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Appellate Advocacy
Before the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims

May 28, 2025 | 1:00 PM - 4:30 PM

Free Virtual Training -- Registration Required

They Fought For Us, Now We Fight For Them.

Join our free training and learn how to best advocate for veterans in their appeals of denied service-related benefits.


Topics covered:

  • Service-Connected Disability Compensation
  • Dependency & Indemnity Compensation and Non-Service-Connected
  • Overview of the VA Claims Process and the 
    Chronology of an Appeal
  • Judicial Review
  • CAVC Practice and Procedure
  • Common VA Errors Raised and Settlement Issues
  • Persuasive Brief Writing

Please Note:

  • A case takes approximately 60 hours
  • Volunteer reviews Agency decisions and records to prepare Court pleadings such as mediation memorandum, initial brief, and reply brief.
  • Each volunteer is assigned a mentor
  • Cases are prescreened for merit
  • No past expertise is required
Continuing Legal Education 
  • You may submit this CLE request to your state bar for reciprocity.
  • The Veterans Consortium will obtain CLE credit for Virginia.
  • Completing this training is a prerequisite to taking cases at The Veterans Consortium. 

Appellate Advocacy Experts

Courtney Smith square

COURTNEY L. SMITH, ESQ.

Deputy Executive Director
Sr. Director, CAVC Practice
The Veterans Consortium

GED Photo - Gina

GINA D’AMICO

Deputy Director,
Case Evaluation & Litigation
The Veterans Consortium

CAVC logo with flag behind square

U.S. COURT OF APPEALS FOR VETERANS CLAIMS

  • The Honorable Margaret Bartley
  • Chief Deputy Clerk of Operations, Michael A. Burnat

Questions? Email volunteer@vetsprobono.org