Article published Jan 19, 2008
Mobile
Law Office to offer help to vets
Trace Christenson
The Enquirer
Lawyers are riding into Battle Creek next week to help military veterans.
A Mobile Law Office from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law will make stops at American Legion
Post 54 and the Haven of Rest on Tuesday to provide free legal assistance to low income veterans.
The lawyers will be at the American Legion Post at 1125 E. Columbia Ave. from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and at the
Haven of Rest at 148 E. Michigan Ave. from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
"We focus on providing legal assistance to veterans who are of lower income and are having trouble with disability
benefits," said Anita Scott-Meisel, an attorney with the Mobile Law Office.
The consultation is free and no appointment is necessary.
An estimated 13,000 veterans live in Calhoun County, according to the Michigan Department of Military and
Veterans Affairs.
The university is being paid $200,000 by the state to provide the clinics, which started last year in the
Detroit area, but the program is expanding across the state, according to Scott-Meisel, to include Grand Rapids, Lansing,
Flint and Traverse City. Other stops planned this year are Benton Harbor, Muskegon and Pontiac.
"We try to do a lot of outreach before coming in," she said, "letting them know we are going to be there."
Joe Pajak, commander of American Legion Post No. 54, said Friday he is putting up fliers to tell veterans
about the clinic, "but I just don't know how big a problem it is."
He said the post tries to refer veterans to the appropriate agency when they have questions but he does not
hear many complain they don't receive their proper benefits.
However, Michigan ranks 45th among states in federal health care spending per veteran and 50th in veterans
enrolled in Veterans Affairs health care, according to the college. Average disability payments for Michigan veterans are
$7,241, compared to the national average of nearly $9,000.
Detroit Mercy School of Law is the only law school in the country with a mobile law office, a 27-foot recreational
vehicle outfitted as an office. The law students and local volunteer attorneys helped about 800 people in 2007 during stops
at senior centers, churches and other facilities.
Trace Christenson can be reached at 966-0685 or tchrist@battlecr.gannett.com.
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