman and Abrams, and have reviwed the CLE materials needed to become accredited before the VA.

I have all but given up seeking to volunteer on a pro bono basis with any of the veterans service organizations in my area. In addition to turning me away, they are either unable or unwilling to let me to attend any of their training classes for employee VSOs. I am frankly surprised by these reactions.

I would very much appreciate a brief telephone conversation with you if you could spare the time. I believe your advice will be invaluable. Feel free to call me at the number below at any hour (feel free to leave a message if I am unable to pick up), or alternatively, I would be pleased to call you at an hour of your convenience.

Reply:

I'm happy you reached out. I've been able to chat with a number of young attorneys such as yourself in the last year or so regards their future practicing veterans/VA advocacy law. I work with many experienced advocates and it's a privilege for me to be able to pass that on to you.

There were very few attorneys practicing veterans advocacy prior to 2007. The law changed then to allow more veterans access to the skills of trained professionals. The field is still very new and opportunities abound.

I advise that you begin at the beginning.

Both NOVA & NVLSP have some "basic training" to get you started. I recommend joining NOVA for access to the bulletin board. It's secure and experienced colleagues can answer complex questions for you. I've taken the NVLSP basic course and found that it was an excellent starting point. As you are currently practicing law you should go ahead to apply for accreditation to represent veterans to VA.

http://www.nvlsp.org/

https://vetadvocates.org/

http://www.va.gov/ogc/accreditation.asp

http://www.va.gov/ogc/apps/accreditation/index.asp

I'd also like you to touch base with my friend Nan Heald.

"Heald, Nan" <NHeald@ptla.org>

Nan is at http://statesidelegal.org and she will prove to be an invaluable resource for you.