About
VLSN was founded in July of 2015 to provide legal assistance to veterans and their families in Nebraska and the surrounding areas. Since that time we have become focused on the following areas of need
- Discharge Upgrades
- Veterans that are working their way through the criminal justice system
- Filling the function of Veterans Treatment Courts in other jurisdictions that match veterans, their counsel, the courts and prosecutors with the service providers that can assist veterans in need in areas such as substance abuse, housing assistance, peer support, mental health, benefits and employment assistance as well as nontraditional assistance such as art or equine therapy and yoga that have proved successful for many veterans across the nation.
- Veterans, active duty and their family members who need civil legal help but cannot afford it or for some reason cannot use active duty legal assistance offices
- Wills and advanced directives for elderly veterans and their spouses
After putting their own lives on the line to protect our freedom, we believe supporting our veterans is the very least that we can do. Our legal services are free or at a very low cost to almost all veterans with a financial need or disability, as well as those needing help with disability appeals to the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims. Contact us if you would like more information about receiving help for yourself or someone you care about.
Our Clients
To date, we have taught and assisted over 400 inmates at Douglas County Corrections and over 50 in Omaha Correctional Center. We have talked to over 60 homeless vets between our 4 stand downs and working with Siena Francis House. We have 8 vets in our Vets Treatment Court right now. We have testified in legislative conferences 3 times and spoke about vets issues in front of hundreds of Nebraskans at Memorial Day, Veteran’s day and other invited events.
Here are a few stories that our clients have asked us to share.
This map represents who we have helped.
Our Attorneys
Mick Wagoner
Mick grew up in Grand Island and graduated from Creighton Prep in Omaha, Nebraska. He attended the University of Texas and received a Bachelor of Arts in 1989. Commissioned as a Marine Second Lieutenant in 1989. He participated in Operation Desert Shield/Storm and Restore Hope in Somalia as a Motor Transport Officer. He then attended Creighton University and graduated with his JD in 1996. Following graduation he became a Marine Corps Judge Advocate and was stationed at Parris Island, South Carolina; first, as a Legal Assistance Officer assisting Marines, retirees and their families with civil legal needs and then as Senior Defense Counsel representing Marines and Sailors facing Courts Martial. He then became the Staff Judge Advocate for the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit and participated in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan in 2001 and Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003.
Following the MEU, he attended and then taught at the US Army Judge Advocate General Legal Center and School in Charlottesville, Virginia. His next tour was at Special Operation Command in Tampa, Florida followed by his final tour as Staff Judge Advocate for the Marine Corps Air Station at Iwakuni, Japan.
Mick has worked in most fields of military law and holds an LLM in Military Law with a specialty in International Law.
Following his retirement in 2013, Mick worked in fundraising as well as the nonprofit legal sector. He and his wife Susan started VLSN out of a belief that there is a need for specialized legal support for veterans in the Nebraska and surrounding areas.
He is a licensed to practice in the State and Federal courts of Nebraska, the US Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims and the United States Supreme Court.
Mick enjoys playing golf, watching college sports and losing to his daughters in cards and tennis.