Spring 2013 edition of the Veterans Law Journal is now available! Highlights in this issue include a write-up about the Judicial Conference Scholarship Competition, write-ups of the VSO and Incarcerated Veterans Programs, a message from Chief Judge Kasold, a peek inside the BVA's Office of Veterans Law Judges, case write-ups on Rickett, Johnson, Viegas and Walker, book reviews, and more! Click here to view.

Law Student Judicial Conference Scholarship.
The Bar Association’s Board of Governors would like to congratulate the winners of the Judicial Conference Scholarship Competition. 28 students from law schools across the country submitted entries for a chance to attend the U.S. CAVC Judicial Conference in April 2013. The five winners and the schools they represented are:

1 - Mark Kearsing - University of Richmond School of Law
2 - Geoffrey Wistow - George Mason University School of Law
3 - Brandy Disbennett - Roger Williams University School of Law
4 - Leigh Argentieri - University of Pittsburgh School of Law
5 - Michelle Badger Robison - University of Utah - SJ Quinney College Of Law

We also would like to acknowledge the following students whose submissions were noted by the judging committee as warranting an honorable mention. These students will receive a free student bar association membership:

Congratulations to all who participated. We look forward to welcoming the five finalists at the Court’s Judicial Conference on April 18-19!

Message from the President - Spring 2013

Spring is here. It is a time of growth and renewal and the Bar Association is fully in the spirit. Already, we have seen our largest membership numbers in years. On behalf of the Board of Governors, I want to welcome all our new members and to thank all of our established members for their continued support.

Whether you are a recent or long-standing member, I hope you have been able to take advantage of the benefits of membership. We have had two great educational programs in the last two months: one on understanding the Veterans Service Organizations and the other on handling the claims of incarcerated veterans. Once again, we were able to make these available online through the assistance of the Federal Circuit Bar Association. Now, I am excited to announce, we have started to make audio recordings of these programs available online at our website. If you were not able to participate live, catch up with what you missed at www.cavcbar.net under the “Events and News” tab.

The great programs and events will continue. Of course, our biggest upcoming event is our program in conjunction with the CAVC's Twelfth Judicial Conference. Under Secretary for Benefits Allison Hickey will be our featured speaker and provide us an update on the transformation of VA’s benefits adjudication process. Prior to her speech, we will be presenting a fantastic, two-hour panel of doctors, scientists, and epidemiologists to discuss medical causation evidence. In May, we will be presenting a screening of John Huston's documentary "Let There Be Light," which records the experiences of returning WWII veterans receiving psychiatric treatment from the military. The screening will be followed by commentary from the noted psychiatrist, Dr. Ron Smith. In June, we will have our quarterly happy hour at the City Club and we will be also washing the Korean War Memorial.

Aside from these programs, you may have already noticed our new and improved email program. We have been working very hard behind the scenes to improve the administration of the Bar Association so we can focus more of our energy on bringing our members the great programs and publications you expect. This includes a new program that we have to manage our communications and membership lists. We are also working on expanding our website to add even more features, such as the recordings of our programs mentioned above.

Of course, there is plenty more to come. This summer we will be offering a program examining the new edition of the DSM; we will soon start preparing the problem for this year's National Veterans Law Moot Court competition; and, we plan to wash the Korean War Memorial a second time in August.

I hope to see you at these events and I look forward to your ideas and feedback on how we can serve you even better.

James Ridgway
james.ridgway@va.go

Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims Bar Association
PO Box 7992
Washington, DC 20044-7992

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