Veterans Assistance Project

To get help from the Veterans Assistance Project, call 212-382-4722.

Overview

The City Bar Justice Center’s Veterans Assistance Project (VAP) is focused on empowering veterans and their families to achieve financial stability. The Project provides legal advice, advocacy, and representation to New York City veterans who are experiencing poverty and facing other systemic barriers related to their claims for benefits from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

Veterans may call our intake line to have their cases screened and, as appropriate, invited to a monthly legal clinic. At the legal clinic, veterans are matched with volunteer lawyers who assess possible legal remedies and assist veterans with filing service-connected disability claims and appeals with the VA. Our volunteer lawyers navigate the complex systems of resources and benefits to which veterans are entitled. Assistance ranges from locating service documents and medical records, to preparing and filing claims, and directly representing veterans at hearings.

The Project director meets with, trains, and mentors the volunteer lawyers throughout the representation. Additionally, VAP provides CLE training for volunteer attorneys interested in providing pro bono representation.

Since its inception, VAP has provided legal assistance to more than 1,500 veterans and recovered over $7.5 million in retroactive benefits in addition to ongoing disability benefits.

Makedah K. Salmond directs the Veterans Assistance Project and Alberto Ballesteros is the project coordinator.

Not sure if this is the right project? Contact our free Legal Hotline at 212-626-7383.