A
rmy
OneSource
has
selected Te Virginia Bar
Association for advice on
how to increase access
to military legal assistance. Te
Kansas and Arizona Bar Associations
were also tapped to assist in the
efort. Te VBA planning team was
lead by Robert "Bob" Barrett and
Matthew Kapinos, co-chairs of the
VBA Veterans Issues Task Force.
Representatives from the Greater
Richmond Bar Foundation,
William & Mary Law
School and George
Mason University
School of Law
also served on
the team.
Over the summer, the VBA team worked with Army
OneSource to develop a campaign to recruit more attorneys,
provide free online legal education courses on military culture
and the laws afecting Servicemembers, and increase access to
military legal assistance in Virginia.
Since 9/11 more than 184,000 Virginia Servicemembers
have deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan.
Unfortunately, many will face severe difculties
reintegrating from being in combat. Some will face legal issues
including foreclosure, identity theft, divorce, child custody,
and bankruptcy. Since deployment, at least 33 percent reported
divorce, dangerous driving, increased substance abuse and
anger-control issues. Te stress of combat and deployment not
only afects those who serve, but also their dependents. More
than 206,000 dependents in Virginia have been impacted.
Between Oct. 2 and Veterans Day on Nov. 12, the VBA
in partnership with Army OneSource ran a campaign to raise
awareness about military legal assistance, recruit more attorneys
to help, and educate legal professionals. Fifty-four more
individuals pledged their support. In January, the partners
ofered three free online legal education courses on military
legal assistance through the VBA website.
To join the efort and help our military, go to
http://www.militarylegalsupport.com. n
WINTER 2012-2013
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