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Serving Those Who Serve. Free Legal Help for Veterans and Active-Duty Service Members

Military Matters, a program of KCMBF, provides free and reduced-fee legal services to veterans and active-duty service members across the Kansas City metropolitan area. Since 2015:

2,153 legal matters handled
7,697 pro bono hours
volunteered
$2.29 million in free legal services
delivered

militarymatterskc.org


  

8th Annual VeteRUN 5k

Saturday, August 15, 2026 | 8:00 AM
Location: National World War I Museum and Memorial

The VeteRUN 5K is the primary annual fundraising event for Military Matters. Proceeds support free and reduced-fee legal services for veterans and active-duty service members throughout the Kansas City area.

Join us for the 8th annual VeteRUN 5K Run/Walk and help us continue serving those who have served our country.

Register Now

Sponsor the Event

Show your support for veterans and make a direct impact by sponsoring the VeteRUN 5K.

View Sponsorship Opportunities

Volunteer Opportunities

We welcome volunteers to help make this event a success, email us at [email protected]



Thank You to Our 2026 Military Matters Committee Leaders!

We are grateful to the dedicated leaders who guide Military Matters and help ensure our programs continue to serve veterans and active-duty service members in the Kansas City area.



Are You an Attorney? Help fill the gap in legal assistance available to service members and veterans in our service area. Providing pro bono service through Military Matters also satisfies the Jackson County Juvenile appointment program requirement for one year. 

 Visit the Court Website Read the Administrative Order

Join the Military Matters Legal Team 


 Military Matters Pro Bono Spotlight

Each month, Military Matters highlights a volunteer attorney who goes above and beyond in serving service members and veterans in the Kansas City community. This recognition celebrates the outstanding work of the hundreds of pro bono volunteer attorneys within the Military Matters Legal Team.

Spotlight on Shannon A. Sorensen

KCMBF’s Military Matters is proud to shine this month’s Pro Bono Spotlight on Shannon Sorensen! We spoke with Shannon about her volunteerism and what drives her to support clients at her practice.

When did you get involved with Military Matters?

I got involved in 2017.


Who or what catalyzed your desire to work in the legal field?

My first experience in law school working in non-profit with DV victims.  Public service early on in my career helped me to realize the need for legal representation of the less fortunate.  Additionally, attending a Jesuit law school, the emphasis of helping others was at the forefront of our education.  


Can you share a particularly rewarding experience providing counsel to a client?

Helping a client who was married to a person suffering from severe substance abuse issues to get them and their children out of that situation and financially secured to start over.  


What provides you with fortitude when managing a dense caseload?

Making sure to take time for self-care and time away from the office.


How would you encourage a peer to volunteer for a pro bono or low bono legal aid service?

Pointing out how rewarding it is to help others less fortunate and how grateful they are for our assistance.

Explore past Military Matters Pro Bono Spotlights


Are You a Current Volunteer Attorney?

 Login to Your Military Matters Account

Volunteer attorneys are encouraged to watch the 2021 Military Matters Training Webinar, which includes:

  • An overview of the program’s success to date

  • A walkthrough of the referral software

  • An explanation of how the system works and what it means for you

Military Matters Digital Kick-Off Video

Annual Military Matters Symposium

The 12th Annual Military Matters Symposium will be held in November 2026 at KCMBF's Event Center. Additional details will be announced soon.

For more than a decade, the Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Foundation has convened the Military Matters Symposium for attorneys, advocates, and professionals dedicated to serving veterans and active-duty military members. We look forward to gathering again in 2026 to continue this important work. 

Military Matters responds by bringing together front-line practitioners with firsthand knowledge of these challenges. The Symposium fosters discussion of practical solutions, innovative strategies, and collaborative approaches that create meaningful, positive change for those who have served our country. 

Explore Past Year Topics and Speakers

 


Donate to Military Matters and Change Lives

Your donation helps Military Matters continue to grow and serve more service members and veterans. Contributions support:

  • Filing fees, expert testimony, and other court costs

  • Training materials for attorneys handling VA benefit claims

  • Expansion of pro bono services to meet community needs

DONATE NOW

 

To volunteer in other capacities, please contact the Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Foundation at [email protected] or (816) 474-4322