The 2026 Veterans Clinic Symposium, Show-Me Access: Legal Advocacy for Rural Veterans at the University of Missouri School of Law took place on April 10, 2026, with more than 400 people attending in-person & online. The event brought together attorneys, community leaders, and veteran advocates to explore innovative ways to expand legal access for veterans in rural areas.
Symposium Information
- Recording
- CLE Information
- Program, Schedule, & Speaker Information
- Symposium Materials
- Symposium Supporters
- About the Mizzou Law Veterans Clinic
- Donate
The Symposium was offered at no cost and was open to anyone who wished to attend. While registration was free, attendees who would like to support the work of the Mizzou Law Veterans Clinic are welcome to make a voluntary donation. A suggested contribution for individual attendees is $10, though gifts in any amount are greatly appreciated and directly support our work on behalf of veterans.
Recording
A recording of the Symposium is provided above. Watching the recording does not qualify for CLE credit as we cannot verify your viewing of the recording.
CLE Information & Symposium Feedback
The Symposium was approved for 5.7 hours of Continuing Legal Education (CLE) in Missouri. The Missouri CLE program code is 787109. The Clinic is required to submit an attendance report to the Missouri Bar. In-person attendees did not need to take any additional steps to verify attendance, as sign-in at the event serves as verification.
If you attended the Symposium online and planned to seek CLE credit, you must have submitted the attendance verification form within 24 hours of the conclusion of the Symposium. You will need the attendance code provided during the program. The verification form is available.
We kindly request that you provide feedback on the Symposium presentations and your overall Symposium experience. You can access the anonymous feedback form.
Attorneys seeking CLE credit in a different state may do so. After submitting the verification form, you will receive an email with a link to a CLE attendance certificate. The Clinic cannot guarantee that the program will satisfy another state’s CLE requirements, and attorneys are responsible for confirming eligibility with their respective state bars.
CLE programs are generally not preapproved by the VA for accreditation purposes. However, this Symposium will likely satisfy the CLE requirements for maintaining accreditation under 38 C.F.R. § 14.629(b)(iv), but it will not satisfy the CLE requirements for initial accreditation under 38 C.F.R. § 14.629(b)(1)(iii).
Program, Schedule, & Speaker Information
| TIME | PRESENTATION | PRESENTER(S) | PROGRAM DESCRIPTION |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8:15 – 9:00 AM | Continental Breakfast | N/A | N/A |
| 9:00 – 9:15 AM | Opening Remarks | Provost Matt Martens & Dean Paul Litton | Dean Paul Litton will introduce Provost Martens who will provide opening remarks. |
| 9:15 – 9:45 AM | Thomas Fellowship Advocacy Model | Benjamin Thomas & Brent Filbert | An introduction to the Thomas Fellowship and how it supports sustained, community-based legal advocacy for rural veterans across Missouri. |
| 9:45 – 10:45 AM | Representation for Rural Veterans | Carter Templeton & Michael Deaton | A practical discussion regarding representing rural veterans. |
| 10:45 – 11:30 AM | Mobile Legal Services & the Show-Me Access Model | Martha Kleinhesselink & Hannah Eastland | An explanation of the Show-Me Access approach to delivering mobile, on-site legal services to veterans in underserved rural communities. |
| 11:30 AM – 12:00 PM | Lunch | N/A | N/A |
| 12:00 – 1:00 PM | Keynote | Dr. Peter Kaboli | A keynote address examining veteran access to care and services, with a focus on systemic challenges and opportunities for interdisciplinary solutions. |
| 1:00 – 1:50 PM | Legal Barriers & Systemic Challenges Facing Rural Veterans | Hillary Wandler | A discussion on the legal, geographic, and institutional barriers rural veterans face when seeking benefits, healthcare, and justice. |
| 1:50 – 2:00 PM | Break | N/A | N/A |
| 2:00 – 3:00 PM | Voices from the Field | Ally Brown, Hon. Kevin Hillman, & Brent Filbert | Firsthand perspectives from practitioners and advocates working directly with veterans in rural and underserved areas. |
| 3:00 – 3:10 PM | Closing Remarks | Brent Filbert | Final reflections on the day’s discussions and a call to action for continued collaboration and advocacy on behalf of rural veterans. |
Symposium Materials
The symposium PowerPoint is available for download here. The Symposium program is available here, however all program information is already on the website.
Symposium Supporter
Thank you to our generous supporters of this years Symposium who are listed below! Supporter contributions directly advance the Clinic’s mission of providing free, high-quality legal representation to veterans and fostering education and collaboration within the veterans law community.
- Harper Evans Hillbrenner & Netemeyer
- Shook Hardy & Bacon
- Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner
- Paul LLP Trial Attorneys
- Berry Law
- The Benson Law Firm
- Joe Machens Nissan
- The Hon. John L. Walker
About the Mizzou Law Veterans Clinic
Under the supervision of experienced attorneys, law students at the University of Missouri School of Law Veterans Clinic help veterans – free of charge – with discharge upgrades and Department of Veterans Affairs disability compensation claims. In addition to directly representing veterans with their disability claims, the Clinic also participates in high level amicus brief writing, training and education for practicing attorneys, rural veteran outreach through Tigers for Troops, and more.
The Clinic is largely funded by private donations, and we have assisted more than 2,100 veterans.
Donate
Donations to the Mizzou Law Veterans Clinic directly support free legal services for veterans and their families, with a particular focus on reaching underserved rural communities across Missouri. Philanthropic support makes it possible for the Clinic to train law students, expand outreach through programs like Show-Me Access and the Thomas Fellowship, and pursue high-impact advocacy that helps veterans secure the benefits and justice they have earned through their service.
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