Connecticut Veterans Legal Center’s Pro Bono Attorney Network is critical for us to meet the urgent needs of Veterans across the state of Connecticut. Each year, pro bono attorneys work with CVLC to represent Veterans in hundreds legal cases with members of our legal units.
Joining the Pro Bono Partner Network
Joining our Pro Bono Partner Network is easy – the only requirement to join the Network is to be admitted to the Connecticut State Bar and some initial training depending on the type of pro bono work you might be doing with us. Learn more about the types of cases our pro bono attorneys work on and details of the training and support we offer on the bottom half of this page.
Have additional questions? Contact our Director of Pro Bono Legal Services Don Tutson at dtutson@ctveteranslegal.org or (203) 208-9221.
Are you a Veteran looking for legal help?
Connecticut Veterans Legal Center provides free legal representation, advice, and referrals to Veterans in every town in Connecticut through pro bono referrals and our team of staff attorneys.
Please visit www.ctveteranslegal.org/veterans to learn more about our services, screening, and intake process.
Note that we prioritize Veterans who are low-income and facing barriers to their housing, income, and/or healthcare.
Pro Bono Council Members
Jessica Butcaris
Vontier
Sarah Dlugoszewski
Shipman & Goodwin LLP
Rosendo Garza, Jr.
Day Pitney
Cullen Guilmartin
Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani
Lawton C. Leung
Withers Worldwide
Eric J Rigoli
Robinson & Cole
Justyn Stokely
McCarter & English
Thank you to the members of our Pro Bono Advisory Council for your dedication to Connecticut Veterans.
Interested in joining the Pro Bono Council? Contact Don Tutson here.
How it Works
Types of Legal Cases
Pro Bono attorneys represent Veterans in the same legal areas as our staff attorneys, including housing defense (evictions, landlord-tenant disputes), debt relief, child support, public benefits, bias and discrimination, military sexual trauma, discharge upgrades, VA benefit access and denials, and more.
Requirements
At this time, we can only work with attorneys who are admitted to the Connecticut State Bar. If you are not currently admitted to practice in Connecticut and want to volunteer, please visit our volunteer page for other ways to get involved.
Pro Bono Attorneys accept clients on a case-by-case basis. Although we cannot fully anticipate the time commitment of each legal case, we make every effort to match attorneys with cases that they find personally satisfying and that fit within the scope of the availability.
Training and Support
We are proud to offer free training to legal firms and individual attorneys who are part of our Pro Bono Network in Veteran-specific legal issues, including: Discharge Upgrade, Characterization of Discharge, and VA healthcare and income benefits. These are fascinating areas of the law for attorneys who are deeply dedicated to our mission, interested in expanding their professional expertise, and who enjoy challenges. For more information about training opportunities or to schedule a training for your legal firm, contact Chief of Staff Felix Chaoulideer.
Many of the legal challenges our clients face are no different than those faced by civilians, and no additional training is necessary. Even in those cases, Pro Bono attorneys remain connected with a CVLC staff attorney who acts as a resource throughout the process.
"Volunteering as an attorney for the CVLC is incredibly rewarding. I worked on an eviction matter and, with the aid of the CVLC and another support organization, we were able to delay the eviction and also re-home an elderly Veteran and his family. While not overly time-consuming, the work was life-changing for those we helped."
Join our fight with a life-changing gift today
Your donation will help us serve more than 1,500 Veterans across Connecticut this year.
(top of page) Regen O’Malley, CVLC Pro Bono Attorney and Of Counsel Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani LLP. Photo provided by Regen O’Malley.
(bottom of page) Jasper Farmer, Veteran and former client, and Carol Weeks-Farmer (left) and Carter, Veteran and former client (right). Photos by Desirea Stott-Rodgers Photography.