1. Legal ASSISTANCE AND VICTIMS LEGAL COUNSEL

2. TOPICS TO BE COVERED
OVERVIEW OF SERVICES PROVIDED BY LEGAL ASSISTANCE OFFICE (LAO)
SERVICES PROVIDED BY LAO TO A VICTIM OF A CRIME
SHORT AND LONG TERM SERVICES OF THE LAO
10-15 MINUTES OF QUESTIONS

3. LEGAL ASSISTANCE SERVICES
LAO PROVIDES “BASIC LEGAL ADVICE” IN 5 BROADLY DEFINED PRACTICE AREAS:
FAMILY LAW
LANDLORD-TENANT
CONSUMER LAW
ESTATE PLANNING
CITIZENSHIP/IMMIGRATION

4. LEGAL ASSISTANCE SERVICES
FAMILY LAW:
DISSOLUTIONS
CHILD SUPPORT/CUSTODY ISSUES
SPOUSAL SUPPORT
PATERNITY ACTIONS
GUARDIANSHIP
ADOPTION PETITIONS

5. LEGAL ASSISTANCE SERVICES
LANDLORD-TENNANT DISPUTES:
TERMINATION OF LEASES
TENANT’S RIGHTS
IMPLIED WARRANTY OF HABITABILITY
WITHHOLDING RENT
SECURITY DEPOSIT ISSUES
GOVERNMENT HOUSING ISSUES

6. LEGAL ASSISTANCE SERVICES
CONSUMER LAW: RELATIONSHIP BTW THE CONSUMER AND BUSINESSES
CREDIT CARD DEBT
CAR LOANS
REAL ESTATE FORECLOSURES
IDENTITY THEFT
PRIVACY RIGHTS
UNFAIR BUSINESS PRACTICES

7. LEGAL ASSISTANCE SERVICES
ESTATE PLANNING: TRANSFERRING OF ASSETS UPON DEATH
POWERS OF ATTORNEY
DRAFTING OF WILLS
IMMIGRATION LAW
RESIDENT AND NON-RESIDENT VISAS

8. LEGAL ASSISTANCE SERVICES TO VICTIMS OF CRIMES
PRIOR TO THE INTERVIEW:
SIGNAGE
INITIAL INTERVIEW AT THE LAO:
CONFIDENTIALITY
INTERVIEW PROCESS
STAYING FOCUSED
IDENTIFYING LEGAL ISSUES
PROVIDING REALISTIC SOLUTIONS/OPTIONS

9. LEGAL ASSISTANCE SERVICES TO VICTIMS OF CRIMES
MASLOW’S HIERARCHY OF NEEDS:
VICTIMS WANT TO BE SAFE FROM ANY ABUSE
VICTIM SEEKING SAFE ENVIRONMENT TO LIVE
VICTIM REQUIRES IMMEDIATE FINANCIAL RESOURCES FOR THEM AND THEIR FAMILY

10. LEGAL ASSISTANCE SERVICES TO VICTIMS OF CRIMES
MASLOW’S HIERARCHY OF NEEDS:
AN INDIVIDUAL’S SAFETY TAKES PRECEDENCE OVER ALL OTHER DAILY TASKS
VICTIMS ARE COMING TO THE LAO AND ARE ASKING THE LEGAL ASSISTANCE ATTORNEY TO FIND THEM SAFETY
HELP THEM TO BECOME FREE FROM THE PHYSICAL/MENTAL/FINANCIAL ABUSE THEY ARE BEING SUBJECTED TO

11. LEGAL ASSISTANCE SERVICES FOR VICTIMS OF CRIMES
HOW DOES A LAA ASSIST THE VICTIM WITH FAMILY LAW ISSUES?
SAFETY OF THEIR PERSON:
CIVILIAN: TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDERS
MILITARY: MILITARY PROTECTIVE ORDERS
SAFE ENVIRONMENT
CIVILIAN: MOVE OUT ORDERS
C.C.P (DOMESTIC VIOLENCE VICTIMS CAN TERMINATE LEASE)
INTERFACE WITH LINCOLN HOUSING

12. LEGAL ASSISTANCE SERVICES FOR VICTIMS OF CRIMES
HOW DOES A LAA ASSIST THE VICTIM IN THE FAMILY LAW ARENA:
FINANCIAL SECURITY:
ASSIST IN FILING A DIVORCE PETITION:
ASSIST THEM IN SEEKING EMERGENCY/TEMPORARY ORDERS:
TEMPORARY SPOUSAL SUPPORT ORDER
TEMPORARY CHILD CUSTODY/SUPPORT ORDERS
MILITARY:
MAKE A CHAPTER 15 DEMAND FOR SUPPORT:
CAN GET THEM ASSISTANCE WITHIN 10 DAYS!

13. CHAPTER 15, MCO P5800.16A (LEGADMINMAN)
Marines WILL provide support for their lawful dependents
Marines can be PUNISHED for failing to comply, and you can have BAH taken away retroactively if you were getting BAH-with but not supporting a dependent
“All complaints alleging inadequate support of family members shall be directed to the commanding officer of the Marine concerned.”
-Like the Marine Corps itself, rigid and inflexible
-the adulterous, drug addict spouse rates it
-sea story: couple separated after 24 hours  wife still making demands

14. Chapter 15- Example Sergeant, no children: Lance Corporal, 2 children
Required support is ½ of BAH
$ per month
Lance Corporal, 2 children
Required support is ¾ of BAH
$ per month

15. LEGAL ASSISTANCE SERVICES TO VICTIMS OF CRIMES
ONCE THE VICTIM’S IMMEDIATE SAFETY NEEDS ARE MET:
GOVERNMENT HOUSING ISSUES
TERMINATION OF LEASES WITH GOVERNMENT HOUSING
CIVILIAN HOUSING ISSUES
TERMINATION OF CIVILIAN LEASES

16. LEGAL ASSISTANCE SERVICES TO VICTIMS OF CRIMES
HELPING THE VICTIM WITH CONSUMER LAW ISSUES:
CREDIT CARD DEBT
COMMUNITY PROPERTY DEBT
CAR LOANS
REGISTRATION OF VEHICLE ISSUES
REAL ESTATE FORECLOSURES
IDENTITY THEFT
PRIVACY RIGHTS

17. LEGAL ASSISTANCE SERVICES TO VICTIMS OF CRIMES
HELPING THE VICTIM WITH CONSUMER LAW ISSUES:
CREDIT CARD DEBT
COMMUNITY PROPERTY DEBT
CAR LOANS
REGISTRATION OF VEHICLE ISSUES
REAL ESTATE FORECLOSURES
PRIVACY RIGHTS

18. LEGAL ASSISTANCE SERVICES TO VICTIMS OF CRIMES
LONG TERM SOLUTIONS:
DIVORCES IN CALIFORNIA TAKE 9-12 MONTHS TO GET RESOLVED, IF CHILDREN MONTHS;
LEASE ISSUES CAN TAKE SEVERAL MONTHS TO RESOLVE;
HELPING THE VICTIM WITH CREDIT CARD DEBT/CONSUMER LAW ISSUES TAKES TIME.

19. LEGAL ASSISTANCE SERVICES TO VICTIMS OF CRIMES
YOUR LEGAL ASSISTANCE OFFICE IS HERE TO HELP THE VICTIMS ALONG THE LONG ROAD TO RECOVERY

20. LEGAL ASSISTANCE SERVICES TO VICTIMS OF CRIMES
QUESTIONS?