Military Legal Assistance Offices
Visit the U.S. Armed Forces Legal Assistance Locator to locate the nearest military legal assistance office (click on "Advanced" and "Accept"). Servicemembers and their families may access free legal assistance at these offices. See our Working with a Lawyer publication for more details on eligibility.
Legal Aid and Pro Bono Programs
Visit FindLegalHelp.org to locate programs that provide free civil legal assistance. These organizations may or may not have military-specific services. Contact these programs for more details on eligibility.
Lawyer Referral Programs
Visit the Lawyer Referral Directory to locate programs that can connect you to a lawyer who charges for legal services. In the search box, type your state, county, or city to find local programs. Some attorneys with these programs, however, may offer discounted initial consultations or may charge reduced fees based on your income. Contact these programs for more information.
Military/Veteran Specific Programs
If programs are listed below, they are designed to assist military members and/or veterans with legal matters. See the specific details and contact these programs for more information. Also visit nationwide programs.
ABA Free Legal Answers
If you can't afford a lawyer, ABA Free Legal Answers may be able to help. For most civil (non-criminal) legal questions, if your state participates, click on "Select the state where you live" and click on your state to ask a question.
For VA benefits, discharge upgrades, or other veteran-related legal questions: Choose "ABA Federal" in the "Select the state where you live" dropdown menu to ask a discharge upgrade or VA-related question, and receive an answer from an attorney.
New Jersey State Bar Association
Military Legal Assistance Program
Christina Pateman, Legal Affairs Associate
Jena Morrow, Legal and Government Affairs Paralegal
One Constitution Square
New Brunswick, NJ 08901
Phone: 1-888-541-1900
[email protected]
Visit New Jersey State Bar Association Website
The Military Legal Assistance Program is a pro bono program established by the New Jersey State Bar Association through its Military Law & Veteran’s Affairs Section, in conjunction with McCarter & English, LLP. To be eligible for the program you must: (1) Be a New Jersey resident; (2) be a member of the reserve components of the armed forces; (3) called to active duty and deployed in Iraq or Afghanistan since September 11, 2001; and (4) legal matter for which assistance is requested must relate to service in Iraq or Afghanistan. The Military Legal Assistance Program offers legal assistance to eligible military personnel in four areas: Family Law, Employment Law, Debtor-Creditor Law, and Medical Evaluation Board cases.