Practising Law Institute to Present Advocating for Veterans - the Basics on Benefits, Discharge Upgrades and Cultural Competency

Legal education organization to provide pro bono program to help qualify attorneys to represent veterans before the Department of Veterans Affairs

SAN FRANCISCO, April 28, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- On May 6, 2011 Practising Law Institute (PLI), the nation's largest producer of continuing legal education, in collaboration with The State Bar of California and Swords to Plowshares, will present Advocating for Veterans – the Basics on Benefits, Discharge Upgrades and Cultural Competency, a full-day program designed to increase the number of pro bono attorneys and advocates available to represent veterans before the Department of Veterans Affairs to get the benefits that they deserve. PLI anticipates that nearly 1,000 attorneys and advocates will participate in the live program and simultaneous Webcast.

Attorneys and advocates must be accredited to represent veterans before the Department. In cooperation with the Department's Office of General Counsel, program registrant applications are being reviewed and accreditation granted prior to the program so that required continuing legal education credit can be earned at the program.

Medical and financial assistance are available to men and women who have served in the military, but some who can qualify are not receiving the benefits that they need.  Veterans may not be aware of the benefits to which they are entitled; mental and physical injuries may not be deemed "connected to service" because of inadequate records; and some veterans received less than fully honorable discharges for behaviors that were related to post-traumatic stress. With proper training, attorneys can assist veterans with the issues that preclude them from receiving benefits.

The State Bar of California estimates that this pro bono program has contributed to increasing the number of accredited attorneys in California by 24%, and by 4% nationally. A special program session focuses on how attorneys and advocates can better understand how to relate to veterans in transition to a non-combat community.

For more information on the program and its faculty, or to register for the live program or simultaneous Webcast, visit PLI's program website or call PLI's Customer Relations Department at (800) 260-4754. To arrange for a communal viewing of the Webcast in your conference room, please contact the Groupcasts Department via email at [email protected].  

About Practising Law Institute:

Practising Law Institute (PLI) is a non-profit continuing legal education organization chartered by the Regents of the University of the State of New York, founded in 1933. PLI is dedicated to providing the legal community and allied professionals with the most up-to-date, relevant information and techniques critical to the development of a professional, competitive edge. We achieve these goals through the highest quality seminars held annually in locations across the United States, regularly supplemented Treatises, audio CDs and DVDs, MP3s, live Webcasts, Course Handbooks, CLE Now web programs and Private Label Solutions, all with the guidance of practice specific Advisory Committees. PLI is headquartered in New York City and also maintains offices in California.

SOURCE Practising Law Institute

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