Military Law: What Services Are Provided By The Military Attorneys?

It is a common myth that military members are entitled to 100% free legal services from the Base or Post Legal Office. However, this is incorrect. The JAG officers (military attorneys) at the installation legal office have a specific mission. This mission is to handle legal issues affecting the unit.

Among the services provided by military attorneys are contract reviews, legal reviews, punitive actions against military members and providing legal advice to commanders on issues affecting the unit or command. Military attorneys are authorized to provide a very limited amount of legal services to military members. However, the scope of these services is not as vast as many believe.

What the Legal Office CAN Do

The installation Legal Office can provide a small number of services to military members, as mission considerations and time permit. Wills and Powers of Attorney are included in this list of services, since these documents are essential for every military member to have to ensure individual mission readiness, as well as unit readiness as a whole. Military attorneys and paralegals are authorized to notarize documents for military members, which includes contracts, applications and other documents that need to be notarized.

If time permits, military attorneys can set up a very basic trust for a military member, to help them protect their assets and dispose of them in the event of an untimely death. Military attorneys may also provide a limited amount of legal advice, as long as this does not take away from handling legal issues for the command. Military attorneys may also refer military members to qualified civilian attorneys who can handle their legal issues for free (pro bono) or a reduced fee.

What the Legal Office CANNOT Do

One of the biggest myths surrounding the JAG Office is that JAG officers can represent a military member or their spouse in a divorce proceeding. This is most assuredly false. A military attorney can give very limited advice on a divorce, but cannot represent anyone or assist them in filing a petition for divorce. Military attorneys also may not represent military members or their dependents in civil lawsuits or criminal proceedings in civilian courts.

If a military member is accused of wrongdoing by military commanders, a special military defense attorney will be assigned to represent them in military legal channels. Military attorneys also may not help military members get out of traffic citations, tickets and other similar issues; these should all be handled by civilian attorneys. Click here for more on military law.


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