The New Jersey State Bar Association is seeking volunteers to participate in the Military Legal Assistance Program.
The NJSBA, through its Military Law and Veterans’ Affairs Committee, in conjunction with McCarter & English, L.L.P., established this pro bono program to help New Jersey residents who have served overseas as active-duty members of reserve components of the armed forces after Sept. 11, 2001.
Since then, thousands of New Jersey residents serving in the armed forces reserves have been deployed overseas, and many of them will be or have been adversely affected by reason of their status, change of status, or long deployment. As a result, volunteers are needed to provide legal assistance for these military personnel in civil matters.
The program offers assistance in family, employment, debtor-creditor and military/administrative law. Right now, the need is most acute for volunteers from South Jersey and those with experience in debt and benefits issues.
The way it works is simple:
The NJSBA will have initial contact with individuals seeking help from the program. NJSBA staff provides intake forms of eligible individuals to a volunteer. Eligible military personnel who contact the program will be referred to volunteers who are able to assist them with their specific legal issues. Volunteers are requested to contact an individual who has requested assistance within 48 hours of receiving a referral.
Volunteers who accept a case through the program must agree to handle such case from inception to resolution, without compensation or reimbursement for expenses.
To learn more visit njsba.com. To volunteer email [email protected].