August 2025

Pro Bono Partner Awards

November 12, 2025

Capitol Hill, Washington, D.C.

Your support makes a real difference!

Every day, thousands of Veterans need legal help to get the benefits they earned.

Every partnership helps veterans with: 

U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims

“Other Than Honorable” discharges

Military Sexual Trauma (MST)

Independent Medical Reviews

Citizenship through service

Rule 33 Conferences

a Panel Discussion from Differing Perspectives

This is a unique opportunity to learn about the Rule 33 Conference firsthand from:

CAVC Mediators - who conduct and mediate the conferences

Office of General Counsel - advocating on behalf of the VA

Volunteer Attorneys - representing clients on a pro bono basis

When: Tuesday, September 16, 2025 | 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM ET

In-Person: Gibson Dunn & Crutcher LLP

Gina D'Amico, Esq.

The Veterans Consortium

Anita Koepcke, Esq.

U.S. Department of

Veterans Affairs

Marquan Robertson, Esq.

Gibson Dunn & Crutcher LLP

Amy Roth-Pixton, Esq.

U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims

Continuing Legal Education (CLE):

• The Veterans Consortium will obtain CLE credit for Virginia. 



• You may submit this CLE request to your state bar for reciprocity.

Questions? Contact volunteer@vetsprobono.org

Veteran Claims Corner

Congratulate our volunteers on their big wins! 

Click the links below and give them kudos for their great work.

Tag us & add #theyfoughtforus so we can share your shoutout.

Want to see your name down there?

Email volunteer@vetsprobono.org to become a Veterans Consortium volunteer.

U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims

Discharge Upgrade Program

Veterans Naturalization

Assistance Program

Catholic University of America

Columbus School of Law 

Taylor Talley 

Cooley LLP 

Stefan Cohen 

Scott Deutsch 

Duane Morris LLP 

Eden Anderson 

Anna Sheridan 

Lockheed Martin Corporation 

Sumari Stamps-Henderson 

Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP 

Ata Akiner 

Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP 

Machol Benmelech 

Misha Emanoil 

Amelia Rusli 

U.S. Federal Government 

Daniel Burstein 

Deirdre Donahue 

Sean Fahey 

Caroline Mapp 

Marcia McCree 

Solo Practitioner 

Amanda Kirkland 

*Successful outcomes for their Veterans Consortium clients as of August 14, 2025.

United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (Court)

Loomis v. Collins (23-4348)

Decided on July 15, 2025

The appellant appealed a Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision that denied education assistance benefits for a private pilot license under 38 U.S.C. § 3672 because the course was not offered by an institution of higher learning as set forth by 38 U.S.C. § 3680A(b).

Wiggins v. Collins (24-4591)

Decided on August 1, 2024

The Veteran petitioned the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans claims for extraordinary relief in the form of a writ of mandamus ordering the Board to adjudicate her administrative appeal within 30 days.

Bilharz v. Collins (22-6158) and Pinto Jr. v. Collins (23-7931)

Decided on August 14, 2025

At panel, the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims considered whether, for appeals processed under the Veterans Appeals Improvement and Modernization Act of 2017 (AMA).

United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (Fed. Cir.)

Wright v. Collins (20-2154)

Decided August 1, 2025

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit reviewed CAVC’s affirmance of a veteran’s appeal wherein he requested for compensation for his adult child under 38 U.S.C. § 1115(1)(F) on the ground that he was precluded by 38 U.S.C. § 3562(2) from receiving that compensation once his daughter elected to receive direct benefits pursuant to the Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance (“DEA”) program.

Please Note: 

For family law, landlord tenant disputes, medical malpractice, etc., we only provide legal advice through our D.C., Maryland, and Virginia clinics. 

Veterans elsewhere can visit the Stateside Legal website to access other local legal resources.