The Legal Assistance Office (LAO) provides general legal advice to eligible clients on matters including, but not limited to, military administrative, civilian administrative, consumer protection (e.g., debt collection, contract issues), family law (e.g., separation, divorce, adoption, child custody, support obligations), real property (e.g., review of lease, home purchase contract), and the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act.
The LAO also reviews and assists with the preparation of petitions to the Army Review Boards Agency (ARBA), along with rebuttal statements and appeals for Financial Liability Investigations of Property Loss (FLIPLs), officer evaluation reports (OERS), noncommissioned officer evaluation reports (NCOER), academic evaluation reports (AER), school dismissals, administrative reprimands, and other documents in connection with military administrative actions. The office prepares estates planning documents (i.e., wills, living wills, healthcare power of attorney, durable power of attorney) by appointment only for active-duty Servicemembers and Dependents.
Active-duty Servicemembers and Dependents can schedule an appointment by calling 803-751-4287 or emailing the Legal Assistance mailbox at usarmy.jackson.army-tng-ctr.mbx.legal-assistance@army.mil.
*Please note: Legal Assistance attorneys cannot provide representation for civil matters (e.g., divorce proceedings, criminal cases).
Eligible Clients
- Active-duty Servicemembers, active-duty Dependents with a valid military ID card;
- Retired active-duty Servicemembers, retired active-duty Dependents with valid military ID card (for notarization and basic POA services ONLY);
- Reserve and National Guard Servicemembers (and their Dependents) who are currently mobilized by Title 10 active-duty orders for more than 29 days with a valid military ID card (copies of orders must be provided to confirm eligibility);
- DOD civilians for deployment and FLIPL rebuttal matters; and
- Next of kin of Servicemembers who died on active-duty status
Special Victims Counsel (SVC)
If you are a victim of an actual or attempted sexual assault (whether you have reported the incident or not), you may contact the LAO office at the phone number listed or reach an SVC directly at (703) 347-4288.
The Special Victim Counsel Program was developed to strengthen the support provided to victims of sexual assault; enhancing their rights within our military justice system, while neither causing unreasonable delay or infringing upon the rights of an accused. The role of a SVC is to zealously represent their client's interests throughout the military justice process.
Special Victim Counsel are legal assistance attorneys with special training, designated by the Judge Advocate General to serve in the SVC role. Constrained only by ethical limits, SVCs represent the best interests of their clients, as appropriate, even when such interests do not align with those of the United States government. A SVC’s primary duty is to his/her client and no other person, organization, or entity.
Claims
All military household good claims are processed by the Center of Personnel Claims Support (CPCS), located at Fort Knox, Kentucky. Their office may be reached at (502) 624-6913 or through their website: https://www.jagcnet.army.mil/Apps/PCLAIMS/PCLAIMSPublic.nsf/xpPersonnel_Claim.xsp .
The Fort Jackson Claims Office investigates and processes tort claims filed against the government, and pursues recoveries from third parties on behalf of the U.S. Army and Fort Jackson. The office can be reached at 803-751-3603 or through the Claims Office Mailbox at usarmy.jackson.ssi.mbx.ft-jackson-claims@army.mil to check the status of, or obtain information for, a claim.
Forms
Preventative Law
2023 IRS VITA and TCE Tax Prep Programs
Resources for Victims of DV and Sexual Violence