McGuireWoods LLP today announced its support of the Virginia Bar Association’s (VBA) annual Veterans Legal Services Month program, a statewide campaign in November encouraging lawyers to provide free or reduced-cost legal services to assist the estimated 800,000 veterans living in the Commonwealth.
As Virginia veterans return home from overseas service, many face various legal challenges, including domestic relations issues, creditor or landlord disputes, or employment challenges. To help ease such legal burdens, Governor Bob McDonnell issued a proclamation in 2010 in support of the inaugural campaign.
This year, decorated Vietnam War veteran Bill Haneke, a celebrated author and veterans advocate, will join the VBA, members of the legal community and Virginia veterans for a celebratory event at McGuireWoods’ Richmond office to mark the beginning of the month-long call to action for lawyers in Virginia. The event will be co-sponsored by the VBA and McGuireWoods.
“As co-chair of the VBA’s Veteran’s Task Force, it was uplifting to see that, in the last year alone, attorneys from across the Commonwealth donated an estimated 2,000 hours toward this cause,” said Matthew Kapinos, an associate with McGuireWoods and a former officer with the 82ndAirborne Division and the 3rd. U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard). “With so many veterans returning home after multiple tours on the battlefield, the need for legal assistance has never been greater and I’m hopeful that participation throughout the Commonwealth will only increase in the coming year.”
The Virginia Bar Association is the oldest and largest voluntary organization of lawyers and judges in Virginia. It is the independent voice of the Virginia lawyer, advancing the highest ideals of the profession through advocacy and volunteer service. For more information, visit www.vba.org/veterans.