Orange County Register

Kyndra Rotunda, director of Chapman's Military Personnel Law Center. (Image courtesy of Chapman)

Chapman University’s free military legal clinic has already served veterans and personnel on over 17 cases since its January opening. Now the clinic will receive a much-needed, 5-year, $2.5 million donation to fund and grow its operations

The gift will fund the school’s Military Personnel Law Center and the AMVETS Legal Clinic, which is staffed by second- and third-year Chapman law students. The commitment was made by AMVETS, a national non-profit veteran’s service group chartered by Congress.

The Chapman clinic offers pro bono advice to both veterans and active-personnel. Under California law, the students are supervised by faculty and licensed attorneys. But for all intents, the students serve in all legal capacities, from phone call consultations to representing a client in trial.

Most cases involve contract disputes that arise when a reservist is called to duty and must ship overseas. Other cases help wounded veterans secure their rightful disability benefits.

But policy prevents the JAG Corps (Judge Advocate General), the official military law team, from taking cases involving private and civilian matters. Without pro bono service, servicewomen and men could be charged hundreds of dollars per hour in legal fees.

“There are very few other options for veterans out there,” says Professor Kyndra Rotunda, director of the center. Rotunda is a former JAG who once represented Private Jessica Lynch. “These disputes might involve $10,000 or more — a huge sum for our soldiers and their salaries. Yet, they can’t afford the lawyer to help recover that potential loss.”

Students staff the clinic year-round and earn credit from the experience.

“This is a win-win situation,” says Rotunda. “Our students get the experience they need, and our servicemen and women get the legal help they can’t otherwise afford.”

California has some 200,000 military families. Over 75 families, mostly from Orange County, have contacted the Chapman clinic for questions and legal advice to date.

The students currently operate out of the university’s Orange campus but have taken phone calls from around the country. Chapman plans to extend the legal service to its adult-ed campuses, many of which are located on military bases.

AMVETS already donated $500,000 for this year’s operations, which will help set up the clinic’s first non-O.C. center in San Diego in August.

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• UCI workers face possible 8% pay cut

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