Board of Veterans Appeals (Attorney Advisor)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For anyone interested in training their own chat bot, you can grab decisions from here: https://search.usa.gov/search?query=tinnitus&affiliate=bvadecisions&start_date=2024-01-01&end_date=2025-01-23.

Example search goes to tinnitus decisions published between 1/1/24 and 1/23/25. You can edit the search for your judge, disability, time, etc.

Drop those into your AI tool of choice and instruct your AI to use this as its resource and to cite to the citation number when responding, and to use the CFR and USC, and not secondary authority like other websites. If you're using GPT, you can reduce the AI's creativity (hallucinations) by telling it to tell you it cannot find what you're looking for, instead of trying to please you by creating answers or trying to synthesize or provide close answers. Instead, tell it to prompt you with the option to expand your search criteria.

You'll also need to tell it to search through the entire CFR. Otherwise, when you ask it a question about something like effective date, it'll stop at the first answer instead of continuing to read and getting to the section on notice of intent to file. Think of AI like a lazy 1L.

For the upload, GPT worked fine when I combined the .txt files into a single PDF with a bookmark for each file (done automatically by my PDF software) and uploaded it. Keep track of the subjects and dates the decisions are from, and then you can make adjustments when new controlling case law comes out, or when your judge decides to switch up their templates.

This is so much faster than Research Tools and you don't need to use terms and connectors.

Why would you need to create your whole new Research instrument with all of the information that is already available? Is the purpose to avoid having to learn the law yourself?

I don't see the need for this when there is ample information available on Research Tools. This is just basically reinventing Research Tools in a different form. Research Tools is very simple and fast if you have a good idea of what you are looking for.

[Anonymous]

Research Tools uses terms and connectors, which is outdated tech. LLM allows more robust, faster, and better research. That's why all commercial research services are moving (have moved, really) to it.

It's not about learning or avoiding learning, it's about speed and thoroughness of the research, which you cannot get on RT unless you want to read a ton of cases.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Immediate BVA concerns: RIF, RTO, squashing union protections, whatever the hell “anti-Christian bias” is

Not an immediate concern: AI

+ 1000, particularly in light of the DRP/VERA update email yesterday

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Research Tools uses terms and connectors, which is outdated tech. LLM allows more robust, faster, and better research. That's why all commercial research services are moving (have moved, really) to it.

It's not about learning or avoiding learning, it's about speed and thoroughness of the research, which you cannot get on RT unless you want to read a ton of cases.

OK I am not clear why you need AI to do research for you if you know the law. You should not have to run random searches of CFR for every case unless you truly have no memory of what you have written in the past and have no clue what is in the CFR.

[Anonymous]

What do people think will happen with RTO for attorneys who aren’t within 50 miles of DC or for those of us working remotely more than 50 miles of DC? Is remote work dead? If they’re going to increase the quota without union protections & with more rigorous check ins (the union has told us of these plans over the past few years so it’s not really speculation as they now have the opportunity) with the loss of remote work or having the get ready & commute back & forth everyday, potentially long distances — I don’t see how this will be sustainable for attorneys or judges, even for the quickest or the best. We’ll be commuting & working all day. If we can’t work from home, we’ll have to work unpaid overtime at the office. Completely unsustainable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What do people think will happen with RTO for attorneys who aren’t within 50 miles of DC or for those of us working remotely more than 50 miles of DC? Is remote work dead? If they’re going to increase the quota without union protections & with more rigorous check ins (the union has told us of these plans over the past few years so it’s not really speculation as they now have the opportunity) with the loss of remote work or having the get ready & commute back & forth everyday, potentially long distances — I don’t see how this will be sustainable for attorneys or judges, even for the quickest or the best. We’ll be commuting & working all day. If we can’t work from home, we’ll have to work unpaid overtime at the office. Completely unsustainable.

I love RTO. Everyone should bring some Pringles and mingle.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What do people think will happen with RTO for attorneys who aren’t within 50 miles of DC or for those of us working remotely more than 50 miles of DC? Is remote work dead? If they’re going to increase the quota without union protections & with more rigorous check ins (the union has told us of these plans over the past few years so it’s not really speculation as they now have the opportunity) with the loss of remote work or having the get ready & commute back & forth everyday, potentially long distances — I don’t see how this will be sustainable for attorneys or judges, even for the quickest or the best. We’ll be commuting & working all day. If we can’t work from home, we’ll have to work unpaid overtime at the office. Completely unsustainable.

The realistic and dispassionate prediction is that there will be waves of resignations as employees reach the limit of their tolerance for deteriorating working conditions. That's what the highest level of leadership wants (they've been explicit about that). I really don't think it's what local leadership wants. We'll see who wins out in the next couple of months.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What do people think will happen with RTO for attorneys who aren’t within 50 miles of DC or for those of us working remotely more than 50 miles of DC? Is remote work dead? If they’re going to increase the quota without union protections & with more rigorous check ins (the union has told us of these plans over the past few years so it’s not really speculation as they now have the opportunity) with the loss of remote work or having the get ready & commute back & forth everyday, potentially long distances — I don’t see how this will be sustainable for attorneys or judges, even for the quickest or the best. We’ll be commuting & working all day. If we can’t work from home, we’ll have to work unpaid overtime at the office. Completely unsustainable.

The realistic and dispassionate prediction is that there will be waves of resignations as employees reach the limit of their tolerance for deteriorating working conditions. That's what the highest level of leadership wants (they've been explicit about that). I really don't think it's what local leadership wants. We'll see who wins out in the next couple of months.

Be realistic. Where would BVA attorneys go after they resign? VA disability law isn’t exactly transferable to in demand legal specialties.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What do people think will happen with RTO for attorneys who aren’t within 50 miles of DC or for those of us working remotely more than 50 miles of DC? Is remote work dead? If they’re going to increase the quota without union protections & with more rigorous check ins (the union has told us of these plans over the past few years so it’s not really speculation as they now have the opportunity) with the loss of remote work or having the get ready & commute back & forth everyday, potentially long distances — I don’t see how this will be sustainable for attorneys or judges, even for the quickest or the best. We’ll be commuting & working all day. If we can’t work from home, we’ll have to work unpaid overtime at the office. Completely unsustainable.

The realistic and dispassionate prediction is that there will be waves of resignations as employees reach the limit of their tolerance for deteriorating working conditions. That's what the highest level of leadership wants (they've been explicit about that). I really don't think it's what local leadership wants. We'll see who wins out in the next couple of months.

Be realistic. Where would BVA attorneys go after they resign? VA disability law isn’t exactly transferable to in demand legal specialties.

Secretary Collins, is that you?

Asking, "If you leave, where will you go?" is a cult mind control tactic to stop independent thinking. After Board attorneys resign, they will go forth and live their lives. Working for the Board will quickly become a distant memory.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What do people think will happen with RTO for attorneys who aren’t within 50 miles of DC or for those of us working remotely more than 50 miles of DC? Is remote work dead? If they’re going to increase the quota without union protections & with more rigorous check ins (the union has told us of these plans over the past few years so it’s not really speculation as they now have the opportunity) with the loss of remote work or having the get ready & commute back & forth everyday, potentially long distances — I don’t see how this will be sustainable for attorneys or judges, even for the quickest or the best. We’ll be commuting & working all day. If we can’t work from home, we’ll have to work unpaid overtime at the office. Completely unsustainable.

The realistic and dispassionate prediction is that there will be waves of resignations as employees reach the limit of their tolerance for deteriorating working conditions. That's what the highest level of leadership wants (they've been explicit about that). I really don't think it's what local leadership wants. We'll see who wins out in the next couple of months.

Be realistic. Where would BVA attorneys go after they resign? VA disability law isn’t exactly transferable to in demand legal specialties.

Silly goose, I’ve gotten multiple calls trying to get me back to private practice already. If I have to work in person, I’m not taking the fed gov pay cut.

[Anonymous]

BVA work is easily transferable to SSA disability, workers comp, and areas of law that require knowledge of medical issues. There is also entry level legal work, which would not require prior experience.

You could also hang your own shingle and go for CAVC work and EAJA fees. You would win 9/10 cases just being average and probably more with substantial BVA experience. The only hard part is getting clients, but there are certainly a lot of veterans who could use representation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What do people think will happen with RTO for attorneys who aren’t within 50 miles of DC or for those of us working remotely more than 50 miles of DC? Is remote work dead? If they’re going to increase the quota without union protections & with more rigorous check ins (the union has told us of these plans over the past few years so it’s not really speculation as they now have the opportunity) with the loss of remote work or having the get ready & commute back & forth everyday, potentially long distances — I don’t see how this will be sustainable for attorneys or judges, even for the quickest or the best. We’ll be commuting & working all day. If we can’t work from home, we’ll have to work unpaid overtime at the office. Completely unsustainable.

The administration declared remote work does not exist so they are going to fire anyone who can't report to an office. Things like the effect on veterans services don't factor into any of these firing decisions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:BVA work is easily transferable to SSA disability, workers comp, and areas of law that require knowledge of medical issues. There is also entry level legal work, which would not require prior experience.

You could also hang your own shingle and go for CAVC work and EAJA fees. You would win 9/10 cases just being average and probably more with substantial BVA experience. The only hard part is getting clients, but there are certainly a lot of veterans who could use representation.

SSA disability and workers comp aren’t high paying fields. You won’t break $100k.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What do people think will happen with RTO for attorneys who aren’t within 50 miles of DC or for those of us working remotely more than 50 miles of DC? Is remote work dead? If they’re going to increase the quota without union protections & with more rigorous check ins (the union has told us of these plans over the past few years so it’s not really speculation as they now have the opportunity) with the loss of remote work or having the get ready & commute back & forth everyday, potentially long distances — I don’t see how this will be sustainable for attorneys or judges, even for the quickest or the best. We’ll be commuting & working all day. If we can’t work from home, we’ll have to work unpaid overtime at the office. Completely unsustainable.

The administration declared remote work does not exist so they are going to fire anyone who can't report to an office. Things like the effect on veterans services don't factor into any of these firing decisions.

Not at BVA. We are not currently reporting to the office because there is no space. Theree are managers and a few attorneys at 425 Eye St, but most people are remote.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What do people think will happen with RTO for attorneys who aren’t within 50 miles of DC or for those of us working remotely more than 50 miles of DC? Is remote work dead? If they’re going to increase the quota without union protections & with more rigorous check ins (the union has told us of these plans over the past few years so it’s not really speculation as they now have the opportunity) with the loss of remote work or having the get ready & commute back & forth everyday, potentially long distances — I don’t see how this will be sustainable for attorneys or judges, even for the quickest or the best. We’ll be commuting & working all day. If we can’t work from home, we’ll have to work unpaid overtime at the office. Completely unsustainable.

The administration declared remote work does not exist so they are going to fire anyone who can't report to an office. Things like the effect on veterans services don't factor into any of these firing decisions.

Not at BVA. We are not currently reporting to the office because there is no space. Theree are managers and a few attorneys at 425 Eye St, but most people are remote.

so I oftened wondered where all the lawyers work.

now I know.

I still don't know what they actually do. Seems to me just fire 50% and see what happens. I have never met a lawyer yet that could run a business.