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". Here is a list for the state of New York.Many of New York State's local bars have a variety of programs to provide some help for the warrior community, according to this list.
City Bar Justice Center has a Veterans Assistance Project providing pro bono assistance with disability benefits claims before the New York City Regional Office of Veterans Affairs.
General-Purpose Resources
Servicemembers, veterans and their families are of course eligible to use the same resources as anyone else.- Law Help New York is a good, general-purpose place to start looking for law help in New York
- The People's Law School is an online service of the New York State Bar that lets you learn about the law for free!
- Many local bars have community-support programs, such as the this one by the Onondoga County Bar Association.
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. 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 easy to work with. The Findlaw website has a city-by-city list of lawyers in New York who are interested in representing active-duty military personnel, military reservists, and veterans.The New York State Bar Association has a Lawyer Referral Service, as do a number of local bar associations such as Brooklyn, and the County Bar Associations of Broome, Erie, Monroe, Nassau, Onondoga, Rockland, Tompkins, and others.
City Bar Justice Center has a Veterans Assistance Project providing pro bono assistance with disability benefits claims before the New York City Regional Office of Veterans Affairs. Among its organizational innovations is a Facebook group that simplifies participation. You may also wish to joint the City Bar's standing committee on Military Affairs & Justice that
For Lawyers
Many of New York State's local bars provide some help for the warrior community, according to this list, and therefore can use your volunteering. Often you can get CLE credit for their training.
City Bar Justice Center has a Veterans Assistance Project providing pro bono assistance with disability benefits claims before the New York City Regional Office of Veterans Affairs. Among its organizational innovations is a Facebook group that simplifies participation. You may also wish to joint the City Bar's standing committee on Military Affairs & Justice that
"Addresses legal and policy issues affecting the United States armed services, and the operation of the Court of Military Justice."
Some local bar associations have similar committees, such as those of Brooklyn, Erie County, and Nassau County. If yours doesn't, you may be looking at a leadership opportunity!
The New York State Bar hosts a New York State Pro Bono Opportunities Guide that lets you look for specific types of pro bono work. For example, you can choose to work with "Veterans" either as a client group or as a legal subject matter. Its Pro Bono page has more general resources helpful to pro bono work.
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It is likely that there are other New York 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!
It is likely that there are other New York 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!
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