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School of Law Veterans Legal Services

Serving those who served

Veteran William Sheehan knows what it’s like to feel alone and unsupported. When he wanted to adopt his stepdaughter Mia, he didn’t know where to turn—until he discovered Loyola’s Community Law Center. The center provides veterans, active service members, and their families with general legal representation in a wide variety of civil litigation.

"Loyola eliminates barriers to legal representation for veterans and their families while working to promote a healthy transition back to civilian life." — Emily Vaughan (JD ’14), Director, Veterans Legal Services

In partnership with Loyola’s School of Social Work, the Community Law Center helped Sheehan navigate the complex adoption system and become Mia’s legal guardian/father.

80%

OF VETERANS SAY BEING A VETERAN HAS HAD A POSITIVE IMPACT ON THEIR LIFE

300K

VETERANS IN THE CHICAGOLAND AREA

18%

OF VETERANS REPORT NOT KNOWING WHERE TO GO FOR HEALTH AND WELL-BEING HELP

[Loyola] took all those worries and stress off of us.
‘[Loyola] took all those worries and stress off of us.

By linking classroom learning to hands-on experience, our student clinicians are not just expanding their legal education and career prospects, they are serving Chicago-area communities in a variety of ways.

Through Loyola’s Community Law Center, Emily Vaughan (JD ’14) and Kate Malcolm help veterans and their families with legal representation in a wide variety of civil litigation.

Ted Mahan, 3L

"By meeting with real clients having actual legal problems, I was able to apply classroom learning in courtroom experiences. As a 711-licensed student attorney, I learned clients’ backgrounds, prepared court filings, and represented clients in court."

Monika Malek, 3L

“I learned to anticipate problems veterans may face beyond their immediate legal concerns. Hearing from seasoned clinical psychologists and consumer protection experts helped me gain a well-rounded understanding of the legal, mental health, and financial challenges veterans may face so that I could serve my clients better.”

Cameron Tober (JD ’19)

“Stepping in front of a judge can be a daunting task for new lawyers. Working in the Veterans Practicum put me a step ahead of my peers and made me more confident and comfortable in court when I became a lawyer.”

Men and women returning from service often face complicated and unique situations as they transition back into civilian life —from food insecurity and housing distress to employment and health and family issues.  Too often, veterans and their families must navigate multiple service providers to address intrinsically connected legal and social-emotional challenges.

Loyola’s Community Law Center bridges the gap in veterans services through a holistic approach that addresses veterans’ social and legal needs.

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*Statistics from the 2016 report, The State of The American Veteran: The Chicagoland Veterans Study