Lewis B. Puller Jr. Veterans Benefits Clinic (William & Mary Law)
Law school veterans benefits clinic (free representation) · William & Mary Law School clinic, founded 2008 and named for Lewis B. Puller Jr. ‘68, J.D. ‘74; directed by retired Marine Corps Col. Michael Dick
Free legal representation for veterans fighting disability claims, from the law-school clinic that wrote the model. At William & Mary’s Puller Clinic, law students supervised by experienced veterans-law attorneys take veterans’ cases without charge — interviewing clients, analyzing medical records, and building the claim the way a firm would. It was the first clinic in the nation to pair that legal work with psychological support, through Virginia Commonwealth University’s counseling center. The record is long: founded in 2008, its clients have won more than $50 million in projected lifetime benefits, and it was featured on the cover of Virginia Lawyer magazine in April 2026.
Why we carry them. When a claim needs a lawyer and the veteran cannot hire one, this is the proof that free, supervised, serious representation exists — and a template other law schools copy.
Start here — their essential work
- About the Clinic — The clinic’s own statement of purpose: disability-benefits access for former service members, delivered by supervised law students, with help for the legal and life problems that travel with a claim.
- Veterans need help, and law students are ready to assist (2025-11-04) — The ABA Journal’s profile of the clinic at work: about 16 students a semester, three to four cases each, representation free for the veterans chosen as clients.
- The Puller Veterans Benefits Clinic: Q&A with Co-Director Caleb R. Stone ‘15 — Its co-director’s accounting of the work: more than 500 claims won, over $6.5 million in past-due benefits, and over $53 million in expected lifetime benefits for clients.
- Clinic Faculty and Staff — Who does the work: the clinic’s faculty and staff, including its assistant director, a former National Veterans Legal Services Program fellow, and its clinical psychologist.
- Online Certificate in Military and Veterans Health, Policy and Advocacy — The clinic’s online certificate for advocates — attorneys, VSOs, family members, and caregivers — covering the legal and psychological challenges veterans face (enrollment was paused for a program revision when last checked).
- William & Mary’s Puller Veterans Benefits Clinic Receives $50k Grant from Dominion Energy — A Dominion Energy grant expanding its Military Mondays program — free one-hour claims advice sessions — to eight additional states, and a widow’s claim kept alive after her veteran husband died.
Summaries are ours. The work is theirs — we link to it, we don’t lift it. Visit Lewis B. Puller Jr. Veterans Benefits Clinic (William & Mary Law) →