Connecticut Veterans Legal Center - Justice is Our Day Job (Homepage)

CVLC Deputy Director Cindy Johnson wins Liberty Bell Award

Congratulations to Attorney Cindy Johnson for being recognized as the 2022 Liberty Bell Award recipient from the Hartford County Bar Association! The award is presented to a lawyer who has strengthened the American system of freedom under the law, encouraged greater respect for law and the courts, stimulated a sense of civic responsibility, or contributed to good government in the community.

CVLC and NVLSP Sue the U.S. Navy

The Veterans Inclusion Project of the Connecticut Veterans Legal Center, with the assistance of National Veterans Legal Services Program (NVLSP), filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut on behalf of former U. S. Marine Michael Lomax. Mr. Lomax was unfairly discharged with an “Other Than Honorable” character of service due to his race, his experience of military sexual trauma, and the mental health conditions that resulted from these experiences. Click here to read the full press release.

Wars Don't End On The Battlefield

The mission of Connecticut Veterans Legal Center is to help veterans recovering from homelessness and mental illness overcome legal barriers to housing, healthcare and income.

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Connecticut's Veterans facing eviction have the right to a lawyer

CVLC provided written and oral testimony in support of the Right to Counsel (RTC) in Eviction Matters legislation and is proud to be part of this statewide program representing veterans facing eviction.

CVLC's Work Recognized in Connecticut's 40 under 40

We're honored that Connecticut Magazine recognized Ashleigh Backman, our newly appointed Interim Executive Director, and CVLC's critical work on behalf of veterans in their "40 Under 40 : The Class of 2022" feature.

READ THE ARTICLE HERE

CVLC Attorney Christy Fisher wins CT Bar Association Award

Congratulations to Attorney Christy Fisher for winning the Charles J. Parker Legal Services Award from the Connecticut Bar Association! This award recognizes Christy's dedication to providing legal services throughout her honorable career to Connecticut residents in need.

Representing Those Struggling with Mental Health TRaining

Talking about mental health is difficult, particularly within the legal field. CVLC Attorney Chelsea Donaldson gave a training for attorneys through the Practicing Law Institute (PLI) to provide strategies and support for talking with clients about their mental health and communicating with clients struggling with mental health issues.

ATTEND THE VIRTUAL TRAINING HERE

CVLC Files Comment on Proposed VA Rule Change

Connecticut Veterans Legal Center filed a comment on a proposed Department of Veterans Affairs rule change regarding Characterization of Discharge determinations. Along with other advocates and veterans, CVLC called for the removal of all regulatory bars to VA benefits for administratively discharged veterans. This policy change would bring VA regulations in line with Congressional intent and ensure that as many veterans as possible receive the care that they need and have earned.

CVLC Discharge Manual Released

CVLC and the Veteran Legal Clinic at Harvard Law, with generous support from the Bob Woodruff Foundation and American Bar Association, recently released the Military Discharge Legal Practice Manual, which enables attorneys and advocates to successfully represent veterans who unjustly received less-than-honorable or other stigmatizing discharges.

Get Involved

CVLC is always looking for passionate volunteers to take cases, help with fundraising, and more! See how your volunteer work can make a difference in the lives of Connecticut's Veterans.

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Our Mission

The mission of Connecticut Veterans Legal Center is to help veterans recovering from homelessness and mental illness overcome legal barriers to housing, healthcare and income. Listen to Suzanne and Leonard tell their stories.

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legal help strengthens veterans in recovery.

Individual Veterans Served

Legal Issues Addressed

$4,327,500
In Time Donated by Volunteers

“It’s like having the USS Enterprise with a couple of battleships watching my back.

I know that CVLC has got me. I’m very grateful for that.”

Ralph Clyburn

Veteran, CVLC Client

Latest News and Events

Representing Those Struggling with Mental Health

By CVLC | May 31, 2022

CVLC Staff Attorney for Veteran Benefits & Eligibility, Chelsea Donaldson, published an article in the PLI Chronicle: Insights and Perspectives for the Legal Community (May 2022) about representing clients struggling with their mental health. Read the article here!

CVLC files Comment Concerning VA’s Proposed Mental Health Rating Schedule Changes

By CVLC | April 14, 2022

CVLC Intake Coordinator Juliet Taylor and Staff Attorney Chelsea Donaldson filed a comment regarding the Department of Veterans’ Affairs’ (VA) proposed changes to the Mental Health Rating Schedule. The comment asks that VA modify its proposed regulations in order to better serve the disabled veterans that both VA and the Connecticut Veterans Legal Center have…

Congratulations Attorney Christy Fisher and Attorney Sarah E. Dlugoszewski!

By CVLC | March 11, 2022

The Connecticut Bar Association has recognized two of CVLC’s attorneys for their outstanding legal work on behalf of Connecticut’s veterans. CVLC Senior Counsel, Attorney Christy Fisher, has been awarded the Charles J. Parker Legal Services Award, and Attorney Sarah E. Dlugoszewski has been awarded the Honorable Anthony V. DeMayo Pro Bono Award for pro bono…

CVLC’s Director of Pro Bono, Partnership & Development Named In Connecticut Magazine’s 40 Under 40: Class of 2022

By CVLC | February 11, 2022

Ashleigh Backman, CVLC’s current Interim Executive Director, was named Connecticut Magazine’s 40 Under 40 for her work as Director of Pro Bono, Partnerships and Development at Connecticut Veterans Legal Center. Pro bono partnerships are critical to CVLC’s mission in that they allow us to expand our reach to serve even more veterans. Read more about…

CVLC Attorney Featured in National Story on Military Sexual Trauma

By CVLC | December 14, 2021

CVLC was honored to see Attorney Chelsea Donaldson’s work with military sexual trauma survivors featured in Peggy McCarthy’s national coverage of the continuing issue of MST and its impact on our veterans. Read more here: http://c-hit.org/2021/12/09/as-congress-moves-to-change-military-sexual-assault-prosecutions-attacks-continue-to-haunt-survivors/

CVLC stands in solidarity with all who are fighting for justice for Black lives and all those working to dismantle racist systems of oppression.

Whether it is supporting World War II veterans who fought against external fascism only to return to Jim Crow or service members who received unjust administrative discharges because of racial discrimination, we cannot achieve justice for veterans without achieving racial justice. CVLC’s focus on ensuring that all veterans can access healthcare, housing, and income is inextricably linked to undoing deeply entrenched, systemic racism.

Together, we can make change. We are honored that fighting for justice is part of what we do every day and we urge you to support other local organizations dedicated to ending systemic racism like: Co-Creating Effective and Inclusive Organizations (CEIO), CT Core, Black Lives Matter New Haven and Connecticut Bail Fund.

This program is made possible in part by a grant from the Bob Woodruff Foundation, which is dedicated to ensuring that impacted veterans, service members, their families, and their caregivers thrive long after they return home.

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For every $1 you give, CVLC returns $20 to veterans in increased income and reduced debt.

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