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LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The University of Nebraska's College of Law is sending its students to help military veterans with matters related to estate planning, giving law students practical experience while helping a population in need.
Over recent weeks, 14 veterans have received free counseling on drafting wills and naming powers of attorney through the Veterans Advanced Directive Clinic, the Lincoln Journal Star reported (http://bit.ly/1IfF7Vd ) Saturday.
Ryan Sullivan, who teaches at the law college and helps direct its clinics, said the Advanced Directive Clinic serves a dual purpose. First, law students eager to put their studies to the test are matched up with clients who need their help.
Second, veterans receive free legal help preparing end-of-life documents, and those documents are immediately scanned into the Veterans Affairs' database, where they can be accessed by doctors across the country.
"They've done so much for us through their service, I thought this was a good way to teach students about the sacrifices they've made and to help them where they need it," Sullivan said.
Three law students worked the Advanced Directive Clinic.
One is Nicole Tegtmeier, a third-year law student from Davenport.
"We have heard from the veterans we have worked with what a relief it is to have this aspect of their life taken care of and how they no longer have to worry about what might happen in the future if they didn't have a will or these documents," Tegtmeier said. "It's been a positive experience helping them through this."
Kevin Ruser, who oversees the College of Law's clinical practice, said the success of the first law clinic for veterans could pave the way for more clinics in partnership with the VA.
With 10 more veterans on a waiting list, Ruser said the group of three students who worked the clinic this time could be expanded to five students sometime later this year, with each student handling three clients.
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Information from: Lincoln Journal Star, http://www.journalstar.com
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