Thursday, May 28, 2009

Delaware Legal Assistance to Military Personnel (LAMP)

The legal community in Delaware 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". While checking Delaware shows no such offices, there are several in Maryland, Southeastern Pennsylvania and Southern New Jersey.

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. 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 Delaware who are interested in representing active-duty military personnel, military reservists, and veterans here.

For Lawyers

The Delaware State Bar Association does not seem to have a committee nor section directed at service to our servicemembers, veterans or their families. Forming one might be a leadership opportunity! Meanwhile, DSBA does host some volunteer programs you may wish to join.

It is likely that there are other Delaware 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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