There’s an old saying, “Justice is expensive. How much do you want?” In other words, being able to navigate endless hurdles of red tape requires either a law degree or enough money to pay for someone who has one. Imagine for a second you’ve been injured in combat, seen your friends killed, feel stripped of any sense of purpose, and must reintegrate with civilians who feel indifferent to your sacrifice. Many of you reading this may already understand that plight. Having that feeling compounded by bureaucracy to receive the benefits you’re entitled to is an injustice no one should have to suffer.
Our servicemen and women who get wrapped around the axle of legal rigmarole can often become just another statistic of PTSD, homelessness, or suicide. Does that make you mad? It should. In fact, it compelled Antoinette Balta to focus her expertise into eradicating these complexities. As cofounder of Veterans Legal Institute (VLI), she’s taking hopelessness out of the judicial equation.
When you’re used to serving others, it can be difficult to ask for help or even know who to ask. VLI exists to provide pro bono legal assistance to homeless and low-income current and former servicemembers to help them receive the access to housing, education, employment, and healthcare they're entitled to. We spoke to Antoinette about what motivated her to work on behalf of those who’ve put their lives on the line for all of us.
RECOIL: Did you come from a military family?
My father immigrated to the United States from Lebanon in the 1970s. Prior to that, he fought against religious persecution and was in combat. Growing up with a hardworking father who rarely spoke about his combat experiences and displays an incredible amount of American patriotism, taught me to better understand those who
