Released 7/19/12 | Tags: Supporters
THE DIFFERENCE NEW TECHOLOGY MAKES: LAWYERS SERVING VETERANS GET MORE EFFICIENT
Hewlett-Packard donates $140,000+ worth of computer equipment to help advocates aid vets
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – July 19, 2012
WASHINGTON – Advocates working at the National Veterans Legal Services Program (NVLSP) got a big boost in efficiency recently with the donation of $140,000 worth of computer equipment from Hewlett-Packard.
“Keeping up with technology has become ever more important for legal advocates working to help veterans get the benefits to which they are entitled,” said Bart Stichman, joint executive director of NVLSP. “Attorneys use computers to review documents, prepare materials, communicate using technology, submit pleadings and conduct research.”
Many of the veterans NVLSP represents on a pro-bono basis have appealed a VA benefits denial to the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (CAVC). Technology use is a necessity for attorneys submitting pleadings to the Court, which requires all documents be submitted electronically.
“It’s likely that the technology demands on veterans’ advocates will only increase in the future,” notes NVLSP joint executive director Ron Abrams. Organizers of the CAVC Judicial Conference in 2013 are planning a technology plenary session outlining the Court’s use of technology and its recommendations to practitioners for utilizing technology in submitting more effective and persuasive pleadings.
NVLSP’s aging computers were unable to handle the new technology demands. The organization’s desktop and laptop computers, as well as its file servers, were all at least four to six years old. It was imperative that the outdated computer hardware and operating systems at NVLSP be replaced, but replacing the nonprofit organization’s aging technology infrastructure was a budgetary impossibility.
Thankfully, Hewlett-Packard donated $140,000+ worth of computer equipment to help NVLSP overcome its technology hurdles. The in-kind donation included three new file servers, 15 laptops and 30 desktop computers with monitors using Windows 7.
“HP has a long history of giving back through equipment donations to non-profit groups. HP Legal team members volunteer their time and skills on a pro bono basis to serve those in need. Our signature pro bono project in the U.S. is focused on helping veterans with a range of issues and NVLSP is a partner in that work. Getting them the technology they needed to better serve veterans was the right thing to do,” said Amy Schuh, co-chair of the HP Legal pro bono program.
The donation has already made a difference in staff morale and efficiency. “Our staff attorneys work tirelessly to help veterans around the country who were wrongfully denied the benefits to which they are entitled. Having up-to-date technology in place makes their jobs a little easier and will help NVLSP assist more veterans,” said Bart Stichman, co-founder and joint executive director of NVLSP.
ABOUT NVLSPThe National Veterans Legal Services Program (NVLSP) is an independent, nonprofit veterans service organization founded in 1980 to assist veterans and their advocates. NVLSP strives to ensure that our nation honors its commitment to our 25 million veterans and active duty personnel by providing them the federal benefits they have earned through their service to our country. NVLSP publishes numerous advocacy materials, recruits and trains volunteer attorneys, trains service officers from veterans’ service organizations, and conducts quality reviews of the VA regional offices on behalf of the American Legion. NVLSP also represents veterans and their families on claims for veterans’ benefits before the VA, the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims and other federal courts and discharge agencies. For more information go to www.nvlsp.org.
Media contact: Ami Neiberger-Miller, ami@steppingstonellc.com
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