Anna Pounds, a third-year student at Samford University’s Cumberland School of Law, is the 2025-26 student fellow of the Cumberland Veterans Legal Assistance Clinic (C-VETS). Launched in 2020, C-VETS provides free legal assistance to Alabama veterans and their families. Through her work with the clinic, Pounds honors those who served by helping them navigate legal challenges and secure the stability they deserve. 

What does the Cumberland Veterans Legal Assistance Clinic (C-VETS) do?  

The C-VETS clinic provides pro bono legal assistance to veterans and their families in the Birmingham area and surrounding counties. The clinic handles a variety of cases, including expungements, estate planning, landlord-tenant disputes, collection issues and military discharge upgrades. 

What do you do in your role as the student fellow for the clinic?  

As the fellow, I assist professor (Kevin) Patton in managing student advocates and coordinating cases. I also oversee the clinic’s case-tracking software to help keep everything organized and running smoothly. Between semesters, when the clinic students aren’t enrolled, I help staff the clinic so veterans continue to receive assistance. 

Is there a moment from your time in the clinic that reminded you why this work matters?  

Through the clinic, I had a client that I was able to help pursue a discharge upgrade, which is a really complex process. He’s an older gentleman, so being able to guide him through it and give him hope that he can finally access the health care he deserves was deeply rewarding. 

How do you see Cumberland School of Law’s commitment to serving the community reflected through the work of the clinic?  

Cumberland’s commitment to community service truly comes to life through the clinic. It’s one thing to discuss service in the classroom, but it’s another to see firsthand the challenges veterans face and play a role in addressing them. The clinic allows students to apply what we’re learning to make a real, tangible impact in the lives of veterans.  

How has working in the clinic shaped your view of what it means to be a lawyer?  

Being a lawyer is not just about knowing the law; it’s about using our knowledge from the classroom to help people who might not have anyone else to turn to. It’s about being an advocate for people—like our veterans—who need our help navigating complicated bureaucracy.  

What skills or lessons have you gained from working directly with veterans?  

Some of our clients have a lot of frustrations with the system, and taking the time to effectively communicate and listen to them makes all the difference. I’ve learned how to show them the utmost respect and build trust with them. I’ve also gained practical experience in client management and problem-solving that you can’t get from a textbook. 

Why do you think experiential learning, like getting involved in the law school’s clinics, is so valuable for law students?  

Experience participating in a law school clinic like C-VETS is invaluable because law students can serve real clients and gain much needed motivation. Sitting across from someone who’s counting on you for your help builds confidence, compassion and purpose. As law students, it helps us identify how laws work in practice and, sometimes, why it needs to change. 

How do you hope to carry this spirit of service into your career after graduation?  

After graduation, I will join the Navy JAG Corps. Through C-VETS, I’ve had the chance to help veterans once they’ve finished their service. Going into the Navy JAG Corps will allow me to help them on the front end—while they’re still in uniform. I want to make sure service members have the legal support they need to focus on their mission and come home with their rights and benefits protected. 

What does Veterans Day and serving our veterans mean to you personally? 

Being able to serve veterans as a student is especially meaningful to me. Our state has a high veteran population but not nearly enough attorneys to serve them. Many veterans face complicated systems and barriers that make it difficult to get the support they need. They’ve given everything for us to have these freedoms and opportunities. Giving back to them in even a small way through legal assistance reminds me why I chose to go to law school in the first place. 

GIVE: Support the important work of C-VETS and other clinical programs at Cumberland School of Law.