Please read the following carefully, and acknowledge your understanding.
In seeking assistance from the Antonin Scalia Law School Mason Veterans
and Servicemembers Legal Clinic (M-VETS), I understand that:
- If my case is accepted, I will be represented by law students under the supervision of licensed attorneys.
- I must meet certain eligibility requirements and that, for educational and other reasons, my case may not be accepted.
- M-VETS is independent of the Department of Defense and Department of Veterans Affairs. M-VETS will decide whether to recommend an attorney to supervise M-VETS student(s) representing my interests, not those of the Department of Defense, Department of Veterans Affairs or the United States government.
- Representation is free, but incidental costs such as administrative costs and filing fees will be my responsibility.
- M-VETS will notify me as soon as possible of its decision to accept or decline my case. If M-VETS has requested that I provide additional documents or information, I agree to comply as soon as possible so that M-VETS may make a final decision about whether to assist me. I further understand that by requesting additional documents, M-VETS has not accepted my case or agreed to represent me.
- Prior to undertaking representation, M-VETS will prepare an engagement letter detailing the agreement between the clinic and myself and each party’s responsibilities during the course of the representation. I further understand that I am not a client of the clinic until I sign the engagement letter and return it to M-VETS. Unless and until then, if I have pending deadlines, it is my responsibility to ensure I comply with those deadlines.
- The law student assigned to my case may be substituted by another M-VETS student-advisor at the discretion of the clinic director at any time.
- M-VETS reserves the right to terminate its representation of me for various reasons set forth in the engagement letter. These reasons could include, but are not limited to, my intentional or negligent misrepresentation or omission of materials regarding my case, or my failure to provide requested documents or information or otherwise assist with my case. If M-VETS terminates representation, it will do so pursuant to the procedures outlined in the engagement letter and consistent with the Virginia Rules of Professional Responsibility.
- All information and/or documents that I provide to M-VETS will be protected and kept confidential pursuant to and consistent with the requirements of Rules 1.6 and 1.18 of the Virginia Rules of Professional Responsibility.
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