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.
Mason Veterans and Servicemembers Legal Clinic (M-VETS)
George Mason University School of Law
3301 Fairfax Drive
Arlington, VA 22201
Visit M-VETS Website
Types of Cases Accepted: General Civil and Consumer; Family (adoption/uncontested divorces); Physical/Medical Evaluation Boards; Discharge Review Boards; Boards for Correction of Military Records; VA Disability Appeals; Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims; Military Legal Issues.
Legal Services of Northern Virginia (Fairfax)
4080 Chain Bridge Road, 2nd Floor
Fairfax, VA 22030
Fax: 703-273-6476
Visit Legal Services of Northern Virginia Website
Jennifer Fulmer, Pro Bono Managing Attorney
Email: [email protected]
Intake: 703-778-6800, M-TH (9:30-12:30, 1:30-3:30)
Counties Served: Alexandria City, Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun, Prince William
Type of Cases Accepted: Bankruptcy, Consumer, Education, Elder Law, Employment Law, Housing, Wills, Low Income Tax Assistance, Health, Domestic Violence, Dissolution, Custody, Assistance to Veterans, Public Benefits
Virginia Conflict Resolution Center
586 Virginian Drive
Norfolk, VA 23505
757-480-2777
Visit Center Website
Types of Cases Accepted: Family (Separation Agreements, Custody, Visitation, Support). We also offer Parenting Classes.
The Virginia Conflict Resolution Center specializes in dispute resolution, including arbitration and mediation, and also offers parenting classes. The Center has a grant through the Virginia Department of Social Services that allows it to provide mediation services and parenting classes to servicemembers FREE of charge.