Touro Law Receives Funds from Suffolk County for Work with Veterans

Touro Law Center received a $9,700 Suffolk County Veterans Marathon grant, which will allow the school’s Veterans’ and Servicemembers’ Rights Clinic to expand its services to veterans who need help in restoring suspended and revoked driver’s licenses. 

“Touro Law Center is grateful to Suffolk County for these funds,” stated Dean Patricia Salkin. “Our Veterans’ and Servicemembers’ Rights Clinic does great work to assist veterans in a variety of legal matters and this money will enable us to expand our services to our most vulnerable veterans.”

The clinic provides free legal assistance to homeless, sheltered and at-risk veterans, with a view to removing barriers to their full reintegration into the community, in areas such as debt, bankruptcy, income tax, bankruptcy, landlord-tenant, foreclosure, traffic tickets, warrant recall, and now, thanks to the county grant, driver’s license restoration. 

The clinic is headed by Associate Dean for Administration Kenneth Rosenblum, a U.S. Army Vietnam vet, who stated, “The clinic is in it for the long run, so this Marathon grant will help us expand our services and help more veterans get back on the road. We are all extraordinary grateful to County Executive Steve Bellone, Suffolk County Legislator Steve Stern, Suffolk County Veterans Service Agency Director Tom Ronanyne, and all the participants in the Marathon whose concern and generosity have made this grant possible.”

Clinics are an integral part of the educational process at Touro Law, providing students with the opportunity to represent actual clients with real legal problems and to work with experienced attorney-professors. Under the close supervision of faculty, clinic students advise clients and appear on their behalf in court or at administrative hearings. Clinics provide valuable first-hand experience and help students hone essential professional skills such as interviewing, drafting legal documents, and investigating and developing evidence. Furthermore, Touro Law’s clinics serve hundreds of residents in our community each year.

 

In addition to the Veterans' and Servicemembers' Rights Clinic, Touro Law offers clinics in Bankruptcy and Advanced Bankruptcy, Criminal Defense, Criminal Prosecution, Disaster Relief, Elder Law, Family Law, Federal Prosecution, Immigration Law, Mortgage Foreclosure and  Small Business and Not-for-Profit Law.

The Suffolk County Marathon Grant funded 19 organizations who provide services to veterans. The funds were the net proceeds of the first annual Suffolk County Marathon held in September 2015. Nineteen organizations received awards from the nearly $160,000 fund. 

Patti Desrochers

Director of Communications

pattid@tourolaw.edu

(631) 761-7062