--- title: "A free toolkit shows lawyers and justice groups how to set up veterans legal clinics" date: "2026-06-18" modified: "2026-06-18" authors: - name: "Blake Stilwell" job_title: "Editor-In-Chief, Air Force Veteran" link: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/authors/blake/" url: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/military-life/veterans-legal-clinic-setup-free-toolkit/" categories: - "Benefits" - "Veterans" tags: - "Veterans" --- # A free toolkit shows lawyers and justice groups how to set up veterans legal clinics ![veteran legal clinics syracuse ivmf]() *Veterans legal clinics like the Betty and Michael D. Wohl clinic at Syracuse University provide free or low-cost civilian legal support to vets. (Syracuse University)* Getting out of the military is hard enough and navigating the legal system afterward can be even harder, especially for veterans with limited resources because of transition trouble and little experience in civilian courts. There are civilian lawyers who wants to help, but may not know where to start. **Also Read: [Massive new bill includes Major Richard Star Act but cuts benefits for 1.5 million to fund it]()** The nonprofit Legal Services Corporation (LSC), the country's single largest funder of civil legal aid for low-income Americans, has released a new toolkit designed to help legal aid providers, attorneys, and community partners build and run a free veterans legal clinic. Veterans are in dire need of legal help, according to the VA's [annual CHALENG survey.]() Seven of the 10 most commonly unmet needs among homeless and at-risk veterans involve legal issues. This resource includes step-by-step instructions, templates, and guidance for lawyers, firms, or community groups to build clinic programs that connect vets with comprehensive support. In its [2022 Justice Gap report](), LSC found more than three-quarters of low-income veteran households dealt with at least one civil legal problem in a single year. These are things like threatened evictions, predatory lending or other-than-honorable discharge upgrades that can block access to VA benefits. The toolkit was developed with input from [LSC's Veterans Task Force]() and tested through pilot clinics in Florida, Georgia, and Arkansas. This is not just a referral, a handshake and a hearty "good luck." It's built around a model that emphasizes partnerships with Veterans Service Organizations and "warm handoffs," meaning veterans don't just get pointed somewhere, they get walked there. "Our nation's veterans put everything on the line in service to their country," said Lt. Gen. David D. Halverson (U.S. Army, Ret.), co-chair of LSC's Veterans Task Force in a statement. "This toolkit will help communities connect more veterans with the civil legal assistance they need." The veterans legal clinic [toolkit is free and available now]() on the Legal Services Corporation website. ## Author Blake Stilwell is We Are The Mighty's Editor-in-Chief, covering military news, entertainment, and history, along with veteran education, employment and entrepreneurship. He is a former U.S. Air Force combat cameraman with degrees in Graphic Design, Television and Film, International Relations, Public Relations, Business Management and Middle Eastern Affairs. After leaving the military, he began working in film and television production in New York and Los Angeles, work that included ABC News, NBC Olympics, and HBO Sports. He then spent two years in Washington with White House Communications, before joining the Near East Foundation. At NEF he served as an International Development Fellow, then Communications Officer, and finally, Media Officer for the Middle East and Africa. Based in the Palestinian Territory, he coordinated strategic communications between eight country offices, international media, and government and NGO partners. He began a career focused on writing and editing in 2015 with We Are The Mighty. He left in 2019 for Military.com, but returned as Editor-in-Chief in 2025. Blake’s work has been seen on CBS News, Fox News, CBC, The Chicago Tribune, Task & Purpose, Military Times, Recoil, Skillset, American History, and was shockingly even used in a Supreme Court argument. He is an avid traveler and small business owner in Ohio, where he spends most of his energy fixing up a very old house. ### Author social links [Facebook]() [Twitter]() [Instagram]() [LinkedIn]()