Serving those who served: Meeting the legal needs of LA County veterans

By Diane Trunk

Over 200,000 veterans live in Los Angeles County, one of the largest veteran populations in the nation. While many transition successfully to civilian life, others face legal challenges that threaten their housing, financial stability and ability to move forward. For veterans already navigating the aftermath of service -- including physical injuries, PTSD, and the complexities of veteran benefits -- legal problems can become insurmountable barriers to rebuilding their lives.

Veterans may face several urgent legal issues, such as unlawful evictions that jeopardize housing, suspended drivers licenses due to court debt, and criminal records that block opportunities for employment and housing. Many also live with disabilities that make navigating the legal system especially difficult, yet they cannot afford private attorneys to help them through these challenges.

According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)'s annual CHALENG survey, which assesses the unmet needs of homeless veterans, legal assistance ranks consistently among the top priorities. Veterans specifically identify help with debt collection and criminal record expungement as critical unmet needs. When unaddressed, these legal issues can quickly spiral into unemployment, homelessness and deeper crisis. Without help, these legal problems can undo the progress veterans work so hard to achieve.

A legal lifeline for veterans

Counsel for Justice's Veterans Project was created to address this precise need. The program provides free legal services to Los Angeles County veterans who cannot afford representation, while creating meaningful pro bono opportunities for attorneys who want to give back to those who served our country.

The Veterans Project focuses on civil legal issues that most directly affect veterans' stability. This includes housing issues such as unlawful evictions and habitability problems; clearance of traffic citations and related court debt; and criminal record clearing through expungements. By addressing these barriers, the program helps veterans secure housing, employment and a path toward rebuilding their lives.

A second chance for a Navy veteran

Consider John, a Navy veteran who served in Iraq and now lives with PTSD. His story reflects the challenges and the resilience of many who turn to the Veterans Project for help. After returning from deployment, John struggled with untreated mental health issues that led to substance abuse and homelessness. During that time, he was convicted of several criminal offenses, mistakes that followed him long after he got his life back on track.

With support from the VA, John completed treatment and achieved sobriety. He was ready to work, but every job application ended the same way: as soon as potential employers saw his criminal record, the offer was rescinded. Despite his skills and service, his convictions kept him locked out of meaningful employment.

Through the Veterans Project, John connected with attorneys who understood both the legal process and the challenges veterans face. They helped him gather documentation of his military service, his treatment completion and his sustained recovery. Volunteer attorneys drafted his declaration, and Project staff prepared an expungement petition that told John's full story, his service, his struggle and his successful fight for recovery.

The court granted his expungements, clearing his record and opening new doors. Today, he is employed, housed, and maintaining his sobriety and mental health treatment -- a powerful reminder that justice can secure more than rights; it can restore hope.

John's case represents just one of many success stories from the Veterans Project's Record Clearing Clinic. Each expungement granted means a veteran can move forward without the weight of past mistakes. These legal victories translate into real-world opportunities: jobs obtained, housing secured, families reunited and lives rebuilt.

How the Record Clearing Clinic works

The Veterans Project hosts a monthly, remote Record Clearing Clinic that connects volunteer attorneys with veterans seeking a fresh start. Law firms from across Los Angeles partner with the Clinic to recruit teams of volunteer attorneys who dedicate a few hours to make a lasting difference.

The model is designed to be accessible and manageable for busy attorneys. Volunteer attorneys attend a training session before meeting individually with a veteran client, conducting an interview and drafting the client's declaration. All work happens within clinic hours, with no ongoing case commitments. With training and support from Project staff, this opportunity is accessible even for attorneys without any experience in traffic or expungement matters.

This model shows that pro bono work with veterans is both manageable and deeply meaningful, helping a veteran overcome legal barriers and get back to living their lives.

Getting involved

This Veterans Day, you can stand with those who served. Attorneys interested in volunteering with Counsel for Justice can learn more and complete the volunteer application at https://www.counselforjustice.org. Together we can ensure that no veteran faces a legal battle alone.