Program Overview

Introduction to the Mason Veterans and Servicemembers Legal Clinic

The Mason Veterans and Servicemembers Legal Clinic (M-VETS) is a pioneering program established in 2004 to address the legal needs of deployed U.S. servicemembers. The clinic is dedicated to providing free legal representation to active-duty members of the armed forces, veterans, and their families, while offering law students the opportunity to gain supervised, practical legal experience.

M-VETS History

M-VETS was founded to meet the legal needs of deployed U.S. servicemembers. The clinic's unique location and ability to provide civil legal representation make it a valued resource. Today, M-VETS represents clients from all five branches of the military and provides comprehensive legal representation, including applications for discharge upgrades, representation before Medical and Physical Evaluation Boards, and appeals of denied Veterans Affairs disability compensation claims.

M-VETS Mission

The mission of M-VETS is to provide free representation to active-duty members of the armed forces, veterans, and their families, while offering law students the opportunity to receive supervised, practical legal experience.

M-VETS Clinic Vision

M-VETS aims to be recognized as the most comprehensive and prolific veterans clinical program in the United States, serving as a model for veterans and military clinical legal education.

Services Provided

M-VETS provides a range of services, including:

• Applications for discharge upgrades
• Representation before Medical and Physical Evaluation Boards
• Appeals of denied Veterans Affairs disability compensation claims
• Appeals to the Board of Veterans Appeals and the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims
• Representation in consumer protection, contract, family law, landlord-tenant, and expungement cases in Virginia courts
• Drafting simple wills and powers of attorney

Faculty and Staff

The clinic is led by:

• Timothy M. MacArthur, Clinical Professor and Director of M-VETS
• Leigh Murray Winstead, Esq., Managing Attorney of M-VETS

Community Ties

M-VETS has partnerships with various organizations, including:

• Virginia Department of Veterans Services
• Center for Psychological Services at George Mason University
• American Legion Post 139

Student Involvement

M-VETS provides law students with hands-on experience, allowing them to work directly with veterans, servicemembers, and their dependents. Students have the opportunity to develop their law practice skills and gain real-world legal experience.

National Security Institute

M-VETS Professors Timothy M. MacArthur and Leigh M. Winstead are active members of the National Security Institute (NSI) at the Antonin Scalia Law School.

Key Policy Issues for Veterans

M-VETS student-advisors have written about key policy issues for veterans, including military pay, TRICARE reform, healthcare reform, family leave, and UCMJ reform.

How a Law School Veterans Clinic Works

M-VETS student-advisors have contributed to the ABA Law Student Division Before the Bar blog, highlighting the importance of law school veterans clinics and the work being done in these clinics to provide legal assistance to veterans, servicemembers, and their families.