On Friday, March 26, the CBA launched its Veterans' Initiative to deliver pro bono legal services to veterans throughout the state. The program kicked off with a VA Benefits Training at the CBA Law Center, where Attorney General Richard Blumenthal provided opening remarks, assuring volunteers that their work "will help restore [veterans'] faith in America."
Attorney Michael Taub from the Veterans Law Project at the Homeless Advocacy Project in Philadelphia then explained in depth the VA benefits programs and VA substantive law so that program volunteers left with the necessary tools to make a difference. Roughly 60 volunteers participated in the training and will now move forward to work with the newly formed Connecticut Veterans Legal Center (CVLC) in New Haven.
The Veterans' Initiative is spearheaded by CBA President Francis J. Brady, with the help of CBA Past President William H. Prout, Jr., of Wiggin & Dana in New Haven, John R. Bashaw of Day Pitney LLP in New Haven, and David M. Bizar of McCarter & English LLP in Boston. The training was co-sponsored by LexisNexis, who provided training materials to the program volunteers, and the Office of the Attorney General.
The CBA thanks all who are dedicated to this project. CVLC and the CBA Veterans' Initiative aim to expand the program to other VA centers throughout Connecticut in the future.