UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT MERCY SCHOOL OF LAW LAUNCHES NATIONAL TOUR TO PROVIDE PRO BONO ASSISTANCE EXCLUSIVELY ON FEDERAL BENEFITS ISSUES TO VETERANS 

National Tour Kicks off in Detroit where Assistance Began. School Asks Pro Bono Attorneys Around the Country to Assist Veterans

This week, the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law (UDM Law) launches its nationwide tour of its Mobile Law Office (MLO) which will provide free assistance and/or representation to thousands of low-income veterans exclusively on federal benefits issues throughout the United States. The tour officially kicks off in Detroit on Thursday, February 7, at 10:00 a.m. at the UDM Law Atrium at the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law, 651 E. Jefferson, across from the Renaissance Center in downtown Detroit.  To donate to the Veterans Clinic, visit our Veterans Clinic donation page.

UDM Law is the only law school in the country with an MLO, a Recreational Vehicle that has been outfitted as a law office.  For the national tour, General Motors is donating a specially designed, custom built, state-of-the-art RV. Through the MLO, volunteer attorneys and UDM Law faculty and students counseled and/or otherwise assisted over 800 people during the past year.  The MLO has made numerous stops at regional senior centers, churches, and other similar facilities, as well as regular stops at facilities where veterans congregate.

“When we started our Veterans Clinic, we were overwhelmed by the response and the requests for assistance from veterans both in Michigan and around the country,” said Mark Gordon, Dean of the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law. “Our veterans deserve the best care available, and with the nationwide launch of our MLO, our Veterans Clinic will be able to help additional low-income veterans seeking federal benefits assistance.”

To maximize the reach and impact of UDM Law’s national MLO tour, a number of local attorneys and legal support groups will be assisting low-income veterans exclusively with federal benefits in a pro bono capacity in each city. During the tour, UDM Law will provide training on federal benefits issues to attorneys around the nation who are willing to donate time to assist veterans on a pro bono basis. The law school is also asking additional law firms and attorneys across the country to volunteer providing pro bono assistance to veterans.

Post-Newsweek Stations, Inc. is the television sponsor of MLO events in six major markets: Detroit, San Antonio, Houston, Orlando, Miami, and Jacksonville.

After the kickoff in Detroit, the tour’s first stop will be in San Antonio, Texas from Wednesday, February 13 through Friday, February 15. at the American Legion Alamo Post #2 and at Texas Rio Grande Legal Aid.