LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. –
The base legal office provides legal assistance to eligible individuals. This article explains who is eligible, what legal assistance services are provided, and when legal assistance is available.
Eligibility
Eligibility for legal assistance is defined by AFI 51-504, Legal Assistance, Notary and Preventative Law Program. Eligibility includes active duty military, reservists and Guardsmen on federal active duty status, and their family members who are entitled to an ID card. Retirees and their dependents who are entitled to an ID card are also eligible. DOD civilians or contractors who are deploying can receive legal assistance for wills and powers of attorney. Reservists and National Guard members not on Title 10 status, but subject to federal mobilization in inactive status, are eligible for deployment-related legal assistance.
Services
Each branch of service has separate guidelines on what services it provides. At Langley, you can receive notary services and powers of attorney from the front desk. You can meet with an attorney to have a will, living will, durable power of attorney for health care, or a durable general power of attorney drafted. These documents allow you to prepare for the future. For military members, having updated legal documents ensures you are ready to deploy with the peace of mind to focus on the mission.
An attorney can also meet with you to discuss legal questions and issues. The attorney can provide general legal advice and research your question during the meeting. For any legal assistance session, come prepared with the information you already have, and all relevant documents. The attorney will provide better advice if all of the information is presented. For some issues, such as the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, the attorney will be extremely helpful. However, many legal problems require state-specific expert representation. However, the attorney will not be able to represent you in court, file a suit on your behalf, provide business advice, or help you with a military or civilian criminal defense.
Many clients seek help for family law and domestic law issues. These questions are often complicated and involve several issues across different states. Your attorney will be able to help you understand and clarify the law, but typically will not be able to "solve" the problem. Generally, the attorney will advise that you need a family law attorney in the state the issue arises. While the attorney can provide guidance on finding an attorney, we cannot recommend a specific lawyer.
When?
The legal office provides notary services and powers of attorney on a walk-in basis during the business hours of 7:30 a.m. tp 4:30 p.m. Legal assistance is provided on a walk-in basis; the new hours are Mondays from 2 to 4 p.m., Wednesdays from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m., and Thursdays from noon to 2 p.m.
In conclusion, the legal assistance program provides eligible individuals with quality legal services at no cost. However, the services are limited by the scope of representation and by the mission of legal assistance. Please stop in and see an attorney for a will or other document, and before complicated legal issues develop. With the law, an ounce of prevention can save a pound of pain.
(Editor's note: Capt. Eric Morley is an Assistant Staff Judge Advocate at the Legal Office. Legally Speaking is a monthly series that examines important legal topics relevant to the Langley community.)