Legal Assistance

Joint Base Ft. Myer/Henderson Hall Legal Assistance programs provide free professional legal help to active duty and retired military members and their dependents. Legal assistance also helps certain survivors of deceased Armed Forces members. A legal assistance officer is a licensed attorney, though not always in the state where stationed. Legal Assistance attorneys give advice and help prepare legal documents and correspondence.

All the information the client discusses with a Legal Assistance Attorney is confidential and protected by the attorney-client privilege. The entire Legal Assistance staff zealously protects client confidentiality.

Before making a Legal Assistance appointment, you should do the following:

First, take logical steps to help yourself. If you find yourself in a legal dispute, try to talk to the other party before consulting an attorney. You can then give the attorney both sides of the story. You may find that the other party is reasonable and willing to resolve the matter. In your approach, be tactful and courteous. Many legal problems arise simply because the parties are discourteous and lose their tempers.

When you see your attorney, bring along all available documents, records, and correspondence about your question or problem. The nature of the information you provide will directly affect the quality of advice you receive.

If you need a document notarized, or a power of attorney, come in anytime during our normal work hours. Most banks will provide notary service for their customers free of charge. Additionally, many stationary stores will provide notary service for a nominal fee. According to Virginia law, a notary may charge no more than $5.00 for a notary public service.

Remember, the most help you can give yourself is to use sound judgment and seek legal advice before acting on any legal or business matter.

Some things to remember:

• Attorney services by appointment only.
• Procedures regarding scheduled office appointments: Clients need to make childcare arrangements for the date/time of their appointment. Children will not be permitted to attend the appointment with the attorney. Childcare is not provided by this office. If the client arrives for their appointment with children, their appointment will be canceled and rescheduled to enable the client to make childcare arrangements.
• Attorneys will not provide legal advice over the telephone.
• Appointments are available by calling on Monday's, 8:00 am, 703-696-0761/0762.
• Building 201, Ft. Myer
• Please arrive 15 minutes prior to your scheduled appointment.
• All scheduled appointments are one-half hour and follow-up appointments will be scheduled accordingly.
• If you cannot make your scheduled appointment, please call to cancel as far in advance as possible.

Legal Assistance

Services offered includes family law, wills and estate planning, tax law, landlord/ tenant matters, contract disputes, and consumer law. By regulation, attorneys are not authorized to provide representation in civilian courts. However, attorney referral lists are available as needed.

The office is open for walk-in Notary and Power of Attorney Services from 8:00 am until 4:00 pm, Monday through Friday. A consultation with a legal assistance attorney requires an appointment, which can be scheduled by phone on Friday mornings, beginning at 9:00 am, until all appointments for the following week are filled. To schedule an appointment, please call 703-696-0761/0762. Please note that legal advice cannot be provided over the telephone.