The ABA Military and Veterans Legal Center (MVLC) announced that it has awarded a total of $100,000 in ABA Veterans Legal Assistance Grants to these organizations:

• Atlanta Legal Aid Society, in partnership with the Emory Law Volunteer Clinic for Veterans: $40,000
• Georgia Legal Services Program, in partnership with the University of Georgia’s Veterans Legal Clinic: $35,000
• The Warrior Alliance: $25,000

The MVLC created the grant program so that state and local programs can better meet the legal needs of underserved veteran populations within their communities.

The center accepted applications from nonprofit organizations with a project based in Georgia that delivers legal services to veterans primarily in Georgia. To help fund the grants, the ABA received a donation from a foundation that wishes to remain anonymous. The ABA received this funding as a result of the 2016-17 ABA Veterans Legal Services Initiative.

In evaluating proposals, preference was given to programs that meet at least one of the grant’s three primary objectives:

1. Providing outreach and legal services
2. Collaborating with other legal services
3. Creating or improving referral databases

Special consideration was also given to funding needs associated with veterans’ legal problems arising from COVID-19.

“The ABA is honored to support these organizations to help expand local efforts with developing and improving legal services to veterans,” ABA President Judy Perry Martinez said. “With these grants, the programs address access-to-justice gaps for our veterans, emphasizing that these legal services are essential to our veterans, who have made sacrifices for our nation.”

Read the full press release here.