News
Test
Friday, August 21, 2015
- Mike
ABA Military Pro Bono Project
2014 Summer Newsletter
Military Attorneys
Read the latest information about the following:
- Referring cases to the Military Pro Bono Project
- Using Operation Stand–By for attorney–to–attorney guidance
- Locating resources and local programs on ABAHomeFront.org
- Educational resources: CLE’s, webcasts, and books
- Dialogue: News and Perspectives from the ABA Division for Legal Services
- Free and discounted ABA memberships for military attorneys
ABA Military Pro Bono Project: Referring Cases
The ABA Military Pro Bono Project accepts case referrals directly from military legal assistance offices anywhere in the world on behalf of junior–enlisted servicemembers facing civil legal issues, and it places these cases with pro bono attorneys where the legal assistance is needed in the United States.
Thank you to those who have used the Military Pro Bono Project's case referral system. The Project's ongoing success depends on your continued participation. Based on case–closing data provided by the Project's volunteer attorneys, over 4,300 billable hours of pro bono service for our servicemembers, valued at over $1.2 million, were donated in 2013. Read some of the case stories to see how our volunteers are helping.
How can you submit a client's case to the Military Pro Bono Project?
- After registered on the Project's website, you can submit case referral forms on behalf of your junior–enlisted servicemember clients. Log onto the Project's website to submit case referrals under the "For Military Attorneys" tab. Also, please review the Project's referral guidelines, because we count on you to refer only the most meritorious and deserving clients.
Operation Stand–By: Receiving Guidance from Civilian Attorneys
The ABA Military Pro Bono Project also includes Operation Stand–By, through which you may contact civilian attorneys with legal questions relating to their geographic areas and substantive areas of expertise for attorney–to–attorney advice, so you can receive guidance that will help you further advise and assist your servicemember clients.
Civilian attorneys are eager to help! Over 600 civilian attorneys across the nation have registered to participate. However, a previous survey indicates that approximately 70% of the civilian attorneys who are registered with Operation Stand–By would like to be contacted more frequently by military attorneys who need attorney–to–attorney guidance. In particular, those with expertise outside of family law are available to help more.
Please follow the guidelines! The Operation Stand–By lists are accessible by military attorneys who are registered with the Military Pro Bono Project. Clients should not communicate directly with Operation Stand–By volunteers, you may not provide any information from the Operation Stand–By lists to your clients or other individuals, and you may not contact these attorneys to seek pro bono representation for your clients. Please read the Operation Stand–By guidelines.
Did you complete the survey? If you have not already, please complete the Operation Stand–By Survey: Military Attorneys. We appreciate your feedback.
ABA Home Front is an online resource, on www.ABAHomeFront.org, designed to help military members, veterans, and their families find legal information, referrals, and representation for civil legal matters. The ABA Home Front website includes the following:
Directory of Programs
The Directory of Programs is a national, state–by–state guide to the free and low–cost legal service programs available to assist veterans, servicemembers, and their families with all types of civil legal problems. The Directory features contact information and descriptions for military legal assistance offices, legal aid and pro bono programs, lawyer referral services, and local military–specific legal programs.
Information Center
The Information Center features short, easily understood articles on matters of interest to military members, including: (1) considerations when hiring a lawyer; (2) eligibility for free services through military legal assistance offices; (3) family law matters; and (4) legal protections available under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act.
Educational Resources
CLE Program
- Did you know that the ABA Standing Committee on Legal Assistance for Military Personnel (LAMP) consistently hosts free CLE courses? Visit the LAMP CLE webpage for information about upcoming CLE programs, along with educational materials from previous CLE courses.
Useful Books
The men and women in uniform who risk their lives to defend our nation are targeted by certain types of sales, scams and abusive commercial practices with appalling frequency. They deserve better. This book, Ripped Off!, is an important tool to ensure that our military personnel are educated about these scams so that rip offs can be recognized and prevented. Written by Michael S. Archer, a retired Major in the US Marine Corps, this book is accessible to a wide audience that includes servicemembers, superior officers, military legal assistance attorneys and other lawyers, as well as military and civilian authorities. This book is available on the ABA Web Store.
American Bar Association Legal Guide for Military Families is the complete resource for servicemembers, veterans, and their families. This guide will help all servicemembers clarify their legal issues, understand the options, and locate assistance. Topics are presented in an easy–to–read format and every chapter includes a resources section with phone numbers, websites, and contacts to help servicemembers find answers and move forward. This book is available on the ABA Web Store.
A Judge's Benchbook for the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, by Colonel John S. Odom, Jr., USAF, Retired, is designed to acquaint judges of all levels regarding the provisions that protect servicemembers while they serve on active duty, because many judges are unfamiliar with the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act. The Benchbook is available on the ABA Web Store.
The new edition of The Military Divorce Handbook, by Mark E. Sullivan, is a timely and much–needed addition to a family lawyer's library. Both comprehensive and practical, it covers all aspects of representing servicemembers and their spouses in divorce in an accessible, easy–to–use format. This book is available on the ABA Web Store.
ABA Members may purchase these books at discounted prices!
Project's Online Library
Did you know that the Project has an online library filled with resources that focus on legal issues faced by servicemembers, veterans, and military family members? Log onto the website and visit the Library.
Dialogue: News and Perspectives from the ABA Division for Legal Services
Read the latest articles in Dialogue—the magazine of the ABA Division for Legal Services, which brings you news and topical information about the delivery of legal services to low and moderate income people—featured by the ABA Standing Committee on Legal Assistance for Military Personnel (LAMP):
- Aiding the Transition from Combat to Community: A Brief Overview of the Discharge Upgrade Process, by Jennifer A. Sullivan
- From the Chair...Standing Committee on Legal Assistance for Military Personnel, by David G. Ehrhart, Brig Gen, USAF (Ret.)
Would you be interested in writing an article for Dialogue? Review the Dialogue Writers’ Guidelines or contact us at militaryprobono@americanbar.org for more information.
Free and Discounted ABA Memberships for Military Attorneys
ABA membership delivers resources that help Judge Advocates develop professionally both during their service and as they transition to civilian life.
FREE ABA Membership
Did you know that you are eligible for a free ABA membership if you are currently an active–duty Judge Advocate and have been licensed to practice law for five years or less? See further information about this membership offer!
Membership Discount
For those not eligible for a free membership, the ABA is offering a lower group membership rate for active–duty military lawyers, retired JAG officers, and reservists. Military lawyers can now join at the group rate for only $70 per year and pay individually through the online form.
Thank you to the Project's Star Ranking Supporters!
The ABA Military Pro Bono Project depends on financial contributions from Project partners, law firms, corporations, and individuals to further its mission to connect active–duty servicemembers and their families to attorneys willing to donate their time to deliver high quality, free legal services. Financial support of the Project, through the ABA Fund for Justice and Education, a 501(c)(3) entity, helps to ensure that our servicemembers receive the legal help that they need.
Special thanks to the following Star Ranking Supporters:
Lockheed Martin
Mr. and Mrs. David C. Merjan
And thank you to all of our Star Ranking Supporters acknowledged on the Project website.
You received this email because you have registered as a member of the ABA Military Pro Bono Project. To edit or cancel your membership, log onto www.militaryprobono.org and edit your profile. If you have questions, contact the Project Director, Mary C. Meixner, at mary.meixner@americanbar.org.
Your e–mail address will only be used within the ABA and its entities.
We do not sell or rent e–mail addresses.
American Bar Association | 321 N Clark, Chicago, IL 60654–7598 | 800–285–2221 | 312–988–5522
