Every day, veterans across the country face complex civil legal challenges that threaten their housing, health, and financial stability. After serving our nation, too many struggle to access the legal help they need to secure the benefits they’ve earned, maintain safe housing, or rebuild their lives. Civil legal services play a vital role in ensuring that veterans can thrive in civilian life with dignity and stability
The hidden legal battles veterans face
While many people associate veterans’ legal issues with criminal or military courts, most face civil legal problems — the kinds that affect daily life. These include:
- Housing issues, such as eviction, foreclosure, or unsafe living conditions.
- Access to benefits, including VA benefits, Social Security, or public assistance.
- Family law matters, such as custody, divorce, or child support.
- Consumer and debt issues, including unfair lending, credit problems, or identity theft.
- Employment and discharge upgrades, which can be critical for veterans seeking jobs or accessing benefits.
Left unaddressed, these issues can spiral into homelessness, unemployment, and worsening health outcomes.
The power of legal help
Legal assistance can make all the difference. A lawyer can stop an eviction, appeal a denied VA claim, or help a veteran escape an abusive relationship. Studies show that access to civil legal aid significantly improves financial stability and mental health, especially for veterans who may already be coping with service-related trauma or disabilities.
For example, legal advocates help veterans:
- Obtain service-connected disability benefits that were wrongly denied.
- Prevent unlawful evictions and keep families in their homes.
- Resolve consumer fraud and recover from financial exploitation.
- Secure protective orders in cases of domestic violence.
- Expunge criminal records, helping veterans get a fresh start.
Each success not only stabilizes a veteran’s life but also strengthens entire families and communities.
“As the application for Veterans’ benefits and the appeals process thereof becomes more complex, the assistance of an attorney for individual veterans has escalated. Today the participation of an attorney at an early point in the process materially increases the likelihood of a successful request.
With the limited number of VA accredited advocates on the Eastern Shore, it is very important that additional attorneys become qualified to help the veterans in our area receive the benefits they earned from their service to our country.”
How you can help
You can make a difference by:
- Volunteering as a pro bono attorney to assist veterans.
- Donating to support organizations that provide free legal help to those who served.
- Referring veterans in need of assistance to local legal aid providers.
- Advocating for policies that expand access to legal services for veterans.
Honoring service with justice
Our veterans stood up for us — now it’s our turn to stand up for them. Providing access to civil legal aid is one of the most effective ways to honor their service, uphold their rights, and ensure that every veteran has the chance to live securely and with dignity.
For more information, contact Shore Legal Access at 410-690-8128.