CHICAGO, July 14, 2022 — The American Bar Association Military Pro Bono Project has entered into an agreement with the Military Spouse J.D. Network Foundation (MSJDNF) to increase pro bono legal assistance to military Gold Star families.
The ABA Military Pro Bono Project, established in 2008, is an ongoing program that accepts civil case referrals from military legal assistance attorneys on behalf of eligible service members and their families, and works to connect the referred service members or family members with pro bono civilian attorneys where the help is needed in the United States.
The mission of the MSJDNF’s Justice for Military Families (JMF) is to provide free legal assistance to Gold Star families through the MSJDN network of attorneys and partnerships with other legal service organizations to assist in finding pro bono or low bono legal advice or representation for Gold Star family members.
This new partnership allows the ABA Military Pro Bono Project to accept case referrals from JMF on behalf of unrepresented family members of deceased or incapacitated service members and help seek pro bono assistance. Attorneys can learn about pro bono case opportunities at www.MilitaryProBono.org.
“The ABA is proud to partner with MSJDNF to assist military families,” said Kate Oler, chair of the ABA Standing Committee on Legal Assistance for Military Personnel (LAMP), which manages the ABA Military Pro Bono Project. “This collaboration will further the central goals of both programs: addressing the access-to-justice gap for service members and their families needing pro bono help.”
“MSJDNF is thrilled to partner with the ABA Military Pro Bono Project in this first-of-its-kind collaboration,” said MSJDNF Pro Bono Director Samantha A. Sliney. “This partnership will enable both organizations to further their reach and assist deserving Gold Star families through pro bono legal representation.”
The ABA is the largest voluntary association of lawyers in the world. As the national voice of the legal profession, the ABA works to improve the administration of justice, promotes programs that assist lawyers and judges in their work, accredits law schools, provides continuing legal education, and works to build public understanding around the world of the importance of the rule of law.