HPU Receives Generous Gift to Establish Law Clinic for Veterans
New law school hires former U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs attorney to oversee law clinic.
HIGH POINT, N.C., July 8, 2024 – High Point University received a generous gift from Bergmann & Moore, LLC to establish a pro bono law clinic within the Kenneth F. Kahn School of Law that will focus on ethically helping veterans receive military benefits after they are denied.
Bergmann & Moore, LLC, based in Rockville, Maryland, is one of the nation’s largest law firms practicing solely in the area of veterans’ benefits. HPU’s pro bono veterans law clinic will be named after Bergmann & Moore, LLC, as well as the space that the clinic occupies on campus.
The Kenneth F. Kahn School of Law will welcome its inaugural class of students in August.
“There’s a great need for attorneys who know how to help veterans obtain the disability benefits they deserve but who are willing to do so ethically and with respect for their clients’ great personal sacrifices for our country,” said Joseph R. Moore, managing partner at Bergmann & Moore, LLC. “That’s why we’re so excited to be working with High Point University and law students who believe in HPU’s core values of God, family and country and who want those values to be reflected in their legal careers.”
HPU President Nido Qubein announced that the university was establishing a pro bono law clinic for veterans at HPU’s 13th Annual Veterans Day Celebration in November. The law clinic aligns with HPU’s commitment to being a God, family and country school and working on behalf of veterans.
“On Veterans Day, we honored our nation’s military and the freedoms that our military provides us. I’m excited that this law clinic will be dedicated to working specifically for veterans,” Dr. Qubein said. “It will support veterans as they navigate veterans’ affairs issues. It will be operated by the faculty, staff and students of the Kenneth F. Kahn School of Law right here in the city of High Point.”
Ashley Castillo, a clinical assistant professor and assistant dean for student affairs, was recently hired to serve as director of the Bergmann & Moore veterans law clinic. She developed a passion for serving veterans while working as an attorney for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, where she litigated more than 1,700 appeals for veterans to receive their disability benefits. She also presided over nearly 100 appeals as an acting Veterans Law Judge.
“Ashley’s background makes her not just a good fit, but the perfect fit to lead our veterans law clinic,” said Mark Martin, founding dean and professor of law for the Kenneth F. Kahn School of Law. “She is deeply passionate about helping veterans and developing the next generation of lawyer-leaders. We are so excited to have her on the team.”
The law clinic continues HPU’s tradition of giving back to the community. HPU’s Pro Bono Physical Therapy Clinic provides professional physical therapy services to uninsured and underinsured patients in the Piedmont Triad, as well as exercise classes, a food pantry and more.
