3rd Annual Veteran’s Court Clinic with Salesforce Legal Pro Bono

On April 7, 2017, eleven members of Salesforce.org and Salesforce Legal departments and eight attorneys and paralegals from Dentons US LLP participated in the third annual Service-4-Service event, a one day pro bono legal and social services clinic for United States Veterans. In partnership with the Justice and Diversity Center, Swords to Plowshares and Dentons, the team assisted 26 veterans and helped address 33 legal issues. The volunteers received training in specific areas of the law, such as VA benefit eligibility, military discharge upgrades, family law, landlord tenant law and employment law.

“It is meaningful and rewarding to serve and advocate for veterans in our community in any way I can, even if that simply meant spending a few minutes chatting and getting to know a veteran, exchanging a couple of laughs and shaking hands with a friend,” said Vanessa Pena-Hallinan of Salesforce. “We are humbled and grateful for the opportunity to serve these veterans, who have given so much to our country. It was a rewarding event for our Dentons and Salesforce legal teams to collaborate together, listen to the veterans’ stories, and provide critical legal assistance to them,” said Bonnie Lau, partner at Dentons.

Watching the expressions of gratitude wash over the veterans being served in all areas of law only contributes to the feeling of community, which on this day comes together to deliver comprehensive services to meet the needs of the veterans attending the clinic.

“This clinic is always such a wonderful event. The Justice and Diversity Center creates a one-stop-shop for veterans to have so many of their legal needs addressed,” commented Maureen Siedor of Swords to Plowshares. “In just a few hours, Salesforce and Dentons attorneys were able to meet with dozens of veterans – interviewing them, helping them with their filings, and answering their questions. Swords to Plowshares is proud to be included in this collaboration, and I hope we can continue this work of providing easily accessible, quality legal assistance to our veterans.”

Once again this clinic was a shared success and we look forward to many years of continuing partnership to support the veterans who have served our country.