Released 10/29/18 | Tags:
NVLSP is Growing
- New Staff in Litigation, Training and Communications-
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE- October 25, 2018
PHOTOS AVAILABLE
Washington -- National Veterans Legal Services Program’s (NVLSP) announced six new additions to staff in litigation, training and communications.
“We are thrilled to continue to grow our organization and welcome outstanding new staff to our exceptional team,” said Bart Stichman, executive director of NVLSP. “Our growth allows us advance the mission of NVLSP to help veterans receive the benefits they rightfully deserve.”
Emily Woodward Deutsch, Katherine McDermott Ebbesson, Carlie Armstrong Steiner and Tekey Wallace join NVLSP as staff attorneys. Ms. Deutsch spent eight years at the Board of Veterans Appeals as an Attorney-Advisor. During that time she prepared more than 1,100 Board decisions, signed more than 45 decisions as an acting Veterans Law Judge, and served in the Board’s Office of Quality Review. She also served as Executive Editor, Managing Editor, and Associate Editor of the Veterans Law Review over a six-year period. More recently, she served as Assistant General Counsel at the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. Emily is a graduate of the College of William and Mary (B.A., summa cum laude) and the Georgetown University Law Center (J.D.) where she received numerous writing awards. She is admitted to practice in Maryland and Washington, D.C.
Ms. Ebbesson has a rich background in veterans law. Most recently, she worked as an attorney for Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA). While at VVA, she represented numerous Veterans before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals. During law school, Ms. Ebbesson was involved in public interest work in numerous areas including immigration, criminal, family, and civil commitment law. She is a graduate of Lewis & Clark College (B.A.) and Seattle University School of Law (J.D., cum laude).She is admitted to practice in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Ms. Steiner has a wealth of experience in veterans and social justice issues. She worked as a National Appellate Attorney at Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) where she represented clients before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals. Before working with VVA, Ms. Steiner clerked for the Honorable Shirley M. Watts of the Court of Appeals of Maryland. She is a graduate of Colorado College (B.A.) and American University School of Law (J.D., cum laude).She is admitted to practice in Colorado.
Tekey Wallace joins NVLSP’s Nehmer Lawsuit Division. Prior to joining NVLSP she served as an intern for the Commonwealth Attorney’s Office in Pittsylvania County. While in law school she was the recipient of several writing and moot court awards, which included being named the 2016 Virginia Law Foundation Public Service Grant recipient. Ms. Wallace is a graduate of Hampton University (B.A.) and Liberty University School of Law (J.D.). She is admitted to practice in the District of Columbia and the proud spouse of an active duty service member.
Helen Chong is the new Training Associate for NVLSP. As a former magistrate and trial attorney, she uses her past experience in conducting judicial hearings and legal advocacy to help NVLSP provide the best training programs for attorneys and veteran service officers. Ms. Chong is the recipient of several national and state honors, which includes being chosen from a pool of 10,000 attorneys and honored as the Young Lawyer of the Year at the Virginia State Bar Annual Conference in 2015. Ms. Chong is a graduate of the University of Virginia (B.A.) and The George Mason University School of Law (J.D.). She is admitted to practice in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Patty Briotta joins NVLSP as Director of Communications. In this role, Ms. Briotta drives the organization’s branding and communications strategy. She works closely with NVLSP’s leadership team on a variety of strategic initiatives to raise the profile of the organization and its efforts through development, legislative advocacy, and NVLSP’s pro bono volunteer lawyer program, Lawyers Serving Warriors ®.
Prior to joining NVLSP, Ms. Briotta ran her own communications and marketing business. Ms. Briotta has held senior communications positions at the National Association of Federally-Insured Credit Unions, the Community Foundation for the National Capital Region, Lafarge North America and the National Association of Life Underwriters. She holds a bachelor’s degree from New York University and she completed an executive education program in residence at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business.
About NVLSP
The National Veterans Legal Services Program (NVLSP) is an independent, nonprofit veterans service organization that has served active duty military personnel and veterans since 1980. NVLSP strives to ensure that our nation honors its commitment to its 22 million veterans and active duty personnel by ensuring they have the benefits they have earned through their service to our country. NVLSP has represented veterans in lawsuits that compelled enforcement of the law where the VA or other military services denied benefits to veterans in violation of the law. NVLSP’s success in these lawsuits has resulted in more than $5.2 billion dollars being awarded in disability, death and medical benefits to hundreds of thousands of veterans and their survivors. NVLSP offers training for attorneys and other advocates; connects veterans and active duty personnel with pro bono legal help when seeking disability benefits; publishes the nation's definitive guide on veteran benefits; and represents and litigates for veterans and their families before the VA, military discharge review agencies and federal courts. For more information go to www.nvlsp.org.
MEDIA CONTACT: Patty Briotta, (202) 621-5698, patty@nvlsp.org
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