New Lawyers on Track for IP Careers Help Veterans Boost Benefits

When the coronavirus pandemic postponed start dates for incoming associates at intellectual property law firm Finnegan, a half dozen of them decided to use their extra time to help veterans.

The lawyers worked to remove stigmatizing information from dozens of veterans’ discharge files that prevented them from receiving benefits. More than two million service members have received less than an honorable discharge since World War II.

“Many of these cases are heart breaking,” said one of the attorneys, Daniel Jordan. “Some veterans have been punished in the civilian world for years.”

Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner, is among roughly 50 firms that partner with the nonprofit National Veterans Legal Services Program to try to restore benefits. Others doing the pro bono work include Akin Gump, DLA Piper, Hogan Lovells, and Kirkland & Ellis.

In all, participants in the program, which include lawyers from companies such as Exelon Corp. and Intel Corp., have donated more than 60,000 pro bono hours, according to the nonprofit.

“Without an honorable discharge, a veteran may have trouble getting a job,” said Rochelle Bobroff, director of the nonprofit’s pro bono program called Lawyers Serving Warriors. “Without income, veterans may spiral downward into homelessness and attempt suicide.”

As Covid-19 took hold in 2020, Bobroff said she came up with an idea to expand the help for veteran discharge upgrades by enlisting firms like Finnegan, which has an ongoing legal assistance program for veterans, to tackle the backlog of cases.

She signed on newly graduated attorneys who had delayed job starting dates at their law firms because of economic uncertainties sparked by the pandemic.

Kaitlyn Pehrson, a Finnegan associate who volunteered for the discharge upgrade program in late 2020, said several cases she worked on involved the veteran being discharged for drug, alcohol or mental health-related reasons.

“They had been struggling with mental health or personal problems during their time in service, which were ignored or stigmatized by the military,” she said.

In January, when Jordan completed his work with the nonprofit and started with Finnegan, he signed up for the firm’s pro bono veterans’ assistance program. He said he took on a case he researched during his time with the nonprofit.

Elizabeth Ferrill, an Air Force veteran with expertise in design patents, helps lead Finnegan’s program, according to the firm. Finnegan has argued more than 1,000 veterans appeals since 2008.

Jordan, who has a civil engineering degree, said he drew on his technical background and legal expertise to handle details of cases.

“Studying the law teaches you to pay close attention to even the slightest detail in the medical records,” he said.