Attorneys Assisting Citizen-Soldiers & Families

Our first training program was “No Family Left Behind”, a 3.5-hour CLE July 9, 2008 at WSBA in Seattle. Kudos to the excellent presenters who donated their time!

Video: Most of this program was taped, and it is our intention to make the video available for the education of lawyers and the public.

Handouts:

• Main handout
• Servicemembers Civil Relief Act Guide

Introduction to the Program
Presenters: CPT Alex Straub, MAJ Matt Cooper and Adam Torem

• Purpose of AACF Volunteer Attorney Network
• Overview and Scope of Military Legal Assistance Program/Entitlement
• Services to be provided
• Pre-Deployment Legal Assistance Clinics
• Individual Advice and/or Representation (after referral)
• Resources: Deskbook, Web Sites, Etc.
• AACF Referral process
• Forms:
  • Form 2793 Volunteer Agreement (important for malpractice coverage)
  • Directions for Form 2793
  • Time reporting form (coming soon)

Introduction to Citizen-Soldiers – The Washington National Guard
Presenter: Sergeant First Class (SFC) Gonzalez, WA National Guard Recruiter, Camp Murray

• History
• Mission
• Who is the citizen-soldier of the National Guard?
• Domestic mission – safeguarding lives and property during times of emergency, homeland defense, and other duties as assigned by the Governor
• Overseas mission – in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other places

Military-Specific Legal Assistance Overview
Presenters: Alex Straub & Robert Davis

• Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) – CPT Alex Straub
  • Introduction (video)
  • Procedural Protections (video)
  • Financial Protections (video)
  • Residence for Tax and Voting, and other Protections (video)
  • Questions + Answers (video)
  • See: Servicemembers Civil Relief Act Guide
• USERRA – Robert Davis

General Civil Legal Assistance – Topical Overviews – Part I
Presenter: Steve Fredrickson, Northwest Justice Project

• Landlord-tenant issues

General Ethical Considerations for Volunteer Attorneys
Presenter: Adam Torem

• RPCs
• Scope of Representation – Advice vs. Representation
• Confidentiality Requirements

General Civil Legal Assistance – Topical Overviews – Part II + Q&A

Panel of Presenters:

• Estate planning – MAJ Matthew Cooper
• Overview of available military legal assistance estate planning services
• Introduction to Drafting Libraries (DL) Wills software
• Healthcare Directives (living wills)
• Powers of Attorney (general, special, medical, financial, etc.)
• Consumer law – Patrick Burpee and AAG Mary Lobdell
  Handout: Credit Dispute Letters

Ethical Considerations in Family Law
Presenter: John Morgan