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I began practicing Veterans Law in 2007. Shortly after the law changed to allow veterans to hire attorneys to appeal VA ratings decisions, I became one of the first attorneys to become accredited by the VA to represent veterans.
When I started advocating for veterans, there were no blogs covering Veterans Law. I created the wildly popular Veterans Law Blog®, teaching the law and procedure of VA claims and appeals to veterans, VSOs, agents, and attorneys alike. That blog, now a subscription-based educational resource separate and distinct from this law firm, now reaches more than a quarter-million veterans every month.
Today, owing to the prominence and value of the Veterans Law Blog®, a law firm seeking to represent veterans can not be taken seriously if it lacks a blog on veterans law and advocacy.
Today, so many of our Black veterans, veterans of color, women veterans, and veterans who identify as LGBTQI, are abandoned and neglected as the definition of what a veteran is, and how veterans act, shrinks smaller and smaller.
The Attig | Curran | Steel blog is going to"take point" and expand what it means to be a veteran.
Veterans Law Updates.
This category will cover changes and updates in the law that flow from the decisions of the US Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. and VA rule-making.
Building Sustainable Law Practices.
The lawyer representing veterans faces unique challenges. This category will share how we are building a sustainable and profitable law firm that prioritizes the well-being of the attorney and support staff.
The Bridge.
Throughout history, the experiences certain subsets of veterans have been overlooked or hidden behind a curtain of racism and a veil of misogyny we have heretofore pretended does not exist.
In this category of posts we expose the reality minority veterans face, elevate their voices and educate and validate each other in the hope of beginning to remedy the systematic oppression of Black veterans, veterans of color, women veterans and veterans identifying as LGBTQI.
Learn how to follow and receive updated content from the Taking Point blog.
PRECEDENTIAL FCOA CASE ALERT: Bly v. Shulkin (17-1287)(EAJA petition deadline at CAVC)
What is the Deep Issue in the Case? This case involves the deadline to file an EAJA Petition at the CAVC. The Equal Access to Justice Act (“EAJA”) requires applications for attorney fees must be filed within 30 days of a court’s fin…
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Monday Morning Coffee with Chris: Are You Taking Care of Your Law Firm's Most Important Asset?
Taking care of your law firm’s most important asset. Law is a service business. We help people resolve the disputes which impact their ability to live. That makes your law firm’s most important asset … you. If you are a small firm o…
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Case Review: 17-0304, Burgess v. Shulkin (Federal appellate court commands professional work product)
What is the Deep Issue in the Case? Very generally stated, the VA has a duty to notify the veteran of the elements of his claim for service connection and the evidence that might prove those elements. 38 USC 5103(a). The VA repeatedly denied service…
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Monday Morning Coffee with Chris: The one project will drive MASSIVE revenue to your Veterans law firm.
How to drive MASSIVE revenue to your Veterans law firm. I was talking to attorney the other day, and I told her that I believe that drive and focus are the 2 biggest indicators of success for attorneys building a unique brand for their own law firm o…
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PRECEDENTIAL CAVC CASE ALERT: Golden v. Shulkin (16-1208)(GAF Scores in PTSD Opinion)
What is the Deep Issue in the Case? Preliminary note about GAF Scores: Effective August 4, 2014, VA amended the portion of its Schedule for Rating Disabilities dealing with mental disorders to remove outdated references to the DSM-IV and replace them…
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What do Your Law Firm Brand and this Shoe have in Common?
My hope is that the metaphor of a running shoe changes the way you think about your law firm’s brand. I’m a runner – I run not just for fun, but also to raise money for my favorite non-profits. When a runner is ready to buy a pair o…
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Monday Morning Coffee with Chris: Sizing up the Competition in Veterans Benefits law.
Sizing up the Competition in Veterans Benefits Law. A new veterans benefits lawyer told me the other day: “I can’t compete with the big law firms in Veterans benefits law. Those big firms have contracts with VSOs and scoop up all the good…
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Episode 002: PRECEDENTIAL CAVC CASE ALERT: Turner v. Shulkin (16-1171)(Receipt of New and Material Evidence)
What is the Deep Issue in the Case? New and material evidence received between the issuance of a VA Ratings Decision and a Notice of Disagreement is considered as filed in connection with the claim which was pending at the beginning of the appeal per…
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Monday Morning Coffee with Chris: 3 Top Revenue Generating Activities for accredited VA attorneys.
When you are a solo or small law firm representing disabled Veterans, you do a lot to keep your law firm running. 3 revenue generating activities, however, are the key to building a viable and sustainable VA Benefits law practice.
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PRECEDENTIAL CAVC CASE ALERT: Harvey v. Shulkin (16-1515)(Lawyer as Medical Expert)
What is the Deep Issue in the Case? The Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims has laid out clear standards for determining the adequacy of a VA expert opinion in a VA disability compensation claim. Accord, e.g., Monzingo v. Shinseki, 26 Vet.App. 97 (2…
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