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c Active duty military personnel in paygrades E-3
and below without dependents.
. Active duty military personnel in paygrades E-4
and below, with dependents. Their dependents are also
eligible.
l Other active duty military personnel of higher
paygrades and their dependents who are unable to afford
an attorney without substantial financial hardship.
Representation under the expanded legal assistance
program of persons in this category must be approved
by JAG.
THE PREVENTIVE LAW PROGRAM
The preventive law program is an integral part of
the Department of the Navy legal assistance program
and is intended to decrease the number of personal legal
problems confronting military personnel and their
families. The preventive law program is intended to
help in avoiding noncriminal legal problems and to help
prevent the recurrence and proliferation of legal
problems affecting commands or installations. When a
legal problem with widespread implications for morale
or discipline arises, the legal assistance area coordinator
must make sure all methods are used to highlight and
resolve the problem.
The preventive law program requires full
communication and cooperation among all judge
advocates and civilian attorneys in the Department of
the Navy and necessitates specific coordination with
appropriate civilian officials.
It is the goal of the
program to improve the overall readiness, efficiency,
and performance of military members of the
Department of the Navy by enhancing morale and
discipline through training and information.
In addition to improving overall mission readiness,
other objectives include the following:
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Educating persons to recognize potential legal
problems so professional legal counsel is sought
before problems arise
Providing COs and their personnel with a broad
channel of communication on legal assistance
matters
Encouraging obedience to the law through
self-discipline
Program responsibilities are generally the same as
for the legal assistance program. Attorneys
participating in preventive law services such as unit
education, training, legal assistance checkups, and
briefings need to make sure eligible personnel are
informed about the following:
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Counseling services available through the legal
assistance program
The importance of seeking legal advice before
taking action on important matters such as
signing purchase agreements, contracts, leases,
or divorce settlements
Rights, privileges, and responsibilities arising
from laws concerning the member
The importance and method of adequately
preparing legal affairs before a deployment
Rights, privileges, and responsibilities of the
member as a consumer
The expanded legal assistance program
LIAISON WITH OTHER
GOVERNMENT AGENCIES
A working relationship between the legal assistance
office and certain government agencies should be
established.
Where there are frequent dealings,
personal contact should be made. These agencies
include the following:
. IRS and state tax agencies—Many tax rules and
policies apply only to the military. Special information
relative to service members’ status should be gathered,
and a supply of all the pertinent tax forms should be
maintained in the office.
l Social Security Administration—Social Security
rules and regulations are of special interest to career
service members, retired service members and their
dependents, and also dependents of deceased service
members. A supply of (he several brochures issued by
the Social Security Administration should be
maintained.
. Department of Veterans Affairs—A working
knowledge of the VA procedures is especially important.
. Department of Justice—The Justice Department
is responsible for enforcing the Soldiers’ and Sailors’
Civil Relief Act and the Civil Rights Act on behalf of
the U.S. Government and its agents and service
members. Liaison with the attorneys in the Justice
Department who are assigned to such duties will
encourage proper enforcement under the Soliders’ and
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