NOVA MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION
For Additional Information Contact:
Membership Services
Regina Alegre
(480) 838-9887
RAlegre-NOVA@cox.net
Membership Application
Why Join NOVAsm?
- To become a more effective advocate for clients seeking benefits from the VA.
- To find how to access up-to-date legal resources.
- To get valuable continuing legal education.
- To get quality peer support and assistance.
- To get online access to other NOVAsm members on our website
MEMBERSHIP CLASSIFICATIONS
Sustaining Membership Trial Membership General Membership Student Membership
SUSTAINING MEMBERSHIP - REQUIREMENTS AND BENEFITS:
Sustaining membership is available to any attorney or non-attorney practitioner who is admitted to practice before the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, and or accredited by the Dept. of Veterans Affairs.
Sustaining membership is limited to practitioners actively engaged in representing veterans benefits claimants, either in the private practice of law or on behalf of a state or local government entity, National Veterans Service Organization, non-profit organization or on a pro bono basis.
All members must agree to comply with the following minimum standards of practice:
Representation of a veteran shall include a review of the
veteran's claims folder.
Timely filing and responses to all Department and Court designated time frames
for filings, pleadings and motions.
Attendance at one continuing legal education course every 18 months, which
is specific to veterans' law and to certify to NOVA the confirmation of such
attendance.
NOVA provides to sustaining members reduced rates on NOVA’s continuing
legal education seminars. These seminars, which run from one and a half
to two days each have been recognized as important resources on breaking
developments in veterans' law. They are valuable opportunities for veterans’ advocates
to get together, compare cases, and hear from important players in the
veterans' law community, including judges, medical experts and DVA officials.
For those practitioners who do direct mail solicitation of Pro Se Appellants
at the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, NOVA can show how to obtain
those names.
Sustaining members are eligible to access the Members Only Area on NOVA’s
website. Sustaining members will be provided an ID and password to access
this valuable practice assistance area. The secured area on the website
includes a Sustaining members only Information Exchange Forum (Bulletin
Board) where members can post questions, exchange ideas and obtain input
from other NOVA members. Sustaining members will also have access to
the New Practitioner’s
Forum. These forums provide the advocate the opportunity to ask questions
about individual case problems, and to learn of new developments in litigation
tactics and arguments. It is an invaluable resource in a field of law
where normal community resources are scant. Bulletin Board members also
share business practice tips.
The annual dues for sustaining members are $400.00. The fee is paid on
an annual basis for the calendar year starting in January. Practitioners
interested in joining will be charged on a pro-rata basis for the number
of quarters left in the calendar year.
Membership in NOVA identifies an attorney or other qualified veterans’ advocate
as an active and interested practitioner of veterans' law. NOVA has been
recognized by the US Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims with the prestigious
Hart Mankin Award for valuable contributions to the area of veterans'
law. NOVA has been asked to participate in regulation rewrites by the
Dept. of Veterans Affairs. NOVA members regularly submit Amicus briefs
to the Court on issues of widespread interest and importance. NOVA has
initiated legal challenges on its own of unfair regulations promulgated
by the DVA. NOVA members are more often than not counsel of record in
important cases at the Court.
In view of the facts that there are relatively few veterans' advocates,
and NOVA needs to provide important services to its members, Sustaining
Members often provide additional annual contributions to subsidize NOVA
operations. These contributions are greatly appreciated and are recognized
at the annual meeting by special status:
Gold member status identifies members who, in addition to their annual membership, contribute an additional $5,000 annually to NOVA.
Silver member status identifies members who, in addition to their annual
membership, contribute an additional $2,500 annually to NOVA.
Bronze member status identifies members who in addition to their annual
membership contribute an additional $1,000 annually to NOVA.
Trial membership is available to attorneys and non-attorneys new to the
practice of VA law for a six-month trial basis.
Trial membership is available to any attorney or non-attorney practitioner
who is admitted to practice before the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans
Claims.
Trial membership does not include voting privileges or eligibility to
serve on the Board of Directors.
Trial members are eligible for Sustaining membership at any time during
the trial period. In order to become a Sustaining member, the Trial member
must notify NOVA that the member wishes to become a Sustaining member
and pay the balance of the Sustaining member dues for the portion of
the year remaining in the calendar year. At the time the balance of the
dues are paid, the member will then become eligible for any services
provided to Sustaining members.
NOVA provides to Trial members a reduced “member” rate on NOVA’s continuing
legal education seminars.
Trial membership includes access to NOVA’s New Practitioner’s Forum located
on NOVA’s
website. Trial members will be provided an ID and password to access
this forum.
The dues for Trial membership are $200.00. Trial membership dues are
not pro-rated.
Membership Application
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GENERAL MEMBERSHIP - REQUIREMENTS AND BENEFITS:
General Membership is limited to students, professors, and pro bono practitioners who are representing claimants for VA benefits without charge to the claimant or receipt of remuneration of any kind, including EAJA fees, by themselves or their employers.
Eligibility for membership does not require that the practitioner be
admitted to practice before the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims.
All General members must agree to comply with the following minimum
standards of practice:
Attendance at one
continuing legal education course or verification of on the job experience
by member’s employer every 18 months.
The CLE or on the job experience must be specific to veterans' law. The
member will either certify to NOVA the CLE attendance or provide to NOVA
proof of compliance verification completed by their employer.
General membership does not include voting privileges or eligibility
to serve on the Board of Directors.
General members are not eligible for any
services provided to Sustaining members.
NOVA provides to General members a reduced “member” rate on NOVA’s
continuing legal education seminars.
General members are eligible to access NOVA’s New Practitioner’s Forum on NOVA’s website. Associate members will be provided an ID and password to access this forum.
The annual dues for General members are $100.00. General membership
dues are not pro-rated.
The annual dues for Student members are $25.00. Students membership dues are not pro-rated.
STUDENT MEMBERSHIP - REQUIREMENTS AND BENEFITS:
This category is only available to individuals currently enrolled as a full-time law student. Student membership does not include voting privileges or the right to serve on the Board of Directors. Student members will have access to all forums on the “Members Only” bulletin board except the Information Exchange Forum.
Student members are allowed to register for NOVA’s semi-annual seminars at the student rate.
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Membership Application
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NOVA's COMMITTMENT TO LEGAL EDUCATION OF VETERANS' ADVOCATES
NOVA is committed to organizing and presenting
legal seminars at least annually for the education of attorneys and non-attorney
practitioners admitted to practice before the U.S. Court of Appeals for
Veterans Claims (CAVC). NOVA is also committed to improving the knowledge
base of all veterans’ representatives who practice before the Department of Veterans Affairs, which would include the Board of Veterans’ Appeals
and at Regional Offices.
SEMINAR CONTENT:
Seminars are intended for both new practitioners to the area of veterans'
disability law, as well as the more advanced practitioners. Workshops
are designed to provide basic information to new practitioners.
Speakers at the seminars include NOVA members, physicians or other health
care providers having knowledge of particular conditions such as Agent
Orange exposure, or PTSD. Speakers have also been drawn from VA sources,
including General Counsel attorneys, directors of special projects, and
Regional Office specialists. Each seminar has traditionally included
a Judge of the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims as a luncheon speaker.
Seminars are designed to clarify the procedural appellate process and
provide current legal forms, as well as practical advice regarding the
handling of a veteran's case.
Seminars increase legal knowledge, enhance competence, and develop expertise
in representing veterans at the CAVC, the BVA and the Regional Offices
of the VA.
CLE Credit is available for most states.
Membership Application
SEMINAR MATERIALS:
Excellent source materials are provided in cd format at each seminar.
Materials include legal forms, samples of briefs and correspondence,
as well as legal analysis of specific issues.
Each seminar includes a review of the most recent cases decided by the
U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims and a discussion of the implications
of such decisions upon pending as well as future claims.
SEMINAR FORMAT:
Presentations of subject areas are continually evolving in order to provide
an effective means of sharing material and concepts.
NOVA's seminar may also include a workshop on basic how-to instruction
for both the lawyer and non-lawyer practitioner.
Practitioners are encouraged to bring their staff to all sessions.
The emphasis of the seminar is on practical application of VA law and
regulations. Special topic areas are presented, covering such subjects
as individual unemployability, total ratings, clear and unmistakable
error, secondary conditions, PTSD and attorney fee issues.
The
content of this web site is intended for informational purposes only.
It is expressly not intended to be legal advice, and should not be relied
upon as such for any reason. All legal advice, especially legal advice
regarding a specific case, should be obtained only after communicating
directly with an attorney.
© Copyright 2008, National Organization of Veterans' Advocates, Inc. . All rights reserved.