The School of Law's Veterans Legal Clinic held a virtual event on Saturday, July 11, that connect veterans in 15 counties surrounding Athens with volunteer attorneys for information and quick advice on legal issues arising from the coronavirus pandemic.
This Virtual Clinic was held on Zoom. Participants needed a reliable phone or internet connection to participate.
The Virtual Clinic prioritized veterans and their families in the following counties: Banks, Barrow, Clarke, Elbert, Franklin, Greene, Hart, Jackson, Madison, Morgan, Newton, Oconee, Oglethorpe, Stephens and Walton, and accepted contacts from veterans outside those counties as well. Topics covered will included healthcare/insurance, landlord-tenant and eviction, mortgage foreclosure, debt/debt management, family law issues, unemployment compensation and employment rights.
The July 11 event had the benefit of collaboration with other law school clinics, including the Jane W. Wilson Family Justice Clinic and the Public Interest Practicum. Nine law students from these three programs contributed to the written materials and helped the volunteer attorneys during the clinic event with technical and legal questions. Three of these students were themselves veterans, including one law student and two undergraduates. The clinic also developed and distributed publicity for the clinic to a pool of over 50 contacts in Northeast Georgia, including veterans services organizations, colleges, sheriffs offices, social service providers, and libraries.