The Cornell Law School Veterans Law Practicum has secured two major victories for survivors of military sexual assault, helping restore long-denied honor, dignity, and benefits to veterans whose service was derailed by trauma.

James Hardwick

Under the supervision of James Hardwick, adjunct professor and supervising attorney, the Veterans Law Practicum provides free, high-quality legal representation to veterans seeking justice in cases involving military sexual trauma, discharge upgrades, and appeals before the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and federal courts. Law students working in the practicum gain firsthand experience in advocacy and client representation while confronting systemic barriers faced by survivors of sexual assault in the armed forces.

In August 2025, the Veterans Law Practicum achieved a life-changing victory for a female Army veteran and survivor of military sexual assault who has been fighting for her rightfully earned benefits for over two decades.

The veteran, who was eighteen when she enlisted, had been groomed and assaulted by a superior officer during basic training. Attempting to flee her abuser, the veteran went AWOL and was subsequently reprimanded for misconduct and administratively separated from the Army with an Other Than Honorable discharge status. As a result, she was repeatedly denied access to VA benefits and healthcare since separating from the military nearly twenty years ago. Suffering from untreated post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and injury to her dignity and self-worth related to her discharge status, she experienced years of homelessness and poverty.

Tyler Dixon ’25

Law students Kayla Espinoza ’26 and Tyler Dixon ’25 worked on the case—under Hardwick’s supervision—from fall 2024 through summer 2025, meticulously reviewing relevant statutes and case law, and working closely with the veteran to document and tell her story. Throughout the process, the Veterans Law Practicum assisted the veteran in drafting a detailed personal statement and gathering crucial evidence to support her claim of PTSD related to military sexual assault. These efforts included helping her articulate the impact of her experiences and collecting corroborative documentation to strengthen her case before the VA.

Kayla Espinoza ’26

Additionally, the practicum relied on guidance from the Kurta memo, a Department of Defense policy directive that encourages consideration of mental health conditions, such as PTSD, and experiences of military sexual trauma when reviewing discharge upgrade requests. The memo emphasizes the importance of considering the effects of trauma on service members and supports fairer outcomes for those seeking recognition and benefits.

As a result of this advocacy, the veteran was granted the full range of VA benefits and healthcare with an effective date of May 2024, including $26,000 in retroactive payments and ongoing monthly disability compensation for service-connected PTSD.

According to Hardwick, because of the students’ advocacy, “the client was spared waiting for a Board of Veterans Appeals hearing, which are scheduled three years out and would’ve required her to talk about her trauma in front of a panel of judges, which is almost always a retraumatizing event.”

Then, in September 2025, the Veterans Law Practicum achieved another victory on behalf of an Air Force veteran and survivor of military sexual assault who had been living with a Less Than Honorable discharge status for many years. Through the practicum’s advocacy, the veteran secured a full upgrade to “Honorable” from the Air Force Discharge Review Board in September 2025.

Patrick George ’24

Under Hardwick’s supervision, Patrick George ’24 worked on the case as a Pro Bono Scholar in spring 2024, reviewing the case, developing compelling legal arguments, and working closely with the veteran to corroborate and tell his story. The board recognized that the client was an exemplary airman whose service was tragically disrupted by the trauma of sexual assault at the hands of fellow service members. As a direct result of this experience, the veteran developed debilitating symptoms of PTSD, which led to a premature and unjust separation from military service. The veteran also experienced many years of untreated mental health, homelessness, and poverty.

“Far too many survivors of military sexual trauma are denied the benefits they deserve because of the circumstances of their discharge,” said Hardwick. “This outcome not only restores dignity and justice for our client but also sets an important example of how persistence and advocacy can overcome systemic barriers.”