Picture of a flag with fighter jets overlayed and U.S. Air Force Legal Assistance spelled out.

Version:  2.0.311

What is legal assistance?
Legal assistance enhances the readiness and welfare of eligible clients by providing quality legal services regarding personal civil legal matters and by educating eligible persons regarding their personal legal rights and responsibilities. Legal assistance practitioners accomplish this mission by direct client assistance services and a vigorous preventive law program that educates and informs the military community through a variety of outreach efforts.
What is a legal assistance attorney?
A legal assistance attorney is a military judge advocate or civilian attorney who is duly licensed to practice law before the courts of one or more state and federal jurisdictions, and is authorized by The Judge Advocate General to perform legal assistance functions. He or she represents the interests of the individual client concerning personal civil legal matters.
What type of services can a legal assistance office provide?
Subject to the availability of legal staff, resources, and expertise, legal assistance practitioners can normally assist in the following topic areas:

(1) Wills and estate planning.
(2) Powers of attorney and notarizations.
(3) Domestic relations, including divorce, legal separation, and custody.
(4) Adoption and name changes.
(5) Immigration and naturalization.
(6) Failure to provide support for a family member.
(7) Landlord-tenant relations, including review of personal leases.
(8) Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) advice and assistance.
(9) Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) advice and assistance.
(10) Education law assistance for family members with special needs.
(11) Limited tax assistance, or referral to tax assistance resources.
(12) Consumer law issues, such as credit disputes or fraud.
(13) Other legal issues of a personal, civil nature.
What services are not available from the legal assistance office?
Legal assistance attorneys are prohibited from assisting clients in the following circumstances:

1. Providing advice on private business ventures.

2. Providing advice on official matters in which the United States Government has an interest, or is involved in the final resolution of issues. For example, legal advice concerning official military matters is outside the scope of the legal assistance program. See also the FAQ below on providing advice on military justice matters.

3. Providing advice over the telephone or via e-mail. Legal assistance is ordinarily conducted in person. However, contact your local legal office for more details, or if there are any unusual or compelling circumstances that prevent you from visiting your local legal office in person.

4. Providing advice to third parties. The privileged attorney-client relationship requires personal and private communication between the attorney and client.

Where do I go for help with criminal (military justice) matters?
Department of the Air Force legal assistance attorneys do not handle criminal (military justice) matters, including adverse administrative issues such as Articles 15 and discharge actions. If you are a servicemember, please visit your local military defense counsel. If you are a civilian, you will need to seek assistance from a civilian criminal defense attorney.
Is legal assistance just for military personnel?
No. Generally, legal assistance is provided to (1) all members of the Armed Forces on active duty (including members of a reserve component), (2) reserve component members under certain circumstances (3) retirees from all branches of the service, and (4) lawful dependents. Federal civilian employees and their dependents are also entitled to legal assistance in certain circumstances, such as when stationed overseas. Legal assistance prioritizes mobilization and deployment-related assistance and is provided based upon available resources and personnel.
Who is eligible for legal assistance?
Generally, legal assistance is available to the following:

(1) Members of the armed forces on active duty (including members of a reserve component on active duty). This includes members of the Air Force, Space Force, and the other sister services.
(2) Following release from active duty orders for 30 days or more, members of reserve components are eligible for legal assistance for a period beginning on the date of release from active duty and continuing for a period equal to twice the length of the period served on those active duty orders.
(3) Retired military personnel.
(4) Dependents (spouses and minor children) of those listed above, who are entitled to a military identification card.
(5) Inactive members of the reserve components, subject to federal mobilization, may receive deployment-related legal assistance.
(6) Civilian employees and contractors deploying to or in a theater of operations may receive wills and powers of attorney.
(7) Civilian employees assigned outside the United States and its territories, including their dependents residing with them.

For more details on legal assistance eligibility, see Air Force Instruction (AFI) 51-304, available at https://www.e-publishing.af.mil/Product-Index/
Am I required to use this website before visiting a legal office for legal assistance?
Contact your nearest legal assistance office to schedule a legal assistance appointment. They will provide further details on whether you need to complete an estate planning or power of attorney worksheet. Don’t know where your nearest legal assistance office is? Use this website to locate it: https://legalassistance.law.af.mil/
I completed an online legal worksheet. What should I bring with me to the legal office?
Please bring your ticket number with you. Legal office personnel will not be able to access your worksheet without the ticket number. If you printed your worksheet (questions and answers), the ticket number is displayed on the worksheet.
If I see a legal assistance attorney will my information remain confidential?
Yes. Information and files pertaining to legal assistance clients are private and privileged under law and applicable professional rules and guidelines. The information and documents contained in a client’s file will not be disclosed to anyone by the attorney providing legal assistance, except upon the express specific permission of the client or when the attorney determines that disclosure is authorized or required by law or applicable rules of professional conduct. The unauthorized release of confidential client information cannot be made lawful by order of superior military authority.
How much will it cost to see a legal assistance attorney?
The services provided through the Armed Forces Legal Assistance Program are free to eligible personnel. However, clients are required to pay for all costs associated with their case, such as court costs or agency fees if applicable.
Can a legal assistance attorney represent me in court?
Generally, no. If you need in-court assistance, you will need to seek the assistance of a private attorney. Despite this, however, legal assistance attorneys can provide advice and guidance on the legal issues you face. In some circumstances, legal assistance attorneys can also make referrals to other organizations that can represent you for free.
How can I locate the nearest legal assistance office?
To locate the legal assistance office nearest you within the continental United States, click the legal assistance locator link below. In some instances, a legal assistance office from one of the other military services may be your closest office and may be able to assist you. Contact that office to find out if they will assist you. Please note that legal worksheets completed on this website may only be accessed by Department of the Air Force legal offices.

Reference: Legal Assistance Locator