Legal Assistance

Marine Corps 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. Be tactful and courteous in your approach. 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 any time 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 child care arrangements for the date/time of their appointment. Children will not be permitted to attend the appointment with the attorney. Child care 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 child care arrangements.
• Attorneys will not provide legal advice over the telephone.
• Walk-Ins. We have walk-in services on Tuesdays at 1:00 p.m. on a first-come, first-served basis. Patrons shall not be seen at this time for family law or estate planning issues. The only issues handled during Walk-ins will consist of Landlord/Tenant issues (lease review, eviction notices, landlord demand letters, etc.); Consumer Law (auto issues, credit card issues, cell phone issues, debt collection); and Emergency Issues, such as being served with court documents.
• Separation/Divorce Counseling. The provision of full separation/divorce services will be limited to E-5 and below, including eligible family members.
• Appointments are available by calling 703-784-3126/7.
• 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.

Eligibility

Legal assistance may be provided to active duty members of the U.S. Armed Forces (and Reservists scheduled for deployment) and their dependents, retired members of the U.S. Armed Forces and their dependents, and dependent survivors of active duty and retired members. This statutory authority does not extend to civilian employees. Before our attorneys can talk with you, our staff will have to complete what is called a "conflicts check" to ensure that we do not represent both parties in a dispute.