In recognition of Veterans Day, the University of Baltimore School of Law celebrates
two professors whose work advances justice, expands access to legal services, and
supports the rights of those who have served our country.
Professor Hugh McClean, director of the Bob Parsons Veterans Advocacy Clinic, received the 2026 Charm City Changemaker Award from the Baltimore City Office of Equity and Civil Rights at the city's 33rd Annual Civil Rights Breakfast on October 2. Professor Jessica Lynn Wherry has been named the 2026 Pro Bono Super Star by The Veterans Consortium Pro Bono Program in recognition of her work representing veterans seeking military discharge upgrades. She will formally receive the award on November 12.
Together, these honors underscore UBalt Law's commitment to serving veterans, protecting
their rights and ensuring they have access to the legal benefits and services they
have earned.
The Charm City Changemaker Award recognizes individuals and organizations making extraordinary
contributions to equity, justice, access, and inclusion throughout Baltimore. A former
Air Force judge advocate who joined UBalt Law in 2014, Professor McClean founded and
directs the Bob Parsons Veterans Advocacy Clinic, where law students provide free
legal representation to veterans seeking VA benefits and military discharge upgrades.
The clinic also serves veterans participating in the Central Maryland Regional Veterans
Treatment Court, which includes Baltimore City.
The clinic's impact is substantial. During the reporting year ending July 31, 2026,
25 student advocates contributed approximately 3,500 hours of pro bono service, providing
direct legal representation to 56 clients. Through this work, students gain hands-on
experience while helping veterans overcome barriers to benefits, services, and support.
The Veterans Consortium's Pro Bono Super Star recognition celebrates Professor Wherry's
work representing veterans seeking upgrades to their military discharges. Since 2022,
she has successfully represented veterans in three cases—one before the Army Discharge
Review Board and two before the Board for Correction of Naval Records—with another
case currently pending. In addition to her advocacy, Professor Wherry is a nationally
recognized expert and scholar on discharge upgrades. Her passion for veterans advocacy
is fueled by her own experience as an enlisted Sailor in the United States Navy. She
teaches legal analysis and writing and veterans law, preparing students to understand
the legal issues affecting those who have served. She will also teach in the Veterans
Advocacy Clinic next semester.
At UBalt Law, veterans advocacy is both a commitment to public service and an essential part of educating practice-ready lawyers. Through faculty leadership, student advocacy and partnerships with organizations serving the veteran community, the School of Law helps ensure that veterans have access to meaningful legal representation while preparing future lawyers to carry that work forward.