The number of veterans attending Stanford Law School has steadily risen since 2001, and this year the 1L class includes 11 students with military service—a record in 
recent years. And the Stanford Law Veterans Organization (SLVO), launched in 2010 to support and mentor former military and military-affiliated members of the Stanford Law community, has been working with law school administrators on key initiatives both to make legal education more affordable for veterans and to offer them a more enriching summer program.

Perhaps one of the most important factors influencing the increase of veterans on campus is affordability—helped in large part by the Yellow Ribbon GI Education Enhancement Program. A provision of the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008, the Yellow Ribbon Program is designed to help students avoid up to 100 percent of out-of-pocket tuition and fees associated with education costs that may exceed the Post-9/11 GI Bill tuition benefit. Last year, SLVO members worked closely with Associate Dean for Admissions and Financial Aid Faye Deal to increase the already strong support Stanford Law offers to military veterans studying here. As a result of these efforts, Stanford Law School now contributes the maximum amount possible under the program. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is matching the amount, which means that the full cost of tuition and fees is covered for Yellow Ribbon-eligible veterans.

And over the spring and summer, SLVO members teamed up with the law school’s development staff and alumni to establish The Law School Veterans Fund, which will support a summer public interest fellowship at Stanford Law School for a veteran working on veteran-related projects. To date, more than $100,000 has been raised, with key support from three alumni and all of the SLVO members of the Class of 2013. The fund’s initial champions are Steven F. Benz, JD ’90, John Patrick Dugan, JD ’99, and Dr. Craig C. Largent, JD ’04 (MS ’89). The summer 2014 fellow will be chosen later in this academic year. SL