SDVC - Veterans Legal Task Force

The San Diego Veterans Coalition (SDVC) supports California Veterans Legal Task Force!

California Veterans Legal Task Force Statewide Mission

The California Veterans Legal Task Force is a nonprofit corporation established under Internal Revenue Code section 501(c)3 with a mission to assist California counties in establishing and sustaining veteran’s treatment courts and to conduct legal assistance clinics. These courts operate to encourage and provide treatment for veterans with diagnosed psychological conditions stemming from their military service. Veterans’ Treatment Courts operate in California under Penal Code Section 1170.9, which provides state courts the power to defer jail sentences for qualifying veterans convicted of a crime and to restore their civil rights upon successful completion of their program, providing certain condition are found by the judge.

California Veterans Legal Task Force San Diego County Mission

The Veterans Legal Assistance and Referral Clinic (VLARC) is a cooperative partnership with the California Veterans Legal Task Force, the Department of Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System, and local law students and paralegals. CVLTF forms a collaborative team consisting of VA social workers and treatment providers, attorneys and legal professionals, and peer support (“Battle Buddies”) to assist veterans receiving mental health treatment from the VA in successful aftercare programs. The activities include providing legal assistance and referrals to veterans who are receiving case management services through the Veterans Justice Outreach Program (VJOP) and the Vista Detention Facility’s Veterans Moving Forward Module. CVLTF addresses unmet legal needs within their scope of practice and provide local law students with practice-orientated legal education opportunities. In providing these services, veterans are able to focus on treatment and aftercare without the added stress of legal issues. In addition, students gain valuable experience in providing legal assessments, experience with mental health issues, and knowledge about veterans’ legal needs.

CVLTF is privileged to work with many volunteers including attorneys, paralegals, and Battle Buddies who all serve under the California Veterans Legal Task Force umbrella.

Helping Veterans with Legal Issues

If you qualify for free legal services, California Veterans Legal Task Force (CVLTF) will help you with small legal issues like bankruptcy, denial of VA benefits, Discharge Upgrades, and family law such as child support or custody issues. CVLTF is not a full-service law firm. They are a nonprofit assisting veterans and their attorneys with legal needs. If you have been charged with a crime, CVLTF will assist your attorney, whether Public Defender or private attorney, with specific CA statutes pertaining to veterans.

Veterans Legal Assistance & Referral Clinic (VLARC)

CVLTF conducts several legal clinics with volunteers at locations throughout San Diego County. These clinics assist veterans who have legal needs while they are being treated for mental health conditions through the local Department of Veterans Affairs.

CVLTF Criteria for Services. The veteran must live in San Diego County, earn $28,500 or less per year AND be in mental health treatment or willing to enter treatment.

How To Apply for Services. The veteran must come in to one of CVLTF’s Military & Veterans Resource Center (MVRC) offices, ask the receptionist for an application, fill it out completely and return it to the receptionist. CVLTF will contact the veteran for an appointment if qualified for free services. Incomplete applications, phone calls and emails will delay the application. Applications are not permitted to be emailed - they must be completed and submitted in person to one of our three office locations.

Veterans Legal Assistance & Referral Clinic (VLARC) for Legal Matters

Criteria for free services: Must earned $28,500, or less per year AND be in Mental Health treatment

San Diego Residents Only

List of legal Needs

Below is a list of legal needs that CVLTF may assist you with or give you referrals on where to get more help.

• Housing-Related Issues • Military & Benefits Issues • Family-Related Issues • Financial & Business Issues • Work-Related Issues • Life Planning