General Overview
In May 2026, the legal services component of the Hero's Compass project continued to provide comprehensive legal support to veteran participants through a combination of in-person consultations during Hero's Compass programs, remote case management, and legal education activities.
The primary focus of the team's work was addressing veterans' legal needs, facilitating access to social benefits and entitlements, supporting interactions with government agencies, assisting with employment-related matters, and increasing participants' legal awareness.
The legal component remained active both during the programs and throughout the 10-week follow-up period. This allowed the team to identify urgent legal issues early, provide participants with clear action steps, and continue supporting cases that require longer-term work.
Legal Consultations During Hero's Compass Programs
Project attorneys participated in six Hero's Compass programs during the reporting period. Nataliia participated in one program, Anna in three programs, and Olha in two programs.
The legal team provided individual consultations and conducted initial assessments of participants' legal needs.
During the programs, more than 38 individual in-person consultations were conducted. These consultations enabled the team to identify critical legal issues, assess the urgency of each case, and develop plans for ongoing support.
The most common consultation topics included:
Military Medical Commission evaluations and appeals;
Obtaining and restoring personal documents;
Housing support and registration for housing benefits;
Compensation claims and social benefits;
Combat Veteran Status applications and related issues;
Pension benefits and recalculation of payments;
Employment and professional reintegration after military service, including résumé preparation.
Olha's detailed contribution report is still pending, as she is currently focused on supporting humanitarian aid operations. Her additional information will be included once submitted.
Remote Legal Support and Case Management
Following the completion of the programs, veterans continued to receive individualized assistance through the project's 10-week follow-up support program.
Throughout May:
Regular contact was maintained with participants from current and previous programs;
Legal cases and documentation were reviewed and analyzed;
Individualized recommendations and action plans were provided;
Progress in resolving legal matters was monitored.
As part of ongoing case management, the legal team reviewed more than 40 document packages, developed personalized legal action plans, and provided legal guidance tailored to veterans' individual circumstances.
Overall, the team conducted more than 40 online consultations and ensured continuous remote support for project participants.
In addition to providing legal assistance, Nataliia actively engaged in veteran rights advocacy. She served as a specialist bridging veterans' needs with legal requirements, helping reduce bureaucratic barriers and administrative denials.
Nataliia reported the following outcomes:
Military Medical Commission cases: developed appeal procedures and guidance for veterans whose rights had been violated;
Housing matters: prepared legal positions and recommendations for veterans applying for housing registration and compensation programs;
Pensions and documentation: supported veterans in restoring Combat Veteran Status certificates and obtaining pension recalculations.
Anna collected and prepared 10 high-quality résumés for the DTCare resource library. She also assisted participants in creating or improving their résumés by structuring professional experience, highlighting key skills, and preparing documents for practical use in employment searches.
Legal Education and Information Activities
In May, Anna facilitated three legal education sessions for project participants.
Through these activities, participants received essential legal information and had the opportunity to ask individual questions related to their personal circumstances.
Anna also prepared and distributed a presentation featuring current resources for employment opportunities and professional development.
Internal Coordination and Process Development
In addition to direct support for veterans, the legal team contributed to improving internal client support processes.
In particular, through Anna's efforts:
A structured tracking table for facilitators managing the 10-week follow-up program was developed and implemented;
Collection and organization of client requests was standardized;
The list of useful resources available to project participants was updated;
Coordination among team members was strengthened to improve service delivery and client support.
Management Notes
The most complex and time-consuming categories of cases remain Military Medical Commission appeals, housing-related matters, pension recalculations, and document restoration.
Many cases require continuous follow-up, as participants often face bureaucratic delays, incomplete documentation, or unclear procedures when interacting with state institutions.
Employment-related support is also becoming a visible area of need, especially for veterans preparing for professional reintegration after military service.
The development of internal tracking tools improved coordination between legal specialists, facilitators, and the 10-week follow-up process.
Conclusion
In May 2026, the legal services component of the Hero's Compass project provided continuous and comprehensive support to veterans both during Hero's Compass programs and through long-term individualized follow-up services.
The combination of legal consultations, document review, educational activities, and case management enabled the team to respond effectively to veterans' needs, increase legal awareness, and support the realization of rights and benefits guaranteed under Ukrainian law.
Most cases remain active and continue to be monitored. Ongoing legal support is being provided until participants' issues are fully resolved.