The NOVA 2019 Spring Conference will be held at Sheraton Grand Nashville Downtown in Nashville, TN! The NOVA Conference is intended for both new and experienced veterans law practitioners. The seminar will increase your knowledge, confidence, and expertise in representing veterans before the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (CAVC) and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). In addition, your time may be credited to your jurisdiction’s CLE requirements. We hope to see you in Nashville!
Registration is now FULL for Thursday, March 21. We will not be able to accept any more registrations for Thursday. Any forms for Thursday post marked after February 26 will NOT be accepted. We apologize for the inconvenience. Please plan to join us on Friday and Saturday!
The deadline to book a hotel at the NOVA room rate has passed. Please find a list of alternative hotels HERE.
Based on attendee feedback, our Spring 2019 conference will continue with the format started in fall 2017. The conference is designed to build from basic to advanced topics, with plenty for both the new and experienced practitioner on each day. The first day, formerly known as the New Practitioners’ Session, is now our Basic Session. The Basic Session will cover important foundational concepts critical to a successful practice, such as an overview of VA benefits, how to get your client’s condition service connected, and how to develop and handle new evidence. Experienced practitioners can also find useful information in our Basic Session, e.g., maximizing your clients’ benefits and understanding the new appeals reform structure.
The second and third days, also known as our General Session, will cover Intermediate and Advanced Topics respectively, building on the themes of the Basic Session. Topics include more in-depth discussions on appeals reform, VA mailing and notice deficiencies, recent cases, and ethical issues. We are pleased to offer two sets of concurrent sessions as well, so attendees may enjoy an experience suitable to the needs of their practice. NOVA is honored to welcome featured speakers Cheryl Mason, Chairman of the Board of Veterans’
Appeals, and David McLenachen, Director of the Appeals Management Office, Veterans Benefits Administration.
Please respect the rights of all attendees. A high standard of public decorum is expected at all times, especially when addressing the assembly and during social functions. Your support of this policy is greatly appreciated.
Click HERE for our 2019 Spring Conference Brochure!
Nashville, T.N. - March 21-23, 2019
Hotel: Sheraton Grand Nashville Downtown
The NOVA Room Block Rate is $225 plus tax, per night, single or double occupancy, and is available three days prior and three days after the conference based upon room availability. Room reservations must be made by Monday February 18, 2019 for this rate to be honored.
*We recommend booking your room early as the room block always fills before the deadline.
Click HERE to make your hotel reservation now! You can also make your reservation by calling 1-800-447-9825.
Hotel: Sheraton Grand Nashville Downtown
The NOVA Room Block Rate is $225 plus tax, per night, single or double occupancy, and is available three days prior and three days after the conference based upon room availability. Room reservations must be made by Monday February 18, 2019 for this rate to be honored.
As of February 6, 2019 the NOVA Room Block is sold out. Please find a list of alternative hotels HERE.
Click HERE to make your hotel reservation. You can also make your reservation by calling 1-800-447-9825.
Registration is NOW OPEN!
To register, simply choose which session(s) you'd like to attend below, and click "Purchase Tickets" - you will then be asked to provide some basic attendee information.
The first day, formerly known as the New Practitioners’ Session, is now our Basic Session. The Basic Session will cover important foundational concepts critical to a successful practice, such as an overview of VA benefits, how to get your client’s condition service connected, and how to develop and handle new evidence. Experienced practitioners can also find useful information in our Basic Session, e.g., maximizing your clients’ benefits and understanding the new appeals reform structure.
The second and third days, also known as our General Session, will cover Intermediate and Advanced Topics respectively, building on the themes of the Basic Session. Topics include more in-depth discussions on appeals reform, VA mailing and notice deficiencies, recent cases, and ethical issues. We are pleased to offer two sets of concurrent sessions as well, so attendees may enjoy an experience suitable to the needs of their practice.
Registration is now FULL for Thursday, March 21. We will not be able to accept any more registrations for Thursday. We apologize for the inconvenience. Please plan to join us on Friday and Saturday!
Registration Cancellation Policy:
Before March 1, 2019...........75% of fee paid will be returned
On or After March 1, 2019......No Refund (Seminar Materials will be provided)
Other Registration Information:
- Please note that the student registration rate is reserved for active full-time law students. If you possess a Law School/Student NOVA Membership as a Law Professor, please register under the NOVA Member Rate
- When completing your registration, please do so as you would like your name badge at the conference to read. We will also use the information provided on your registration to compile our list of seminar attendees that is distributed with conference materials. We do not use your NOVA member profile information.
- Please provide a unique email address for each attendee that is their own email, not that of their organization or staff. The email provided on the registration form will be used for all conference communication, including materials and CLE, and we want to ensure proper receipt.
Multi Registration Discount:
Organizations that register two or more individuals at the same time can apply the multi-registration discount. The discount is 10% off your final amount, or each registration. *Please note this discount does not apply to single registrations and can only be used if registering from the same firm at the same time.*
Discount Code: NASHVILLE19
NOVA does not provide hard copies of the conference materials on site. About 1-2 weeks before the conference, you will receive an email (to the email with which you registered) with a link to download the seminar materials. Some attendees, knowing that NOVA does not provide hard copies on-site, choose to print these out for easy reference. You may also copy the materials to your laptop or tablet, should you plan to bring one to the conference. We recommend you save or print your materials prior to arriving at the conference.
William G. Smith Scholarships
Scholarships have been created in memory of NOVA Founding Member William G. Smith, Esq., who provided leadership and support to countless practitioners in veterans’ law. Scholarships cover the cost of registration only and are available to individuals who are not financially able to attend, and who would not otherwise be able to attend the seminar due to financial hardship. These scholarships are designated for attorneys, non-attorney practitioners, law students, and also accredited veteran’s service representatives.
The deadline for scholarship applications for NOVA's 2019 Spring Conference has passed. Winners will be notified by March 2019.
For detailed session descriptions, visit our brochure by clicking HERE.
Basic Session - Thursday March 21
| 8:00-8:15 AM | Welcoming Remarks |
| 8:15-9:45 AM | Overview of VA Benefits Speaker: Anne Linscott, Esq. |
| 9:45-10:00 AM | BREAK |
| 10:00-11:00 AM |
How to Get Your Client's Condition Service Connected |
| 11:00 AM-12:00 PM | Communicating Effectively With VA Speaker: Brett Buchanan |
| 12:00-1:30 PM | LUNCH - On Your Own |
| 1:30-2:30 PM | Maximizing Benefits for Your Client Speaker: Stacey Clark, Esq. |
| 2:30-3:30 PM | Developing and Handling New Evidence Speaker: Kenny Dojaquez, Esq. |
| 3:30-3:45 PM | BREAK |
| 3:45-5:00 PM | Overview of Appeals Reform Speaker: Glenda Herl &Diane Boyd Rauber, Esq. |
| 5:00-5:15 PM | Q&A With All Speakers |
Intermediate Session - Friday March 22
| 8:00-8:15 AM | Welcoming Remarks |
| 8:15-9:15 AM | A Decision Matrix Under the New Appeals Process Speaker: Ken Carpenter, Esq. |
| 9:15-10:15 AM | Challenging VA Mailing and Notice Deficiencies Speaker: Sean Kendall, Esq., & Timothy Franklin, Esq. |
| 10:15-10:30 AM | BREAK |
| 10:30 AM-12:00 PM | Appeals Reform Panel with VA Guests Speakers: Cheryl Mason, Board of Veterans' Appeals, & David McLenachen, Appeals Management Office, Veterans Benefits Administration Moderator: Matthew Hill, Esq. |
| 12:00-1:30 PM | LUNCH - On Your Own |
| 1:30-2:30 PM |
Concurrent Sessions - choose one to attend: Winning the Orthopaedic Battle with VA: Focus on the Spine or Veterans Treatment Courts - Reintegrating Returning Veterans Into the Community |
| 2:30-2:45 PM | BREAK |
| 2:45-3:45 PM |
Concurrent Sessions - choose one to attend: Update on Toxic Exposure Issues or A Practical Guide to Winning TDIU |
| 4:00-5:00 PM | Post-Decisional Motions at the Board of Veterans' Appeals: Vacatur, Reconsideration, and Supplemental Decisions Speaker: Bradley Hennings, Esq. |
| 5:15 PM | NOVA Reception |
Advanced Session - Saturday March 23
| 7:45-8:15 AM | NOVA Awards Ceremony |
| 8:15-9:00 AM | Outreach, Regulatory, and Legislative Update Speaker: Diane Boyd Rauber, Esq. |
| 9:00-10:30 AM | Recent Cases and How to Use Them in Your Practice Speaker: Barbara Cook, Esq. |
| 10:30-10:45 AM | BREAK |
| 10:45 AM-12:00 PM |
Appeals Reform Panel |
| 12:00-1:00 PM |
LUNCH - On Your Own |
| 1:00-2:00 PM | Ethical Issues in Recent Court Cases Speakers: Chris Attig, Esq. & Todd Wesche, Esq. |
| 2:00-3:00 PM | Case Study Speaker: Matthew Hill, Esq. |
| 3:00-3:15 PM | Closing Remarks |
For detailed session descriptions, visit our brochure by clicking HERE.
Display the resources you have to offer those who serve our nation's veterans! Among NOVA’s greatest benefits are our semi-annual seminars, held to ensure that our members have the best tools and latest information so they may better serve their clients.
*Exhibitors are responsible for hotel room reservations and cancellations.
Reserve Your Table Now!
Access our Exhibitor Registration Form HERE to help you learn more about how you can display the resources you have to offer those who serve our nation's veterans! Questions? Contact us by clicking HERE.
Become a NOVA Sponsor
We are eager to work with you and help you publicize the resources you have available more effectively. By sponsoring one of the following events/items we offer at a NOVA Conference, your brand is sure to capture the attention of our attendees. The list below is just a sample of some of the sponsorship opportunities available, contact us for more!
- Power Strip Sponsor: $4,000
- Breakfast Sponsor: $2,500
- Name Badge Sponsor: $2,500
- Morning/Afternoon Break Sponsor: $1,000
- Reception Sponsor: $TBD
- Cookies Sponsor: $700
Organizations that register two or more individuals at the same time can apply the multi-registration discount. The discount is 10% off your final amount, or each registration. *Please note this discount does not apply to single registrations and can only be used if registering from the same firm at the same time.*
DISCOUNT CODE: NASHVILLE19
CLE credits vary by state and NOVA Programs are usually fully accepted. We have sign in sheets each day to record your attendance for CLE purposes.
At the conclusion of the conference, NOVA staff will calculate your CLE credit hours based on whether you signed in at the registration desk each morning and you will receive an email with necessary forms that you will then have to submit to your state bar or the VA.
If you are registered for our Spring Conference in Nashville, TN this March, please consider attending our speakers luncheon for the attendees on Thursday, March 21 at noon. NOVA will provide several tables with seats available for attendees, where discussion will be led by experienced NOVA presenters on conference topics such as Appeals Reform, Communicating Effectively with VA, Developing and Handling New Evidence, How to Get Client's Condition Service Connected, and more! Come interact with your colleagues and the presenter, discuss issues, and ask questions regarding the presenter's topic.
This luncheon requires a separate registration. As a result of hotel food and beverage requirements, we will not be able to accept on-site registrations for this luncheon.
Registration for the luncheon is now CLOSED.
The pulse of a city that lives and breathes music is present in every honky-tonk, every bar, and in the warm breeze coming off the Cumberland River. Experience the true heart of Nashville aboard Nashville’s Night Tour! It’s an evening filled with music, history, fun, and a close-up view of some of the most legendary spots in town: Printers Alley, Ryman Auditorium, Municipal Auditorium & Musicians Hall of Fame, Rhythm & Blues Heritage of Historic Jefferson Street, Elliston Place “Rock Block,” Music Row, Station Inn, and The Gulch.
You’ll explore the places that have set this city apart and the ones that pay homage to the many who have come here looking for fame and fortune. You’ll hear the stories and anecdotes full of the country charm and folksy wisdom that Music City is known for. From the city’s honky-tonks to its famous music venues, uncover insider stories and intriguing facts about the people, places, and events responsible for the city’s iconic reputation.
The tour takes approximately 2 hours to complete and includes a stop at a live music venue where a complimentary cocktail is included. * Note: The trolley does not stop at any other points of interest.
Price? $45 per person. The tickets are non-refundable.
Space is limited and first come, first serve. Register now!
Questions? Please email Meghan McNamer at the NOVA office.
When
Location
- Nashville, TN, USA
