The new office location isn’t all the Texas A&M University School of Law Family Law and Benefits Clinic is celebrating in the new year.

The law clinic is now able to start the Veterans Project thanks to a grant from the Texas Access to Justice Foundation. The Veterans Project enables the clinic to represent qualifying low-income veterans in family law cases, Social Security disability cases and veterans disability benefits.

The project came after Professor Charlotte Hughart, Director of the Family Law and Benefits Clinic, wanted to fill the need to serve veterans in Tarrant County.

“At this time when people are beginning to value our veterans for their service, it is especially important for us to contribute to resolving legal problems for veteran clients,” said Hughart.

The law clinic is pleased to announce the arrival of its new ​clinic attorney, Lynn Rodriguez. Rodriquez, certified to represent veterans before the Department of Veterans Affairs, will supervise Aggie law students who will be working with the veteran clients.

Rodriguez is a 2004 graduate of Texas Wesleyan University School of Law. After law school, she worked as a fellowship attorney at Wesleyan’s law clinic. She then co-founded the Law Office of Ganoza and Rodriguez, where she practiced family law, probate, real estate law, veterans’ benefits and Social Security disability law.

She decided to join the project because she has many family and friends who are veterans. Her son-in-law has been in the Air Force for 14 years and her father fought in the Korean War.

“I think of them when I assist our veterans in Tarrant County,” she said.

Hughart said she’s very happy to have Rodriguez back on staff because the clinic already knows her work.

“She is an excellent attorney and a hard worker with extraordinary people skills,” she said. “She will be an asset to our students and staff.”

Rodriguez said she is honored to be working with the law clinic and some familiar faces.

“That I am able to practice law next to three of the best attorneys in Texas, in my book, Charlotte Hughart, Celestina Contreras and Karon Rowden, is humbling,” she said.

Read more about how the grant will allow Texas A&M to serve veterans in Tarrant County.

The Texas A&M Legal Clinics, which include the Family Law and Benefits Clinic and the Veterans Project, will be celebrating its grand opening at its new location in the Star-Telegram building, 307 West 7th Street in downtown Fort Worth, on Friday, February 12. Click here for more information.

- Article by Jennifer Nassar, Communications Specialist, Texas A&M University School of Law