LAW 446P - Veterans Law Practicum.

In this practicum, students will gain an understanding of the laws and regulations pertaining to the US Department of Veterans Affairs and the representation of Veterans before the agency and relevant courts. Specifically, students will learn the administrative law proceedings, including claims before an agency and administrative appellate rights, as well as aims of judicial review of agency actions. As a practicum, this course allows students to interact with an actual case files and hone critical and effective drafting skills for the workplace. As students learn key components to the administrative proceedings, they will complete various drafting assignments working with an actual case file before the Department of Veterans Affairs. In addition, this course will focus on legislative, regulatory, and judicial changes and how these changes directly impact client advocacy. The course will conclude with a white paper undertaking a critical analysis of an aspect of a change in the law made by VA or an interpretation of the law by the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims and how it has/will impact client representation and advocacy. Note that while Veteran cases assigned in this course are real cases that have been adjudicated by the agency, these cases are not currently pending and work performed will not be submitted to the agency. Four hours. Disbennett-Albrecht