Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Colorado Legal Assistance to Military Personnel (LAMP)

The legal community in Colorado provides Legal Assistance to Military Personnel in a variety of ways.

For the Warrior Community

Active duty service members may wish to go first to Armed Forces Legal Assistance's online database to "locate active duty legal activities offering general legal services within the continental United States".

A query for the state of Colorado is here
Some of Colorado's counties offer military-focussed programs, such as Adams County Military Family Assistance Program which, among many other items, offers help with legal guardianship and custody assistance.

General-Purpose Resources

Servicemembers, veterans and their families are of course eligible to use the same resources as anyone else. The Colorado Legal Services website a good place to start; it's loaded with information!

Private Practice Attorneys

Typically, a lawyer in private practice will listen to your situation for 15 or 20 minutes,  then give you an idea about how to proceed, in general terms, without charging you anything.  If the matter is something the lawyer can help you with, but must charge for, sometimes you can work out a military-family discount,  especially if you are organized and easy to work with. The Findlaw website has a city-by-city list of lawyers interested in representing active-duty military personnel, military reservists, and veterans here.

The Colorado page for the National Resources Directory has some useful general-audience links, such as the American Bar Association's Consumers' Guide to Legal Help - Colorado.

For Lawyers

The Colorado Bar Association's Military Law Committee serves as a resource for attorneys and members of the military community who are facing issues pertaining to all aspects of military law. The committee has attracted members from across the state and meets at noon on the second Wednesday of each month in the CBA offices. Contact the Committee to get on its Referral List or otherwise participate

COBAR also hosts a general-purpose Volunteer Opportunities page that includes, inter alia, Veterans’ Stand Down:
  • Assist homeless vets by answering legal questions and offering legal information and referrals to other community legal resources. 
  • Legal resource information provided. 
  • Time Commitment: 2 hour shifts 
  • Timing: November
There are many other opportunities for pro bono service in Colorado, some of which may apply to members of our warrior community; see http://www.coadvocatesforum.org/index.cfm
In particular, retired or inactive attorneys can provide pro bono legal services to the poor with the support of certain nonprofit entities under CRCP 223.

But Wait There's More!

It is very likely that there are other Colorado programs, sponsored by local bar associations, law schools, and others. Anyone with more information on these or other programs are invited to contact me; the most convenient way is to add in a comment below. The purpose is service!

See also

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Arizona Legal Assistance to Military Personnel (LAMP)

The legal community in Arizona provides legal assistance to servicemembers, veterans and their families in a variety of ways.

For the Warrior Community


Active duty service members may wish to go first to Armed Forces Legal Assistance's online database to "locate active duty legal activities offering general legal services within the continental United States". A query for the state of Arizona is here

I have not found any other resources specifically dedicated to the warrior community, but I'm still looking. If you find something, please let me know!

General-Purpose Resources

Servicemembers, veterans and their families are of course eligible to use the same resources as anyone else.Arizona Law Help is a good, general-purpose place to start looking for law help in Arizona. Notice the topic-by-topic index on the left side of the website, and the county-by-county search box on the right.

Private Practice Attorneys

Typically, a lawyer in private practice will listen to your situation for 15 or 20 minutes, then give you an idea about how to proceed, in general terms, without charging you anything. If the matter is something the lawyer can help you with, but must charge for, sometimes you can work out a military-family discount, especially if you organize your question beforehand. The Findlaw website has a city-by-city list of lawyers interested in representing active-duty military personnel, military reservists, and veterans here.

Another way to find a lawyer is through the Maricopa County Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service and the Arizona State Bar Lawyer Finder.

For Lawyers

When I first posted this note, I had not located an Arizona Bar Association Section or Committee in support of military personnel, but I now (2011) see the is a Military Assitance Committee .

It is likely that there are other Arizona programs, sponsored by local bar associations, law schools, and others. Anyone with more information on these or other programs are invited to contact me; the most convenient way is to add in a comment below. The purpose is service!

See also

Friday, April 3, 2009

State Veteran Benefits catalogued by Military.com

Military.com has cataloged veterans' benefits on a state-by-state basis. You can pick your state from a regional map or by region:
It has a disclaimer:
"Veterans pursuing their educational goals are usually eligible for "educational assistance for students" in most states. Educational benefits for veterans and their dependents, particularly the children of deceased and disabled veterans, are also available in some states. Military.com has developed an on-line general summary of educational benefits for veterans and their dependents.

Please note: This summary presents only general information. It does not presume to be authoritative or complete, because this information changes from time to time."
... but the actual content goes beyond educational benefits, in some cases.

Thursday, April 2, 2009

Alaska Legal Assistance to Military Personnel (LAMP)

The legal community in Alaska provides legal assistance to service members, veterans and their families in a variety of ways.

For the Warrior Community

Active duty service members may wish to go first to Armed Forces Legal Assistance's online database; its list of resources in the state of Alaska is here

General-Purpose Resources

Servicemembers, veterans and their families are of course eligible to use the same resources as anyone else.

Private Practice Attorneys

Often, a lawyer in private practice will listen to your situation for 15 or 20 minutes, then give you an idea about how to proceed, in general terms, without charging you anything. If the matter is something the lawyer can help you with, but must charge for, sometimes you can work out a military-family discount, especially if you are organized, polite and easy to work with. The Findlaw website has a city-by-city list of lawyers interested in representing active-duty military personnel, military reservists, and veterans
here.

For Lawyers

The Alaska Bar Association's List of Pro Bono Providers is a great place to find opportunities of providing help to our warrior community. While I have not found a Legal Assistance to Military Personnel (LAMP) Section or Committee in the Alaska State Bar, locating one or setting one up might be a great opportunity for an entreprenuerial attorney looking for a leadership opportunity.

It is likely that there are other Alaska programs, sponsored by local bar associations, law schools, and others. Anyone with more information on these or other programs are invited to contact me; the most convenient way is to add in a comment below. The purpose is service!

See also

North Carolina Legal Assistance to Military Personnel (LAMP)

The legal community in North Carolina provides Legal Assistance to Military Personnel in a variety of ways.

For the Warrior Community

Active duty service members may wish to go first to Armed Forces Legal Assistance's online database to "locate active duty legal activities offering general legal services within the continental United States". A query for the state of North Carolina is here

General-Purpose Resources

Servicemembers, veterans and their families are of course eligible to use the same resources as anyone else.

Private Practice Attorneys

Typically, a lawyer in private practice will listen to your situation for 15 or 20 minutes, then give you an idea about how to proceed, in general terms, without charging you anything. If the matter is something the lawyer can help you with, but must charge for, sometimes you can work out a military-family discount, especially if you are organized, polite and easy to work with.
The Findlaw website has a city-by-city list of lawyers interested in representing active-duty military personnel, military reservists, and veterans here.

For Lawyers

The North Carolina State Bar Association has a Standing Committee on Legal Assistance for Military Personnel whose website at http://www.nclamp.gov/ is laden with resources for the practitioner. As evidence of its quality, please note that the ABA used NCLamp materials as the basis of a SSCRA model handout, and googlebooks has uploaded its Military Divorce Handbook. Rather than enumerating NCLamp's resources here, it's more efficient to direct attorneys there.

NCBA has sponsored a number of direct-service efforts, such as the December 2008 Operation Legal Eagle. For other opportunities for service, see the NC Bar's county-by-county listing of pro bono opportunities.

Despite the comprehensiveness of that program, it is very likely that there are other North Carolina programs, sponsored by local bar associations, law schools, and others, that may be convenient ways for attorneys to provide legal aid to our warrior community. Anyone with more information on these or other programs are invited to contact me; the most convenient way is to add in a comment below. The purpose is service!
See also