Caroline Krass, DOD GC, with the US delegation at a NATO conference for legal advisers. Front row: Ms. Sabeena Rajpal (State/L); CDR Meredith Werner, JAGC, USN (Legal Adviser to the UNITED STATES-NATO Delegation); HON Caroline Krass (DoD GC); CAPT Lia Reynolds, JAGC, USN (DoD OGC) Second row: Mr. Rich Visek (Acting Legal Counsel to the Department of State); The military lawyers of Mr. Matt Thrasher (DoD OGC) are part of the Judge Advocate General Corps (JAG). JAR can offer assistance in legal and non-legal matters such as contract law, immigration law, divorce, wills, notarial services, etc. There is no charge for services provided by military legal aid offices. All services provided by a lawyer specializing in military legal assistance are free of charge for eligible personnel. If your legal issue involves costs or fees (e.g., a filing fee to file a case with the court), you will likely have to pay that fee. Many civil law cases can be handled by a lawyer who specializes in military legal assistance at no cost to military personnel. Civil matters include landlord-tenant disputes, wills and trusts, family law (including divorce, separation, custody and child benefits), naturalization, consumer issues (including debt collection, consumer fraud, identity theft), powers of attorney, advanced medical policies (living wills), and claiming your rights under the Assistance Act civilian to the military. The following questions and answers should guide you on these topics. If you need to write your will, consider signing a lease, or need a power of attorney or notarized signature, you`ll need legal counsel, and the best military members and their families will have access to a lawyer, absolutely free! Veterans are not eligible for these services.
In general, legal assistance is provided to the following groups: Each military service has specific rules regarding the scope of the legal assistance it provides. For more information, please contact your legal advice centre. Visit the Armed Forces Legal Assistance website. This page contains a locator based on the postal code. Even if you don`t live near military installations, start with the locator. There may be a smaller legal advice office nearby that you don`t know anything about. If there are no legal advice offices in your area, you should contact a local legal clinic, which is often sponsored by law schools and offers free legal services to military personnel. Another option is to contact your local legal advice office or bar association to find out if you offer free or low-cost services to military personnel. Finally, find out if your state`s attorney general`s office offers free civilian services to military personnel. You can view lists of these programs by state in our program directory. Yes. There are also legal areas in which a military attorney may not be able to help you, including: Military legal assistance may also be available for survivors of eligible soldiers and retirees, certain foreign civilian employees and their family members, as well as members of the Allied Armed Forces serving in the U.S.
Armed Forces at CONUS and their family members. Contact your nearest military legal aid office for more information on eligibility. Legal assistance is provided on the basis of available resources and staff. The ABA provides a resource for military legal aid lawyers, the ABA Military Pro Bono project, which helps military lawyers easily connect their clients with pro bono lawyers who are represented free of charge. Legal advisors can be found on almost any base, ship and facility. If you are having trouble finding legal counsel, you can find the office in your area by visiting one of the following websites: For these types of legal matters, you will need to contact a civil lawyer for assistance. In our program directory, you will find programs in your area that you can connect with a civil lawyer. Yes. You are entitled to the same services provided to active staff – subject to the availability of legal advisors. Active duty personnel, particularly those at the lower levels and those preparing for deployment, have the highest priority. Legal advisors can provide you with legal advice and assistance in a number of areas of law, including: Yes, it is possible.
Reservists who have been activated, preparing for deployment, or have recently returned from deployment, and Members of the National Guard who have been on active duty for thirty days or more, as well as their family members with DoD ID cards, are eligible for legal assistance. Retired military personnel and their dependents with DoD ID cards are also eligible, subject to the availability of resources. Be aware and get what you are entitled to. Keep up to date with all the legal benefits available to you as a member of the military, veteran or spouse, and receive updates directly in your inbox by subscribing to Military.com. You must first contact the nearest military legal aid office to make an appointment. Don`t JUST ask for help at the nearest legal advice centre in your service area.