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Contact: Andrew J. Rush
Director,
Media Services & Public Affairs
arush@nysba.org
518/487-5533
November 8, 2007
NEW YORK STATE BAR ASSOCIATION LEADS JOINT EFFORT TO
PROVIDE FREE LEGAL SERVICES TO MILITARY PERSONNEL AND THEIR
FAMILIES
Members of the military and their families will be eligible to
receive free legal advice through the New York State Bar Association's
(NYSBA) Lawyer Referral and Information Service (LRIS), as well as
through Lawyer Referral Services coordinated by the Albany, Onondaga and
Broome County Bar Associations.
With a large number of New York National Guard either deploying to
Iraq or recently returning from a tour of duty, service people and their
families have legal questions they need answered. To assist the Judge
Advocate General (JAG) Corps in providing them with the answers they
need, many NYSBA members have volunteered to provide legal consultations
free of charge.
New York State Bar Association President Kathryn Grant Madigan
(Levene Gouldin & Thompson LLP) said, “The brave service men
and women who serve our country make many sacrifices to keep us safe,
and upon either deploying or returning from service have many legal
questions they need answered. We are so pleased that the members
of our organization, as well as lawyers active in the Albany, Onondaga
and Broome County lawyer referral programs have generously volunteered
their time and are able once again to provide members of our military
with the answers to legal questions that arise.”
David J. Pajak, Chair of the Committee on Lawyer Referral Service
said, “In 2004 we received many inquiries from armed forces
personnel who were suddenly deployed and had questions regarding their
legal affairs. At that time, we were able to provide answers free
of charge and we are pleased to be able to provide this service once
again. The JAG Corps do an excellent job, but cannot always handle the
workload, and our members are once again eager and ready to
help.”
The New York State Bar Association’s Lawyer Referral panel
provides legal referrals to the public in 41 upstate counties without
local bar-sponsored referral services. Attorneys usually charge $35 for
the initial 30-minute office session. However, consultations for
members of the military and their families will be free under this
program. In addition, lawyer referrals coordinated by the Albany,
Onondaga and Broome County bar associations will be free as well.
Military members interested in this service can call the New York
State Bar Association LRIS office at 1-800-342-3661. The staff
will provide the name and phone number of an attorney who has
volunteered to give a free consultation and information about other
agencies and services that may also be of assistance. Any fees for
services beyond the initial visit become a matter between attorney and
client.
This program has successfully provided legal guidance to men and
women of the military in the past, including 2004 when members of the
military who had been deployed for Operation Enduring Freedom were
eligible for free legal services.
The 72,000-member New York State Bar Association is the official
statewide organization of lawyers in New York and the largest voluntary
state bar association in the nation. Founded in 1876, NYSBA programs and
activities have continuously served the public and improved the justice
system for more than 130 years.
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