Two WV attorneys to focus on helping veterans - WBOY.com: Clarksburg, Morgantown: News, Sports, Weather

Two WV attorneys to focus on helping veterans

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  • Law

  • Monday, May 20 2013 6:06 AM EDT2013-05-20 10:06:37 GMT
    The state's 16th juvenile drug court is part of the Reconnecting McDowell initiative. The private-public partnership is aimed at reviving one of West Virginia's most depressed counties.
    The state's 16th juvenile drug court is part of the Reconnecting McDowell initiative. The private-public partnership is aimed at reviving one of West Virginia's most economically depressed counties.
  • Monday, May 20 2013 6:00 AM EDT2013-05-20 10:00:49 GMT
    CLARKSBURG, WV (AP) — An attorney and a private investigator face charges of conspiring to interfere with a witness in a criminal case against a former Shinnston policeman.
    CLARKSBURG, WV (AP) — An attorney and a private investigator face charges of conspiring to interfere with a witness in a criminal case against a former Shinnston policeman.
  • Saturday, May 18 2013 7:02 PM EDT2013-05-18 23:02:54 GMT
    SMITHERS, W.Va. (AP) — A grand jury in Fayette County has indicted the former chief of a volunteer fire department and his wife on felony charges related to allegedly taking department funds for personal
    A grand jury in Fayette County has indicted the former chief of a volunteer fire department and his wife on felony charges related to allegedly taking department funds for personal use.

Two West Virginia attorneys will help veterans gain access to benefits and legal representation as part of the Equal Justice Works organization.

Equal Justice Works, a national nonprofit organization focused on expanding opportunities for law students and lawyers to pursue public interest careers, recently announced it received funding to award 40, one-year legal fellowships to attorneys.

According to a news release from Equal Justice Works, Americorps Legal Fellows will work in 14 states and the District of Columbia to provide legal services to underserved populations. Seventeen of the attorneys will focus on the growing crisis of homelessness and poverty among veterans.

Army veteran L.G. Corder will work at Legal Aid of West Virginia in Clarksburg to help veterans struggling with landlord-tenant disputes, home foreclosures and help them gain access to benefits.

In Martinsburg, Kristin Maun will work with Legal Aid to help veterans and their families who are homeless or facing the threat of homelessness.

"The number of veterans who are struggling with homelessness and poverty and unable to receive benefits is staggering, and the issues are often legal issues," said David Stern, executive director of Equal Justice Works. "Many veterans are returning from combat in Iraq and Afghanistan with undiagnosed traumatic brain injuries and post-traumatic stress disorder.  It has become a struggle for these service members to receive the benefits of which they are entitled."