Join USC Gould School of Law and the Center for Law and Military Policy for their 3-day Deported Veterans Symposium. Learn more about eliminating barriers and affirmatively facilitating a path to citizenship for service members. Play your part in policy change and individual representation until, as a nation, we do not deport veterans.

Symposium Agenda

Wednesday, March 10: Policy

10:00 am-10:10 am: Opening Remarks and Introductory Video created by Sarah Jedlicka

10:10 am-10:40 am: Conversation with U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-Illinois)

10:40 am-11:40 am: Policy Issues Affecting Non-Citizen Veterans (Margaret Stock) (Eligible for 1 hour CLE)

The session will provide a historical overview of U.S. immigration policies as they pertain to service members and veterans. It will cover current developments, pending legislation, and legislative solutions to immigration hurdles that service members and veterans have encountered in recent years.

11:40 am-12:30 pm: Breakout Discussions on 2 topics:

• Current and Pending Legislation
• Impact of Deportation on Military Families

Thursday, March 11: Training

10:00 am-11:30am: Concurrent CLE Sessions

• Benefits (Paula Clamurro and Amanda Pertusati, Public Counsel) (Eligible for 1.5 hours CLE)

The CLE will review basic eligibility for VA service-connection and pension benefits. It will also cover specific VA processes, resources and services for veterans who reside outside of the U.S., including healthcare overseas, compensation and pension exams, foreign school education benefits, direct deposit/ currency conversion, and benefits representatives in American embassies.

• Naturalization (Margaret Stock) (Eligible for 1.5 hours CLE)

The CLE will cover the reasons that many service members do not pursue naturalization, as well as the process to appropriately completing naturalization forms on behalf of service members or veterans. After this training, attorneys will be able to assist pro bono service member and veteran clients applying for U.S. citizenship.

11:30 am-12:30pm: CLE Session

• Preparing Pro Se Documents; Assisting with Self-Help Work (Laura Riley, Dwight Stirling, and USC Law Students) (Eligible for .25 hour CLE)

The CLE will review the rules of professional conduct governing attorneys participating in self-help clinics and limited scope representation. It will provide a brief overview of trauma-informed lawyering and how to implement it in an intake interview. The presentation will focus on how to prepare discharge upgrade petitions to the administrative boards that review them.

Friday, March 12: Increasing Awareness and Engagement

10:00 am-11:15 am: Documentary Screening

11:15 am-12:15 pm: Panel Discussion

12:15 pm-12:30 pm: Closing Remarks

For disability accommodation requests, please contact events@law.usc.edu by March 1, 2021.

USC Gould School of Law, a State Bar of California-approved MCLE provider, certifies that this activity qualifies for a minimum of continuing legal education credit in the amount of 4.25 hours.

For more information please visit www.centerforlaw.org.