How To Find A Lawyer

[Joe Johansen]

I and others often write something like, "Find an attorney experienced with representing veterans with compensation claims." But how do you find such a lawyer? Asking other vets and asking a VSO are good ways. I also found a website that lists lawyers who specialize in this area. Here is the URL:

http://www.vetadvocates.com/directory.html

Btw, I'm not affiliated with that website in any way. I just happened to stumble across it while searching for something else and I thought it might be a good resource for vets looking for an attorney.

Joe

[Pete53]

Thanks Joe they are good

[john999]

If a vet has hit a stonewall with the VA get a lawyer. I have one and many here have them fighting at the Court.

[Chuck75]

The way I went about it was to first obtain a list of VA "qualified" attorneys, then reduce the number of potentials to those practicing in the metro area of my VAMC, which is about a hundred miles away from my residence.

Other searches involved the national veterans lawyers associations, etc., the state bar association, and so forth. Finally, a very short list was the result.

Then I contacted those on the short list. There was some variation in the responses.

One specialized in Army Veterans only.

One made it clear that "expenses" would be charged above the VA 20% rule.

Some had moved from one firm to another, and really were not in the veteran's law area anymore.

To cut to the chase, the one I settled on limits fees to the VA 20%, including reasonable and usual expenses in the 20% of retro payment from the VA.

Even that MAY be recoverable, due to the equal justice act. (Assuming the republicans don't scuttle it somehow.)

I ended up getting a lawyer because it became obvious that the VARO was bound and determined to deny, even in the face of service medical records showing "duty related", IMOs that are accepted at the BVA and veterans court, and SSA determinations.

Not to mention Denials imposing additional criteria that had no basis in law and regulation.

I and others often write something like, "Find an attorney experienced with representing veterans with compensation claims." But how do you find such a lawyer? Asking other vets and asking a VSO are good ways. I also found a website that lists lawyers who specialize in this area. Here is the URL:

http://www.vetadvocates.com/directory.html

Btw, I'm not affiliated with that website in any way. I just happened to stumble across it while searching for something else and I thought it might be a good resource for vets looking for an attorney.

Joe