Chisholm stands up for veterans

Robert Chisholm recently received the Patriot Award from the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve for his support of three Chisholm, Chisholm & Kilpatrick colleagues who currently serve in the Army National Guard.

The mission of the ESGR is to promote and expand employer support for military service in the National Guard and Reserve. What steps have you taken to support service members?

A significant part of CCK’s practice is dedicated to representing veterans. We understand the sacrifice that our veterans make for all of us. Our team supports our military colleagues with the gratitude and compassion they deserve. In addition to providing words of encouragement and loyalty, CCK supplements military colleagues’ income while they are on active duty.

What advice would you give to employers who wish to be more supportive of the service member(s) they employ?

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Do more than is required under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act. Demonstrate genuine support and gratitude for their service, and compassion for their sacrifice and that of their families. While all employers are required by law to provide protections and supports for their military employees, it is the spirit with which that cooperation is given that makes the difference.

What motivated you to primarily focus your work on representing disabled veterans?

Historically, when the VA denied a veteran’s benefits claim, the veteran did not have the right to judicial review. In 1988, President Reagan signed the Veterans Judicial Review Act, which created the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims in Washington, D.C. At that time, I was the only attorney in the Northeast United States who was licensed in the new veterans court and veterans reached out to us to represent them in court. Our practice has grown since then and today CCK is privileged to help thousands of veterans, regionally and nationally.

How can the state as a whole be more supportive of Rhode Island’s military members?

I think the state is moving in the right direction to support military members and veterans. Gov. Gina M. Raimondo just named Kasim Yarn as Rhode Island’s first director of veterans affairs and made this a cabinet-level position. Massachusetts has one of the most robust state-run veterans’ support systems in the country and can serve as a model. •

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