WashU Law is proud to announce the launch of its Veterans Law Clinic, a new initiative aimed at assisting veterans in requesting upgrades of their discharge characterization or corrections to their military records. This clinic addresses a crucial need, as veteran benefits are often contingent upon the reason for separation and the military’s characterization of the veteran’s service. Many veterans find themselves ineligible for valuable benefits due to the type of discharge they received.
Veterans who believe their discharges were inequitable or improper can now seek reviews, and those with erroneous or unjust military records can request corrections. The clinic offers these services free of charge to low to moderate-income clients in the St. Louis area.
The clinic will be led by Cormac Smith, Assistant Professor of Practice and Director of the Veterans Law Clinic. Professor Smith joined the faculty in July 2024 after serving over 20 years as an active duty U.S. Army Officer, retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel in June 2024. His extensive experience in the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General’s (JAG) Corps, where he specialized in criminal and adverse administrative action law, makes him exceptionally well-suited for this role.
Professor Smith holds an LLM in Military Law from The U.S. Army Judge Advocate General’s School, a J.D. from Wisconsin Law School, and a B.S. in Physics from Truman State University. His areas of expertise include military law, criminal law, and administrative law.
Under his guidance, students in the clinic will provide vital services to veterans, including interviewing clients and witnesses, researching pertinent rules and policies, and drafting pleadings to the applicable authority for the correction of errors or injustices.
Veterans in the St. Louis area seeking assistance can contact the clinic at 314-935-7238.
