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Nova starts clinic for veterans

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Nova Southeastern University has started South Florida’s first Veterans Law Clinic. Located in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., the clinic will serve as a much-needed pro bono resource to the thousands of U.S. veterans and military personnel living and working in the region.

“Creating the NSU Veterans Law Clinic is a win-win situation for everyone involved,” said Athornia Steele, dean of the Shepard Broad Law Center. “We are committed to giving back to our community through service, community engagement and promoting academic excellence – all of which are embodied with this exciting endeavor. NSU students will gain invaluable real-world experience and we will be able to serve those who have served our country in the military.”

With more than 100,000 active duty military personnel in South Florida and over 1.6 million veterans in Florida – 280,000 of those veterans in South Florida – NSU faculty and administrators recognized that a large number of people are not currently being adequately served in their legal matters.

The NSU Law Center Veterans Clinic will assist veterans with cases that will have the greatest impact on the stability and success of its clients, such as landlord-tenant cases, consumer matters, domestic relations and state/federal misdemeanors, among others.

Military veterans are more at risk of homelessness, unemployment, matrimonial and health issues, which often give rise to legal and other issues. A survey of non-profit legal organizations in the region revealed that very few organizations are currently helping our nation’s veterans with legal matters of any kind.

The clinic will work in tandem with other university efforts dedicated to empowering the veteran population, such as NSU’s Veteran’s Assistance Center. Additionally, the clinic will work with community partners such as Legal Aid, the Public Defender’s Offices and various military service agencies to spread the word and collaborate on initiatives.

NSU’s Law Center is seeking commitments from South Florida law firms and individuals to create an endowment fund that will allow for the clinic to run in perpetuity, as well as create opportunities for future clinical expansion. The Law Center also will seek grant funding from the federal government and private foundations to help support this necessary and beneficial project.

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