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Veterans Engagement Network

The Holland & Knight Veterans Engagement Network was founded on the fundamental premise that the men and women who have served our country and defended our freedoms deserve our talent and resources to improve their quality of life. Our goal is to support veterans, active-duty military members, reservists and their families through pro bono and public service activities in our local communities and on a national basis. In addition, we collaborate, where appropriate, with other organizations that support veteran and military communities. In recent years, the Veterans Engagement Network was named “Veterans Program of the Year” and an “Outstanding Firm” in the Veterans Advancement category by the Chambers Diversity & Inclusion Awards: North America.

Pro Bono Services Holland & Knight considers it a privilege – and a responsibility – to assist veterans in need. VA Claims: Holland & Knight professionals assist veterans and their families nationwide with a wide range of VA claims. Such matters include VA disability claims (ranging from Agent Orange-related claims to post-traumatic stress disorder), disability appeals, overpayment of debt claims, and VA veteran’s pension and survivor’s benefits (including housebound and aid and attendance).

ABA Military Pro Bono Project: Holland & Knight is the only firm to receive the American Bar Association (ABA) Military Pro Bono Project Outstanding Services Award each year since its inception in 2012. The ABA Military Pro Bono Project accepts case referrals from military attorneys on behalf of junior-enlisted, activeduty military personnel facing civil legal issues. Governor’s Initiative on Lawyers Assisting Warriors (GI LAW): Holland & Knight serves on the Steering Committee of the GI LAW program initiated by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in 2019. Through GI LAW, Holland & Knight provides pro bono legal counsel to Florida’s active-duty service members in a variety of civil matters, including actions in local courts.

State Law-Related Claims: Holland & Knight professionals assist veterans and their families nationwide where there are Holland & Knight offices with a variety of state law-related claims. Such claims include eviction assistance, bankruptcy assistance, consumer protection claims and other tort-related claims.

ABA’s Section of Taxation and the IRS: Each year, Holland & Knight professionals partner with the ABA’s Section of Taxation and the IRS to coordinate a Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program that assists military members and their families.

Veterans Legal Services: Holland & Knight professionals provide free and comprehensive civil legal aid services to economically disadvantaged military veterans in Massachusetts. Pro bono legal services include housing eviction, discharge upgrades, wills/ healthcare proxies and state/federal veterans benefits.

Veterans Consortium: Holland & Knight professionals provide representation for veterans before the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims in connection with the Veterans Consortium.

Swords to Plowshares: Holland & Knight professionals help support the mission of healing the wounds of war, restoring dignity, hope and self-sufficiency to all veterans in need, and preventing and ending homelessness and poverty among veterans.

Boston Veteran Treatment Court: Holland & Knight supports the Boston Veteran Treatment Court by assisting veterans participating in treatment with preparing U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) benefit claims.

Holland & Knight is dedicated to providing pro bono legal assistance to military and veteran clients. Since 2016, Holland & Knight has performed more than 51,500 hours of military and veteran pro bono work valued at over $35.8 million. The table below provides a more detailed breakdown of Holland & Knight’s military and veteran pro bono in the last five years.