Guides: Veterans in Law School and the Legal Profession: Home

Introduction

At USD School of Law and law schools throughout the United States, students with backgrounds in military service bring valuable skills and diversity of experience to our community, law classes, and the legal profession.

San Diego is a city with deep military connections. Naval bases in the San Diego area include: Naval Air Station North Island, Naval Amphibious Base Coronado, Naval Base Point Loma, and Naval Base San Diego. San Diego also boasts a strong Marine presence. Marine Corps installations include: Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton and Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego. Additionally, the Coast Guard has the US Coast Guard Station San Diego.

Approximately 250,000 veterans live in San Diego County and choose to make their homes and build their careers here following military service.

Affinity Organizations for Veterans and other Military-Connected Law Students

Military Bar Association (Milbar)
- Networking and service group comprised of student veterans, potential JAGs, students interested in the military or military service in general, and those interested in serving the San Diego veteran community.
San Diego County Bar Association - Military Law Section
Military Spouse J.D. Network
- Networking group for military spouse attorneys that has advocated for licensing accommodations for military spouses. Offers reduced membership rate for law students.
USD Military and Veterans Program (Hahn University Center 205)
- Provides services for all USD military-connected students, from support with educational benefits to alumni veteran networking to events & programming

Other Resources

Helping Veterans Thrive, USD School of Law Advocate (Feb. 2022)

Cover story on the School of Law's strong support for military-connected students and veterans in the community

New England School of Law blog posts

Books for Veterans Advocates at USD

Veterans Benefits Manual
ISBN: 9781663392466
Written by NVLSP attorneys, the practical guide for the veterans benefits advocate, with critical information to navigate benefits issues
Veterans Benefits by Stacey-Rae Simcox; David Boelzner
ISBN: 9781632843302
Publication Date: 2022-12-15
Those wishing to learn about veterans benefits law have essentially two types of resources available: traditional casebooks inviting an analytical law-school type approach or a comprehensive, but highly detailed, lengthy manual. Neither is entirely suitable for the sort of instruction needed by students in law school clinics assisting veterans or by other advocates wishing to quickly acquire the necessary understanding of law and procedure needed to represent veteran claimants. Veterans Benefits: Law, Theory, and Practice aims to meet that need. The book presents the statutory and regulatory provisions pertinent to the issues that commonly arise in pursuing claims for veterans and their family members, and it includes copious relevant cases, summarized with follow-up questions for discussion. But the textbook also contains straightforward practical explanation about how to work through claims and work with the government bureaucrats who process them. Realistic hypothetical claims in the form of client interview vignettes allow students to apply what they learn. The book: Explains the complex and often bewildering VA claims system; Helps students and other advocates understand the intricacies of that system and how to navigate it; Challenges students with realistic and practical problems similar to what they will encounter in their clients' cases; and Provides the practical advice and stimulates the development of the advocacy skills, including writing, necessary to provide veterans with competent and successful representation.

Veterans in Law School and the Legal Profession

USD Veterans Legal Clinic

Other Veterans Legal Clinics and Organizations

Author

Introduction

Affinity Organizations for Veterans and other Military-Connected Law Students

Other Resources

Books for Veterans Advocates at USD