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 Oregon, here, does not show any offices in Oregon, but you may have some success contacting offices in neighboring Washington State, California or Idaho.The Oregon State Bar's Military Assistance Panel may also be helpful; see its brochure (PDF).
General-Purpose Resources
Servicemembers, veterans and their families are of course eligible to use the same resources as anyone else. The OregonLawHelp.org 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 Oregon page for the National Resources Directory has some useful general-audience links, such as the American Bar Association's Consumers' Guide to Legal Help - Oregon.
The Oregon State Bar aggregates information for the public here, including useful Lawyer Referral Service information.
For Lawyers
The Oregon State Bar Association's Military Assistance Panel program is designed to address legal concerns of Oregon soldiers and their families. The panel provides opportunities for Oregon attorneys to receive specialized training and offer pro bono services to active duty service members deployed overseas.In 2009 the Oregon National Guard will face its largest deployment since World Waw Two, with approximately 3,500 troops called to active duty. Attorney should contact the Military Assistance Panel to each do our part. There is also an Special Committee on the Military Assistance Panel which may provide additional opportunities for service in support of this panel, but no section specializing in Legal Assitance for Military Personnel matters.
But Wait There's More!
It is very likely that there are other Oregon 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
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