New membership is available to any individual who was not previously a member of NOVA, and who practices or intends to practice before the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims and/or the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

New membership does not include voting privileges or eligibility to serve on the Board of Directors.

The dues for New membership are $360/per year, pro-rated on a monthly basis.

 

 

 

Membership Application

To be eligible for Sustaining membership, you must be actively engaged in representing claimants pursuing VA benefits; and must be accredited by the Department of Veterans Affairs and/or admitted to practice at the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (CAVC).
All members must agree to comply with the following minimum standards of practice:
Representation of a veteran shall include a review of the veteran's claims folder.
Timely filing and responses to all Department and Court designated time frames for filings, pleadings and motions.
Attendance at one continuing legal education course every 18 months, which is specific to veterans' law and to certify to NOVA the confirmation of such attendance.

General Membership

General Membership is limited to students, professors, and pro bono practitioners who are representing claimants for VA benefits without charge to the claimant or receipt of remuneration of any kind, including EAJA fees, by themselves or their employers.

Eligibility for membership does not require that the practitioner be admitted to practice before the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims.

All General members must agree to comply with the following minimum standards of practice:
Attendance at one continuing legal education course or verification of on the job experience by member’s employer every 18 months. The CLE or on the job experience must be specific to veterans' law. The member will either certify to NOVA the CLE attendance or provide to NOVA proof of compliance verification completed by their employer.

General membership does not include voting privileges or eligibility to serve on the Board of Directors.

NOVA provides to General members a reduced “member” rate on NOVA’s continuing legal education seminars.

General members are eligible to access NOVA’s New Practitioner’s Forum on NOVA’s website. Associate members will be provided an ID and password to access this forum.

 

Student Membership

This category is only available to individuals currently enrolled as a full-time law student.  Student membership does not include voting privileges or the right to serve on the Board of Directors.  Student members will have access to all forums on the “Members Only” bulletin board except the Information Exchange Forum.

Student members are allowed to register for NOVA’s semi-annual seminars at the student rate.

The annual dues for General/Student members are $100.00. General membership dues are not pro-rated.

Membership Application

This category is available to individuals, i.e., secretaries, legal assistants, and paralegals, who support a current Sustaining member/s.

Membership dues for a Law Office Support member is $100 per year, and is not pro-rated. Law Office Support membership entitles the member to: READ ONLY access to the NOVA bulletin board and NOVA Wiki, and NOVA member registration fees to attend NOVA conferences.

Law Office Support membership does not include the right to be listed on the Attorney/Agents page on NOVA's website, voting privileges, nor the right to serve on the NOVA Board of Directors.

Membership Application

NOVA is committed to organizing and presenting legal seminars at least annually for the education of attorneys and non-attorney practitioners admitted to practice before the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (CAVC). NOVA is also committed to improving the knowledge base of all veterans’ representatives who practice before the Department of Veterans Affairs, which would include the Board of Veterans’ Appeals and at Regional Offices.

Seminars are intended for both new practitioners to the area of veterans' disability law, as well as the more advanced practitioners. Workshops are designed to provide basic information to new practitioners.

Speakers at the seminars include NOVA members, physicians or other health care providers having knowledge of particular conditions such as Agent Orange exposure, or PTSD. Speakers have also been drawn from VA sources, including General Counsel attorneys, directors of special projects, and Regional Office specialists. Each seminar has traditionally included a Judge of the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims as a luncheon speaker.

Seminars are designed to clarify the procedural appellate process and provide current legal forms, as well as practical advice regarding the handling of a veteran's case. 

Seminars increase legal knowledge, enhance competence, and develop expertise in representing veterans at the CAVC, the BVA and the Regional Offices of the VA.

CLE Credit is available for most states.

Excellent source materials are provided for each seminar and are distributed via online. Materials include legal forms, samples of briefs and correspondence, as well as legal analysis of specific issues. 

Each seminar includes a review of the most recent cases decided by the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims and a discussion of the implications of such decisions upon pending as well as future claims.

Presentations of subject areas are continually evolving in order to provide an effective means of sharing material and concepts.

NOVA's seminar may also include a workshop on basic how-to instruction for both the lawyer and non-lawyer practitioner.

Practitioners are encouraged to bring their staff to all sessions.

The emphasis of the seminar is on practical application of VA law and regulations. Special topic areas are presented, covering such subjects as individual unemployability, total ratings, clear and unmistakable error, secondary conditions, PTSD and attorney fee issues.