Veterans Services

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Attorney Jacalyn Crecelius, who leads Jacksonville Area Legal Aid’s Veterans Legal Services Unit, has received Veterans Administration accreditation, a qualification that helps ensure claimants have access to responsible and qualified representation on their VA benefits claims. “This accreditation opens up major opportunities to serve northeast Florida veterans and their families,” Crecelius said. “There are so many underserved veterans who aren’t receiving the VA benefits they deserve, and I’m excited to be able to advocate for them in a notoriously complicated system.” With accreditation, Crecelius can represent claimants after the VA has issued an initial decision on a claim. She can help them further develop evidence to support their claim and devise legal arguments on their behalf to submit to VA. She can also help clients navigate the VA appeals process. “JALA is thrilled to have a VA-accredited attorney to better serve our veterans,” JALA President and CEO Jim Kowalski said. “VA studies have found that civil legal assistance is among the top unmet needs of unhoused veterans, and the affordable housing crisis has only increased the challenges faced by our veterans. Access to veterans’ benefits is critical to providing all low-income veterans with stability.”

Attorney Jacalyn Crecelius is the new leader of the Veterans Legal Services Unit at Jacksonville Area Legal Aid. The program began in 2019 in connection with the Florida Veterans Legal Helpline funded through the state Department of Veterans Affairs. "My goal is to further develop the unit into one that veterans and those advocating for them know they can trust for honest, strong and compassionate support,” Crecelius said. Before joining JALA, Crecelius practiced family law, security clearance defense and insurance and health care law with Florida Women’s Law Group and The Edmunds Law Firm. 

Attorney Jacalyn Crecelius has joined Jacksonville Area Legal Aid as leader of its Veterans Legal Services Unit, which launched in 2019 in connection with a statewide Florida Veterans Legal Helpline funded through the Florida Department of Veterans Affairs. “I'm thankful for the opportunity to serve as the Veterans attorney with JALA,” Crecelius said. “My goal is to further develop the unit into one that veterans and those advocating for them know they can trust for honest, strong, and compassionate support.” Prior to working at JALA, Crecelius worked as an attorney in the areas of family law, security clearance defense, and insurance/healthcare law. She has practiced locally with Florida Women’s Law Group and The Edmunds Law Firm.

A comprehensive survey of First Coast veterans is underway, aiming to identify critical needs in the community for veterans and their families. The anonymous 2022 Northeast Florida Veteran and Family Needs Assessment is the product of Endeavors, a nonprofit that conducts relief programs, including veterans services. Endeavors is partnering with Jacksonville, the University of North Florida and the Combined Arms Institute. Endeavors, which also aims to build a veterans wellness center in Jacksonville using city dollars along with state and federal grants, is funding the survey. Combined Arms is providing metrics and analysis, as well as a public report based on the data to be released in November. The assessment is being conducted and reviewed by UNF's Center for Community Initiatives. Jacksonville officials will help facilitate outreach and potentially use the data for future policy decisions.