Legal Support for Wounded Warriors How the Georgia Civilian Bar Can Lend a Helping Hand

Who Can You Help? Georgia military bases have more than 68,000 servicemembers assigned* Through 8/23/08, 37,691 casualties from Iraq and Afghanistan wars; 4,714 deaths* Georgia casualties (by home of record, NOT duty station)*: –140 dead –924 wounded *DoD Defense Manpower Data Center stats

Who Can You Help? Approximately 18.5 percent (300,000) of U.S. servicemembers who have returned from Afghanistan and Iraq currently have post- traumatic stress disorder or depression.* Approximately 19.5 percent (320,000) report experiencing a traumatic brain injury during deployment.* How many of these are unable or incompetent to handle their own legal or financial affairs? *RAND Corp. study, 2008

How Can You Help? Assist servicemembers and their families with legal issues beyond typical military legal assistance practice –Probate –Establishment of Guardianships, Conservatorships, implementation of trusts Assist demobilized Reservists/National Guardsmen in areas not close to military legal assistance support –General legal services –Referrals to military experts, VA, Social Security Administration, State agencies, etc.

How This Can Work Legal assistance offices at Georgia military installations can provide training and assistance on military specific issues – Bar Association can establish cooperative effort with military legal assistance offices to expedite provision of legal services by the Bar to servicemembers and their families Bar members can provide training and assistance to military LA counsel on Georgia specific legal procedures to help them determine when referral is needed