Who We Are
Executive Board
Our mission is to “Raise the Bar” for Veteran Service in NH.
Since January 2015, Veterans Law Project-Legal Boots on the Ground (VLP) has addressed unmet legal needs for veterans and their families. Veterans are provided legal advice by the Director, staff attorney or paralegal, represented directly by the Legal Director or referred to VLP’s panel of well over 100 volunteer lawyers.
Today’s most commonly addressed issues are housing and matters involving child support, custody and divorce. Many requests are in the area of criminal defense, specifically for veterans ineligible for public defenders or assigned counsel. Additionally, VLP addresses discharge upgrades for veterans with less than honorable discharges due to service-related PTSD or TBI and a variety of other legal issues.
VLP represents veterans regardless of whether they are considered veterans by the VA.
From the President
Right now, we are servicing more veterans, service members and their families, with shorter delays than ever. We still have no funding, but rely on a host of volunteers. Intake is done by a small group of law students at UNH. I then find volunteer lawyers for the clients or handle the case myself. We have over 150 NH lawyers assisting. We also get help for some through the NHBA Pro Bono Program. At our present pace we are providing assistance to over 300 folks a year. Other than VA benefits,...
read moreVA Joins VFNH At Fall Fest
Fall Fest in East Wakfield celebrates community with its 6th fair. After its inaugural success in 2013, the free family fun day initiated by VFNH Executive Director and associates at Woodman’s Corner with support from the Greater Wakefield Chamber returns again. VFNH has taken a back seat over the years, but still maintains a presence at the event to meet its mission to Raise the Bar for Veterans service. This year for 2018, VFNH invited Michael Bichrest from the Veterans Administration Outreach office to set up a table, consult with...
read moreSeacoast Marines Team Up with Veterans Law Project
MCL Detachment #394 Commandant Roland Morin receives donation from Lawrence Vogelman, Esq. to help fund the organization’s raffle fund raiser. “I’ve seen you guys in the courts. You do good work.” says Morin of the Veterans Foundation of NH Law Project, Legal Boots on the Ground. Morin works in law enforcement and has seen the Veterans Law Project in action providing pro bono legal services and consultation to needy veterans. The Seacoast Marines raise funds through their raffle program to fund their services. The...
read moreSee You At The Seacoast Veterans Conference
Join us for the annual Seacoast Veterans Conference in Portsmouth and get valuable information and insights on what is available in service to NH vets. VFNH will be presenting the Veterans Law Project and sharing contact information for military families in need of legal support. Stop by our booth and say hello! The event is hosted by the Service Credit Union in Portsmouth.
read moreVFNH Donates Handicap Accessible Van to Disabled Veteran of Manchester
“He is struggling to get to his VA appointments.” Veteran David Roberts relies upon others for transportation. He and his wife own one vehicle, a small sedan, which is barely accessible, difficult to use for the disable veteran who is wheel-chair bound due to a spinal cord injury. Loren Gebo at the Manchester VA reached out the VFW and they referred her to VFNH to see if we could help. Robert Sweetser of Derry, NH had a custom built handicap accessible van which was used by a family member for years, and is now the first donated...
read moreVFNH Veterans Law Project Legal Director Receives NHAJ Granite State Advocate Award
The New Hampshire Association for Justice (NHAJ) acknowledged Attorney Lawrence Vogelman at the organization’s annual award banquet held at the Manchester Country Club, June 6th 2017. The NHAJ Granite State Advocate award is “…given periodically to attorneys in New Hampshire, who, in the course of zealously representing their clients, pursue and help achieve substantive changes in the law which improve our Civil Justice system, enhance the rights of citizens’ access to the courts, preserve the right of trial by jury or...
read moreNH MOAA Awards the Veterans Law Project: Legal Boots on the Ground
We our grateful to the Military Officers Association of America New Hampshire for bestowing the Granite State Warriors Award upon the Veterans Foundation of New Hampshire’s effort to “raise the Bar” for veterans. This prestigious award is presented annually by MOAA-NH to “individuals or organizations who have gone above and beyond in their service to the men and women of the U.S. military and their families.” “Honored at this year’s ceremony was Matthew Albuquerque, president and founder of Next Step...
read moreUpdate on the Veterans Law Project
Up and running for three months now, the VLP has represented, advised or referred to attorneys over 150 veterans or active duty members of service. Cases include domestic violence petitions, family law cases, minor criminal cases and landlord tenant issues. Additionally, David has been handling discharge upgrades. In order to service more veterans we are looking to add to our staff a half time paralegal or lawyer to work primarily on family law issues. Thanks to everyone involved, especially the staff at the New Hampshire Bar Association...
read moreWe’ve Moved!
The home office for the Veterans Foundation of New Hampshire Inc. has closed. Previously, the Foundation has had the opportunity to utilize facilities provided by the Department New Hampshire VFW and VFW Post 1772 in Rochester. Recently the VFW Post 1772 closed it’s home. We are now located at 77 Central Street in Manchester.
read moreA Deluge of Requests: Legal Boots Answers 30 Calls in Day 1
It’s undeniable. Within a day of putting our Legal Boots on the Ground, staff received over 30 calls for help from needy veterans looking for legal guidance, some more urgently than others with a scope of case work from county to federal courts, civil to criminal cases. -Some cases involve NH veterans serving elsewhere on active duty, others are preparing to deploy, recently returned or even serving prison sentences. There is a tremendous need for services to veterans in need of legal assistance. Our goal is to answer these requests...
read more