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Lawyers fight for veteran rights
Seven lawyers are now working in Ohio to help solve civil legal
problems for homeless and low-income veterans, and two of them are
veterans.
Ohio Veteran Legal Corps lawyers, who began work on September 1, have
been placed at legal aid host organizations and are representing
veterans on issues related to benefits earned as a result of military
service; access to safe and affordable housing; removing barriers to
employment, and other life-changing legal needs.
The corps positions are funded in part by the Ohio Legal Assistance
Foundation, which matched funding provided by Washington, D.C.-based
Equal Justice Works, a nonprofit organization dedicated to public
interest opportunities for law students and lawyers, through its
AmeriCorps program. The national corps of lawyers has a total of 36
positions in 10 states funded through a grant from the federal
Corporation for National and Community Service.
“We are privileged to support the Ohio Veterans Legal Corps,” said
Angela Lloyd, executive director for OLAF. “The work done by the
Veterans Legal Corps to ensure that Ohio veterans receive the benefits
they earned through their service or to secure stable housing or
employment, is a tribute to the sacrifices each veteran has made for
our country.”
“The ultimate goal of the Veterans Legal Corps is to improve the lives
of veterans – once relied upon to serve their country as members of the
armed forces – and enable them to return to civilian life as successful
community members,” said David Stern, executive director of Equal
Justice Works.
The Ohio corps lawyers and their host organizations are:
Robert Abdalla (veteran) - Southeastern Ohio Legal Services in Newark
Jamie Altum-McNair (veteran) - The Legal Aid Society of Cleveland
Holly Hillyer - Advocates for Basic Legal Equality in Toledo
Michael McGuire - Legal Aid Society of Columbus in its Marion office
Caitlin Milo - Legal Aid Society of Greater Cincinnati
Kenneth Mirkin- Community Legal Aid Services in Akron
Elizabeth Zak - Pro Seniors in Cincinnati.
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