University of Idaho College of Law Public Interest Law Group

Over the last three days NVLSP has kept us rather busy. After working on powerpoint presentations for an upcoming training course we started working on writing case summaries for recent cases from the United States Court of Appeals for Veteran’s Claims and the Federal Circuit. Writing these summaries can be a little bit challenging because the law is not familiar, but it is a great experience because we get to learn the current law for Veteran’s affairs and also because we get to apply some of what we learned in Administrative law.

We have enjoyed sightseeing in the City, and tomorrow we will be touring the Court of Appeals for Veteran’s Claims. Overall this has been an excellent opportunity to work with a non-profit organization that is obviously committed to the rights of Veterans and honoring them for their sacrifice for our country.

Amanda Rekow and Danielle Sigmund

Our Group arrived in Washington D.C. on Saturday and quickly realized that we were in for a challenge. Upon entering our hotel room we discovered that the electricity didn’t work. The hotel kindly fixed this problem, but it it went out an additional four times. The problem was finally solved when we discovered that if we breathed very softly and only talked in muted tones that the hotel’s delicate electric system would hold out, thus allowing us to do important law school stuff, such as updating this blog. Yet, all joking aside, it does look like this will be a challenging and productive trip.

The purpose of the D.C. alternative spring break is to help veterans advance their claims for benefits in a complicated and sometimes confusing system. We are working for the National Veteran Legal Services Program or NVLSP, who actively represents veterans before the Board of Veteran’s Appeals (an administrative division of Department of Veteran Affairs) and the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veteran’s Claims (an Article I Court charged with reviewing decisions of the Board). Pro-bono work is important in this field because very little money is involved, while the process and regulations are often difficult for some veterans to handle on their own. As a result lawyers are needed, but often unavailable.

Today we began our work and there are several projects that need to be handled this week. First we are summarizing decisions of the Veterans Court and creating power point presentations that will be used to help train veteran advocates. The advocates are usually veterans who help shepherd other veterans through the appeals process. Next, there is a project involving the assembly and organization of claims files for upcoming cases. Finally, there is a research project looking into how much access veterans have to health care and what their legal remedies are. It looks like there is quite a bit of work to be done, but the NVLSP seems happy to have us and we’re looking forward to serving those who have served us all.

Written by Jessica Mullins - Argonaut

Tuesday, 12 February 2008

It was good, home-style cooking. But the food was unlike what many community members, such as Larry and Carol Lass, are used to.
The two Moscow residents went to the Big Easy Banquet on Friday. They supported University of Idaho College of Law students while enjoying traditional Southern cooking.
The food was good and different, Carol said of the options that included gumbo, chicken po-boy, peach cobbler, cheese grits and sweet tea. The Moscow Food Co-Op donated king cakes to the event.
The Public Interest Law Group, a three-year-old UI law school organization, hosted the banquet to raise funds for alternative service break trips to New Orleans, Washington, D.C., and Boise.
“There is still a lot that has to be done down there,” said Jordan Tayor, PILG president, a second-year law student from Lewiston.
PILG member and third-year student R.J. Linnan was the main chef for the banquet. Linnan, who used to live in Florida, spent more than 15 hours preparing the food. He used his grandmother’s recipes. (more…)

University of Idaho Press Release Jan. 24, 2008

Law Students Expand Scope of Alternative Spring Break

MOSCOW, Idaho – Last spring, 14 University of Idaho College of Law students headed for post-Katrina New Orleans to unwind. Specifically, to unwind the red tape that tends to bundle into a Gordian knot when governmental, social and legal infrastructures are swept away.

The students participated in Alternative Spring Break, helping victims of Hurricane Katrina to untangle legal issues and providing manual labor, free of charge.

It’s a decidedly different kind of spring break.

(more…)