Veterans Pro Bono Grant Program

The Veterans Pro Bono Grant facilitates the provision of high-quality legal and other assistance, without charge, to veterans and other individuals who are unable to afford the cost of legal representation in connection with decisions of, or other proceedings in, the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims.

The Veterans Pro Bono Grant facilitates the provision of high-quality legal and other assistance, without charge, to veterans and other individuals who are unable to afford the cost of legal representation in connection with decisions of, or other proceedings in, the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims.

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Overview

Congress established the Veterans Pro Bono Program Grant program in 1991 to facilitate pro bono legal assistance to individuals who could not afford to hire an attorney to represent them in cases before the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (the Court), located in Washington, DC. Funds for the Veterans Pro Bono Program are authorized by and subject to Public Law 102-229, title I, ch. II, 105 Stat. 1701, 1710, as incorporated by reference in subsequent appropriations for the Court These cases are appeals of the decisions of the Board of Veterans' Appeals (BVA). The Court has exclusive jurisdiction over BVA decisions and reviews their decisions when they are appealed by claimants who believe there was an error. The Court's review of BVA decisions is based on the record before the agency and arguments of the parties, which are presented in a written brief, with oral argument generally held only in cases presenting new legal issues.

Public Law 102-229 requires this assistance to be provided through "a program that furnishes case screening and referral, training and education for attorney and related personnel, and encouragement and facilitation of pro bono representation by members of the bar and law school clinical and other appropriate programs, such as veterans service organizations, and through defraying expenses incurred in providing representation to such persons. . . ."

Congress also specified that these activities would be funded through grants or contracts made by LSC. The Veterans Consortium has been the Veterans Pro Bono Program grantee since its inception in 1992.

Please email your questions about the Veterans Pro Bono Grant to veteransprobono@lsc.gov.

Veterans Pro Bono Grant FAQs
Program Description

Funds for the Veterans Pro Bono Program are authorized and subject to Public Law 102-229, title I, ch. II, 105 Stat. 1701, as incorporated by reference in subsequent appropriations for the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (Court). That law requires the Court to provide the funds to LSC to award grants or contracts for the provision of "legal or other assistance, without charge, to veterans and other persons who are unable to afford the cost of legal representation in connection with decisions" of, or other proceedings in, the Court.

Public Law 102-229 requires this assistance to be provided through a "program that furnishes case screening and referral, training and education for attorney and related personnel, and encouragement and facilitation of pro bono representation by members of the bar and law school clinical and other appropriate programs, such as veterans service organizations, and through defraying expenses incurred in providing representation to such persons..."

Key Dates
Event Date
Veterans Pro Bono Grant Competition Announcement Date March 11, 2022
Pre-Application Due April 14, 2022
Invitation to Submit Full Applications May 6, 2022
Full Application Instructions Issued May 10, 2022
Technical Assistance Calls May 10 - July 7, 2022
Full Application Due July 8, 2022

 

Eligibility

To be eligible, an organization must be either: (1) a non-profit organization that provides free legal assistance to low-income individuals or veterans; or (2) private attorneys or law firms that seek to establish a non-profit organization to provide free legal assistance to low-income individuals or veterans. Eligible organizations must also plan to serve eligible veterans, dependents, or other persons in proceedings before the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (the Court), regardless of their location or residence.

How to Apply

Applicants must first submit a Pre-Application to LSC via e-mail to TaboasA@lsc.gov by Thursday, April 14, 2022, by 5:00 p.m. EST to be considered for a grant.

After review by LSC staff, LSC's leadership decides which applicants will be asked to submit a Full Application. Applicants will be notified of approval to submit a Full Application by early May 2022.

Full Applications are due to LSC via email to TaboasA@lsc.gov by 5 p.m. EST on July 8, 2022. 

Once received, Full Applications will undergo a rigorous review by LSC staff and other subject matter experts. LSC's leadership makes the final decision on funding the Veterans Pro Bono Grant.

Pre-Application Information

Required Contents for Pre-Application

Applicants must file a Pre-Application with LSC to participate in the competitive grants process.

The Pre-Application must include the following information:

  • Organization name;
  • Organization type (e.g., nonprofit or law firm);
  • Name and title of primary contact;
  • Primary contact mailing address, phone number, and e-mail address;
  • Names and a brief description of relevant experience of the current governing board;
  • Brief description of how your organization will serve eligible veterans, dependents, or other persons with proceedings before the Court regardless of their location or residence; and
  • If the nonprofit organization has not yet been established, names and a brief description of relevant experience of prospective members of a governing board.
    • "Relevant experience" includes experience with: (a) Veterans benefits law; (b) recruiting, training, supervising, and assigning cases to volunteer attorneys; (c) practice before the Court or supervision of attorneys practicing before the Court; (d) reviewing and evaluating veterans benefit cases; (e) outreach and education for veterans and dependents regarding veterans benefits rights and procedures.

The Pre-Application must not exceed seven (7) single-spaced pages and must be submitted as a single PDF document.

Pre-Application Resource Guide

The Pre-Application Resource Guide provides applicants with important information about the Veterans Pro Bono Program 2023 Funding Competition and detailed guidance on preparing and drafting a Pre-Application.

Pre-Application Technical Assistance and Presentation

Program Counsel for the Veterans Pro Bono Grant is available for training and technical assistance during the pre-application process. Applicants are encouraged to schedule calls to discuss their thoughts and questions on the process and their proposals. Program Counsel for the Veterans Pro Bono Grant will hold technical assistance calls between March 11 - April 12, 2022. Please e-mail Anais Taboas at TaboasA@lsc.gov to schedule a technical assistance call.

Full Application Instructions

Please check back for additional information.

The Veterans Consortium

 

The Veterans Consortium is a 501(C)(3) nonprofit located in Washington, D.C. The program provides trained attorneys who specialize in representing veterans throughout their process of challenging a BVA denial in front of the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims They represent the veterans from the start of submitting their initial appeal throughout each step of the process. The staffing structure is designed to help carry out the specified core activities, which include case screening and referral; training and education for attorneys; and encouragement of pro bono representation. The Veterans Consortium is led by the Executive Director, who reports to the Board of Directors.

For more information regarding The Veterans Consortium, please visit https://www.vetsprobono.org/.

Contact the Veterans Pro Bono Grant Administration

Submit questions about the Veterans Pro Bono Grant.

Email: veteransprobono@lsc.gov

Anais Taboas

Program Counsel,

Pro Bono Innovation and Veterans Grant Administration