Stephanie Costello

Practice Focus

Stephanie Costello is a Veterans Disability Attorney at Berry Law in the firm’s Omaha, Nebraska, office. As a VA-accredited attorney, she focuses her practice on helping Veterans and their families pursue the disability benefits they earned through service. Her work centers on reviewing claims, developing appeals, and guiding clients through a system that can feel technical, slow-moving, and difficult to navigate without strong legal support. She approaches that work with a combination of careful legal analysis, direct communication, and a clear sense that each case carries real consequences for a Veteran’s health, stability, and future.

Stephanie is admitted to practice in Nebraska and Iowa, as well as the United States District Court for the District of Nebraska, the Southern District of Iowa, the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. In addition to her client work, she has contributed to the field through writing, including publications on the Appeals Modernization Act and attorney well-being, demonstrating both subject-matter depth and an interest in strengthening the practice of Veterans advocacy more broadly.

Role at Berry Law

At Berry Law, Stephanie combines individual advocacy with leadership and mentorship. She not only helps Veterans pursue benefits for service-connected conditions but also teaches and supports others in their efforts to do the same. That dual role reflects a practice built on both service and standards: rigorous case preparation, strong written advocacy, and a commitment to helping clients feel informed throughout the process. She believes an appeal is never just another assignment. For the person waiting for an answer from the VA, the outcome can materially change daily life, financial security, and access to treatment.

That perspective aligns closely with Berry Law’s mission. Stephanie chose the firm because it was built by Veterans, for Veterans, and because its leadership shares her belief that those who served deserve exceptional legal representation and a genuinely client-centered experience. She values the firm’s systems for keeping clients updated on the status of their claims and ensuring they know their cases are being actively managed. For Stephanie, strong advocacy and strong service are inseparable; clients should receive both thoughtful legal work and the reassurance that their case matters.

Service to Veterans

Stephanie’s commitment to Veterans is rooted in a lifelong desire to help people. She views her advocacy as a way to serve those who serve because she was not able to serve herself. Although she has not personally gone through the VA disability process, she has seen how many Veterans live for years with service-connected conditions before seeking the benefits and resources they have already earned. That reality motivates her to advocate with urgency, care, and persistence.

One of the most meaningful moments in her work involved helping a homeless Veteran secure service connection for a mental health condition, enabling him to leave the streets and obtain treatment. Experiences like that reinforce why this work matters and why Stephanie remains committed to it. She strives to be both thorough and approachable, so clients feel heard, informed, and supported throughout the appeals process. She also finds it deeply rewarding to watch younger attorneys grow in this practice and to see, through their own work, the concrete impact that effective Veterans advocacy can have on individual lives, families, and the broader community.

Background & Interests

Her legal training, writing background, and appellate-oriented practice make her especially well suited to the detailed analysis and persuasive communication that Veterans disability cases often require.

Her accomplishments span both academic and professional settings. She also serves on the Nebraska Lawyers Assistance Committee through the Nebraska Bar Association. Outside of work, Stephanie enjoys spending time with her husband and two children, following their activities, reading widely across nonfiction, romance, science fiction, and fantasy, and watching sports—especially the Green Bay Packers, the Tampa Bay Rays, and the South Florida Bulls. She also enjoys playing with her two rescue dogs, interests that reflect the same energy, warmth, and steadiness she brings to her work with clients.