The NOVA 2025 Spring Conference will be held in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and will be a hybrid event. We have an exciting program designed for both new and experienced veterans law practitioners! 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 you join us!

Register for Spring Conference Here

We are pleased to announce that there will be a Wednesday Welcome Social Hour from 6-8pm on April 2, providing an added opportunity for networking before the conference begins. Whether you are a first-time attendee or a conference regular, you are invited to socialize with fellow attendees thanks to our sponsors Werner Hoffman Greig & Garcia and Mednick Associates.

We will host our General Session and Exhibits on Thursday & Friday (4/3 & 4/4). The NOVA reception will be held on Thursday evening, and we will host a speaker Q&A session at the end of the day on Friday.

Our Workshop Session will be held on Saturday, 4/5. Lunch will be provided. Attendees will attend 4 sessions (out of 5 options), and will be required to rank the sessions in their order of preference after registration. A personalized schedule of your session assignments will be available in your badge holder. Because these sessions are designed for small groups, there will be ample opportunity for questions/discussion with the presenters and your fellow attendees.

Hybrid Option: For the 2025 Spring conference, NOVA will offer a hybrid option for our General Session ONLY on Thursday and Friday (4/3 & 4/4). Attendees who are unable to travel to attend the conference in person can register to attend via our virtual platform. Please note, due to the format of the Workshop Sessions, which will be held on Saturday (4/5), we are UNABLE to offer a hybrid option for that day.

Conference Videos:  In-person attendees will have the opportunity to purchase conference videos at the time of registration for the discounted rate of $50. NOVA does not record guest speakers or the Saturday workshop sessions, so videos of those sessions will NOT be included. Please be sure to purchase the registration ticket plus videos option when registering. Please note that the videos will be sent to the email with which you registered for the event, a few weeks following the conference. 

Cancellation Policies: Please note our registration cancellation policies:

Registration Cancellation Policy:

• Before February 13, 2025 - 75% of fee paid will be returned
• Beginning February 13 through March 13, 2025 - 50% of fee paid will be returned
• On or After March 14, 2025 - No Refund (seminar materials will be provided)

Registration Transfer Policy: 
If you would like to transfer your registration from in-person to virtual or virtual to in-person attendance, you will be assessed $149 for administering this change.

On-site Reminders:  NOVA negotiates free Wi-Fi for attendees at our conferences as a courtesy.  The Wi-Fi that is provided free of charge only includes bandwidth for basic internet browsing and the ability to check email.  It is NOT enough bandwidth for downloading conference materials onsite, using a VPN connection, or streaming videos during the conference.  We ask that attendees be mindful of the limitations of the free Wi-Fi onsite and be sure to download your conference materials before arriving. 

NOVA also works with the hotel and Pelican Productions to supply power strips to attendees.  The power strips are scattered throughout the meeting space for attendees use.  We ask that you arrive to the meeting room with fully charged devices.  Please DO NOT move the power strip closer to your seat as they are placed so that multiple seats will have access to the strip.  Finally, we will not provide power strips for the Workshop Sessions on Saturday - please plan accordingly.

Finally, the temperature in hotel ballrooms tends to fluctuate throughout the day and can go from hot to cold (and back again) quickly.  Please plan accordingly and dress in layers so you can adjust to the fluctuating temperatures.

Congratulations to Kailey King, who received the NOVA Pro Bono Advocate of the Year Award at NOVA’s Spring 2024 Conference! The Pro Bono Advocate award is presented to recognize achievements and a continuing pattern of excellence in providing pro bono assistance to veterans and their families. 

This year’s recipient is the Manager of Operation Stand Down Rhode Island’s VA Disability Claims Unit. Operation Stand Down is Rhode Island’s primary nonprofit resource for homeless and at-risk veterans.  Their mission is to strengthen the veteran community by providing crucial wrap-around services.

She assumed her current position with OSDRI in 2019. Prior to joining OSDRI, she was the managing attorney for the VA division at Rob Levine & Associates, where she established a division dedicated to helping veterans in their pursuit of VA disability compensation for injuries sustained during military service. She is an active member of NOVA and the granddaughter of two Korean War Era Veterans.  She graduated from Roger Williams University in 2010 with a B.A. in Legal Studies and Clinical Psychology. She went on to attend Roger Williams University School of Law.

NOVA members note that “Kailey has demonstrated exceptional adaptability, tending to the needs of those facing significant challenges and committing herself to serving the homeless and at-risk population. Her journey from private practice to public service has been inspiring and commendable to witness, and the transition was not a career move but a commitment to a cause greater than herself.”

Thank you, Kailey, for your tireless pro advocacy on behalf of our nation’s veterans!

Congratulations to Katrina Eagle and Jim Radogna, who were presented with the Veterans Community Service Award at NOVA’s 2024 Spring Conference!

This award is presented to a person or organization that has provided outstanding service to America’s veterans, or to programs and legislation which positively affects America’s veterans. 

Together, Katrina and Jim represent veterans and their family members before all 58 VA Regional Offices, the Board of Veterans’ Appeals, the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims as well as the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. They also work together to develop curriculum and training materials, as well as co-present at various state and national Veterans Service Officer conferences.

Katrina has been representing veterans nationwide for 25 years and serves as an Education Consultant for the CA County Veterans Service Officers, providing training and counsel to CVSOs in all 58 CA counties, as well as co-trainer for the National CVSO’s Certified Veterans Advocate program.

Jim is a VA Accredited Claims Agent and currently serves as co-coordinator of the National Association of County Veteran Service Officers’ Certified Veterans Advocate program and as Education Consultant for the California Association of County Veterans Service Officers.

As one NOVA member said: “They share their knowledge and experience so freely; I feel they have cut years off my learning curve, and they have been nothing but helpful and approachable every time I've had a question. I think they are really good role models as advocates and people. Their presentations at the NOVA conferences are highlights, to be sure.”

We are thrilled to honor Katrina and Jim with the Veterans Community Service Award!

Congratulations to Matthew Hill who received the Kenneth M. Carpenter Award for Excellence at NOVA’s 2024 Fall Conference!

This award is given to an outstanding NOVA member whose exemplary advocacy on behalf of veterans is admired by all.  This year’s recipient has over 15 years of experience as a VA attorney whose practice focuses on representing disabled veterans. He is a recognized authority on VA law, licensed to practice before the United States District Court in and for the Middle District of Florida, as well as the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims.

After graduating from law school, he served as a Judicial Law Clerk to The Honorable Anne C. Conway, U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, and assisted Judge Conway when she sat by designation with the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta, Georgia.

He has authored several books on VA service-connected benefits and presents across the nation on VA disability compensation. He was a long-time member of NOVA’s board, serving on the Executive Committee as Treasurer.

His colleagues describe him as an innovative educator, who uses technology such as weekly livestreams on YouTube to conduct Q&A with Veterans concerning their claims, as well as blogs and vlogs covering every type of claim, how to file, what to look for in decisions, filing appeals, and a vast amount of medical information.

He has also created forums where veterans can ask questions of attorneys and get answers and education at no cost. His goal is to be able to help as many veterans as possible file and appeal their claims and win their cases.

Congratulations, Matthew!!