Veterans Law Clinic

Serving Those Who Served

The Veterans Law Clinic at Texas Tech University School of Law is dedicated to providing free legal services to veterans and their families across West Texas. Whether it’s helping with VA benefits, discharge upgrades, family law issues, or other civil legal matters, the clinic offers compassionate, knowledgeable representation for those who have served our country.

Accepting referrals from VA hospitals in Lubbock and Amarillo, the clinic fills a critical need in our region—while also offering law students hands-on legal experience. Under the guidance of experienced faculty, students work directly with clients, gaining real-world legal skills and learning what it means to be an advocate.

The Williams A. Brookshire Foundation Gift

The clinic was made possible by a generous $1.25 million gift from the William A. Brookshire Foundation. This support enables the clinic to deliver high-impact legal assistance to veterans and create transformative educational opportunities for Texas Tech law students. The foundation’s generosity reflects a deep commitment to veterans and to the values of service, justice, and community.

Clinic Director

In May 2025, Texas Tech Law will welcome Professor Max Maxwell as the inaugural director of the Veterans Law Clinic. With nearly 35 years of legal experience and a distinguished background in military law and veterans’ advocacy, he will help ensure the clinic provides high-quality legal services to those who need them most.

About Professor Maxwell

Areas of Focus

The Veterans Law Clinic focuses on two core areas of legal assistance while giving students practical experience in client advocacy:

1. VA Benefits Claims and Appeals
   The clinic helps veterans file compensation and pension claims with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Students may help prepare claims for the VA Regional Office, assist with appeals before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals, and draft appellate motions before the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims.
2. Military Discharge Upgrades
   The clinic represents veterans seeking discharge upgrades or favorable character of service determinations—advocating before the VA and the Department of Defense’s service discharge review boards.

When veterans face legal challenges beyond these core areas, the clinic may collaborate with other Texas Tech Law clinics to meet their needs.

Real-World Experience for Law Students

Under the close supervision of the clinic director, students gain hands-on legal experience through client interviews, witness preparation, legal research and writing, discovery, and negotiations. They also work alongside medical, mental health, and social service providers to ensure each client receives well-rounded, comprehensive support.