Touro Law Center Receives $125,000 New York State Grant to Expand Veterans' and Servicemembers' Rights Clinic

Touro Law Center announced today that it has received a $125,000 grant from New York State to support and expand its Veterans' and Servicemembers' Rights Clinic. The funding will enable the law school to hire a full-time fellow and develop a comprehensive training program to better serve the legal needs of veterans and servicemembers in the region.

"We are incredibly grateful for this generous grant from New York State and are thankful to Assemblyman Steve Stern, Chair of the Committee on Veterans Affairs, for his partnership and tireless support of the clinic and endorsement for this grant," said Elena B. Langan, Dean and Professor of Law. "This funding will allow us to significantly expand our services and reach more veterans in need. We know that by enhancing our capacity through the addition of a full-time fellow and our new training program, we will be able to make a meaningful difference in the lives of veterans throughout our community."

The grant will fund critical expansion of services provided by the clinic, which assists local veterans with a wide range of legal issues including bankruptcy proceedings, landlord-tenant disputes, housing matters, tax problems, driver's license issues, Medicare and Medicaid concerns, pension disputes, and VA disability claims. The new full-time fellow will work directly with veterans on these cases while helping to increase the clinic's capacity to serve more clients.

In addition to expanding direct legal services, the grant will support the development of a training program designed to educate veterans and servicemembers advocacy groups about legal rights and available resources. This educational initiative will help amplify the clinic's impact by empowering community organizations to better assist veterans with legal issues.

“As Chairman of the New York State Assembly Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, it is my privilege to work with and for the brave men and women who have sacrificed so much to protect our great nation and their families,” Assemblyman Stern said.  “This legislative grant will enable the Touro Law Center’s Veterans’ and Servicemembers’ Rights Clinic to expand its reach and assist more active-duty service members and veterans with a wide range of legal issues and access to their well-earned benefits. It is absolutely critical that our veterans always receive the recognition, support and services that they deserve.”

Touro Law is located in Suffolk County, which has the largest veteran population in New York State and is the site of a major VA Hospital. The expanded clinic will be uniquely positioned to address the substantial legal service needs of this population.

The Veterans' and Servicemembers' Rights Clinic represents Touro Law’s ongoing commitment to serving those who have served our country. The clinic provides free legal assistance while offering valuable hands-on training opportunities for law students under faculty supervision. The clinic gives priority to matters that will prevent or relieve homelessness or remove barriers to the reintegration of veterans into civilian life.

The grant funding is expected to begin supporting expanded services in the upcoming academic year, with the full-time fellow position and training program launching shortly thereafter.

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