Prof. David Coombs supervises new Veterans Law Practicum
When David Coombs joined the UB Law faculty in 2023, he brought with him a world of experience in military and veterans law. A former active-duty member of the U.S. Army’s JAG Corps and professor at the Army’s JAG Legal Center and School, he retired as a lieutenant colonel after 21 years of military service.
At UB, Coombs is working to expand our students’ exposure to veterans law, through his teaching and now with the establishment of the law school’s first-ever Veterans Law Practicum. New this semester, the practicum—supervised by Coombs—enables students to represent area veterans in securing government benefits, navigating disability claims and pursuing discharge upgrades.
Coombs completed a series of certifications and trainings in preparation for this supervisory role, including achieving the status of Veterans Service Officer through New York State. The practicum program collaborates closely with Western New York’s Veterans One-stop Center.
Coombs has high hopes for expanding veterans law at UB. We asked him to elaborate on the mission he has undertaken.
Congratulations on the establishment of the Veterans Law Practicum! As the initiative ramps up, what kinds of cases will your students pursue on behalf of Western New York veterans?
Thank you! I’m really excited to get this project off the ground. With the support of Dean [S. Todd] Brown, Vice Dean for Academic Affairs [Christine] Bartholomew and Vice Dean and Clinical Legal Education Director [Bernadette] Gargano, we’ve been able to turn this initiative and our goal of helping veterans into a reality. This semester, we’ve already had several success stories for our veterans, and I want to give credit where it’s due. A big part of that success comes from the behind-the-scenes support of Julie Schuster, Audrey Grout and Jordyn Wysocki. These three pillars of the Clinical Legal Education program have kept me on track when I’ve needed help with the logistical and practical challenges of setting up the practicum.
Our practicum focuses on helping veterans secure VA benefits, like service-connected disability compensation, pensions and discharge upgrades. Students also work on appeals and help veterans navigate the often-complicated VA claims process. It’s a win-win—veterans get the support they need, and students develop valuable legal skills in a meaningful way.
You’ve been accredited through the federal Department of Veterans Affairs and New York’s Department of Veterans Services to represent vets in benefits cases. Will students work with you on those cases? Why is accreditation required for those kinds of cases?
Yes, students will definitely work with me on these cases. Since the VA requires accreditation to represent veterans in benefits cases, students can’t handle cases directly with the VA, but they’ll still play a big role. They’ll gather evidence, draft arguments and help prepare cases—basically everything leading up to the actual filing. It’s a great way for students to learn the ropes while making a real difference. Accreditation is important because VA law is complex, and the VA wants to make sure anyone representing a veteran knows what they’re doing. It actually took me over six months and multiple training sessions to get accredited. Now that I have it, I can not only represent veterans but also access their records through the Veterans Benefits Management System, which really helps in building strong cases.
Are the skills your students learn in the practicum specific to veterans law, or will they transfer to other legal specialties?
The skills they develop are definitely transferable. Sure, they’ll learn the specifics of veterans law, but things like client interviewing, case analysis and handling administrative procedures are useful in almost any area of law. Whether they end up in civil litigation, criminal defense or administrative law, the experience they gain here will serve them well. Plus, working with real clients teaches them how to build trust and advocate effectively—skills that are valuable in any legal setting.
Grant funding would enable the practicum to grow into a full-fledged Veterans Law Clinic. Would you then be able to take on different types of cases, or just handle a greater volume of work?
Both! With more funding, we’d be able to handle more cases and expand into new areas, like Section 1151 claims involving negligence by government health care providers and more complex discharge upgrades. We’d also be able to bring on a staff attorney and maybe even a social worker, which would allow us to provide more comprehensive support. The goal is to create a full-service clinic where veterans can get both legal and non-legal help all in one place.