Join us for the 11th Annual Mizzou Law Veterans Clinic Symposium: Show-Me Home—Collaborative Efforts to Reduce Veteran Homelessness on April 11, 2025. The Symposium will be a dynamic and impactful event dedicated to tackling one of the most pressing issues facing our veteran community. Each year, our symposium explores critical topics impacting veterans, and this year we focus on veteran homelessness. This focus is especially meaningful as we celebrate our new VA grant, empowering our clinic to expand services for homeless veterans.
Engage with leading experts, advocates, and legal professionals as we explore the root causes of veteran homelessness, current legal challenges, and strategies for meaningful change. From understanding discharge characterizations to representing homeless veterans in VA claims, this comprehensive program offers valuable insights and practical tools for attorneys, advocates, and community members alike.
Don’t miss the chance to hear from influential voices, including our keynote speaker Bryan Meyer from the Veterans Community Project, and to join vital discussions on landmark cases and innovative support systems like Veterans Treatment Courts. Attend in person or virtually to be part of the solution. Registration is now open!
SYMPOSIUM INFORMATION
- About the Mizzou Law Veterans Clinic
- Registration
- Program and Schedule
- Symposium Materials
- Speaker Information and Biographies
- CLE Information
- Livestream Information
- Parking Information
- Location
- Question and Answer Portion
- Breakfast and Lunch
- Sponsorship Opportunities
ABOUT THE MIZZOU LAW VETERANS CLINIC
The Mizzou Law Veterans Clinic provides free legal services to veterans and their families regarding VA disability claims, military record corrections, and discharge upgrades. Since its founding in 2014, the Clinic has recovered over $20 million in VA disability benefits for veterans and their families. Additionally, the Clinic has secured numerous discharge upgrades and corrections to military records for its clients. Supervised by experienced attorneys, law students at the University of Missouri School of Law gain hands-on experience by working on files, while also contributing to advocacy efforts for the Clinic, including amicus briefs at the United States Supreme Court and rural veteran outreach to all areas of Missouri.
The Clinic hosts an annual symposium focused on the issues facing today’s veterans, including traumatic brain injury, military sexual trauma, and post-traumatic stress disorder. To support veterans even further, the Clinic partners with private attorneys to alleviate its case load, provide pro bono opportunities, and expose attorneys to VA claims work.
Through initiatives like Show-Me Access (Tigers for Troops), the Clinic ensures rural veterans have access to crucial resources and legal assistance, while the Show-Me Home program supports homeless and at-risk veterans in overcoming legal barriers to housing. The Clinic also offers specialized courses in veterans law, military justice, and the law of war, preparing the next generation of attorneys to advocate for veterans.
The Clinic relies heavily on private donations to fund its free services for veterans.
REGISTRATION
Registration is free and available for both in-person and online attendance. Due to limited seating, in-person spots are available on a first-come, first-served basis. All registered participants will receive access to the Symposium materials one week before the event. Those registered for the online option will also receive information to access the live stream after registering.
The registration deadline is Friday, April 7, 2025. Early registration is encouraged due to limited capacity.
SYMPOSIUM MATERIALS
Symposiums materials, including the PowerPoint presentation, handouts, program schedule, etc. will be sent to those who registered one week prior to the date of the Symposium and will also be available here.
CONTINUING LEGAL EDUCATION (CLE) CREDITS
The Symposium presentation has been approved for 7.2 Missouri Bar CLE credits. The CLE code will be provided to attendees during the Symposium. The Clinic is in the process of pursuing approval for CLE in additional states and any additional states approved will be updated here. Uniform CLE attendance certificates can be provided upon request by in-person attendees and those who register for the Livestream prior to the registration cut off date.
LOCATION
The Symposium will take place in Hulston Hall Room 7.
- The Symposium will take place at the University of Missouri School of Law in Hulston Hall Room 7.
- The address for the law school is 820 Conley Avenue, Columbia, Missouri 65211.
PARKING
- Paid parking is available for in-person attendees.
- Parking information will be sent to in-person attendees after registration.
QUESTION AND ANSWER
- At the end of each session, panelists will provide time for attendees to ask questions
- Both in-person and virtual participants will be required to utilize a prescribed application to ask questions of panelists and speakers. Details regarding this technology forthcoming.
LIVESTREAM
- Those who register for the Symposium will be provided a link to the livestream after their registration.
SCHEDULE AND PROGRAM
Although session subjects and speakers will remain true to the below, minor changes may occur to presentation titles and descriptions in the coming weeks.
| TIME | PRESENTATION | SPEAKER(S) | PROGRAM DESCRIPTION |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7:30 – 8:00 AM | Breakfast | N/A | N/A |
| 8:00 – 8:05 AM | Welcoming Remarks | President Mun Choi (University of Missouri System President) & Dean Paul Litton (Dean, Mizzou Law) | Dean Paul Litton will introduce President Choi who will provide opening remarks. |
| 8:05 – 8:15 AM | Introductory Information | Carter Brooks Templeton (Attorney, Mizzou Law Veterans Clinic) | Carter Brooks Templeton will provide a brief overview of the Clinic’s work and general information regarding logistics the day of the Symposium. |
| 8:15 – 9:15 AM | Understanding Veteran Homelessness: Causes and Contributing Factors | Andy Rogers (Show-Me: Home Program Director, Mizzou Law Veterans Clinic) & Martha Bradley Kleinhesselink (Attorney, Mizzou Law Veterans Clinic) | This session provides an in-depth exploration of the root causes and contributing factors to veteran homelessness. Topics include the impact of military service, systemic barriers, mental health challenges, and societal gaps that leave veterans vulnerable to housing insecurity. |
| 9:15 – 10:15 AM | Discharge Characterizations: Impacts, Legal Framework, Discharge Upgrade Application | Dana Montalto (Lecturer-on-Law, Veterans Legal Clinic Associate Director), Hugh McClean (Director, Bob Parsons Veterans Advocacy Clinic), Brent Filbert (Director, Mizzou Law Veterans Clinic) | Panelists will discuss how discharge characterizations affect veterans’ access to benefits and housing stability. The session will review the legal framework governing discharge upgrades and provide insights into navigating the application process to secure improved outcomes for homeless veterans. |
| 10:15 – 10:20 AM | Break | N/A | N/A |
| 10:20 – 10:30 AM | Collaborative Advocacy: Bridging Legal Expertise and Pro-Bono Service | Brent Filbert (Director, Mizzou Law Veterans Clinic) & David Chambers (BCLP) | This brief presentation will highlight the benefits of working on cases on a pro-bono basis. |
| 10:30 – 11:30 AM | A Discussion: City of Grants Pass & Criminalization of Homelessness | Jeanne Nishimoto (Executive Director, Veterans Justice Clinic, UCLA) & Yelena Duterte (Director, Veterans Legal Clinic, UIC) | This discussion examines the Supreme Court’s decision in City of Grants Pass v. Johnson and how it will affect unhoused veterans. Attendees will gain a deeper understanding of the case and opportunities for advocacy. |
| 11:30 – 12:00 PM | Lunch | N/A | N/A |
| 12:00 – 1:00 PM | Veterans Community Project: No One Left Behind | Bryan Meyer (CEO, Veterans Community Project) | Bryan Meyer will share his transformative insights and experiences working with homeless veterans. His keynote address will focus on innovative strategies and programs that have proven effective in addressing veteran homelessness. |
| 1:00 – 2:00 PM | Representing Homeless Veterans at VA | Katie Becker (Attorney, Mizzou Law Veterans Clinic) | Learn best practices for advocating on behalf of homeless veterans in claims for VA benefits. This session will highlight common challenges, successful strategies, and the importance of a trauma-informed approach in navigating the VA system. |
| 2:00 – 2:10 PM | Break | N/A | N/A |
| 2:10 – 3:10 PM | Veterans Treatments Courts: Understanding Their Impact, Function, and Role in Supporting Veterans | Judge Cotton Walker (Cole County Missouri Circuit Judge), Melissa Stone Rogers (Veterans Justice Outreach Specialist, Truman VA) & General Gregg Maxon (Retired General and Attorney) | Veterans Treatment Courts provide a path to recovery and stability for justice-involved veterans. Judge Cotton-Walker will outline their structure, role in addressing homelessness, and success stories that demonstrate their transformative potential. |
| 3:10 – 3:15 PM | Concluding Remarks | Carter Brooks Templeton (Attorney, Mizzou Law Veterans Clinic) | N/A |
BREAKFAST AND LUNCH
Breakfast and lunch will be served to in-person attendees, free of charge.
SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
The Mizzou Law Veterans Clinic is proud to offer its symposium free of charge to all attendees. Hosting this impactful event requires significant resources, including audio/visual services, catering, and travel for our distinguished speakers. We are deeply grateful to our community of sponsors whose generosity makes this possible. Their support helps cover these essential expenses, allowing us to create a high-quality event that reaches and inspires hundreds of participants annually. Thank you to the following sponsors who have generously provided financial support to this year’s Symposium:
The symposium consistently garners news and media attention, amplifying its impact on the broader community. If you’re interested in becoming a sponsor and contributing to the success of this important event, please contact us at mulawvetclinic@missouri.edu. We would be delighted to discuss partnership opportunities with you.