The Military Assistance Panel matches Oregon active-duty servicemembers and their dependents with lawyers willing to provide legal advice at no charge. Our lawyer volunteers have been trained to provide legal assistance relating to the Servicemembers' Civil Relief Act, and are also able to help with a wide range of legal matters.

In 2003, the bar joined with the Oregon Department of Justice to address the legal concerns of Oregon soldiers deployed overseas in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. Federal legislation provides additional protection to persons entering or called to active duty in the US armed forces. Information regarding the Servicemembers’ Civil Relief Act (SCRA) and other federal laws protecting service men and women is available from the bar’s website at www.osbar.org.

Although many military personnel and their families are aware of the SCRA,
they may not have the legal expertise or financial resources available to take
advantage of the Act’s important provisions. The Oregon State Bar administers a referral panel that lists lawyers willing to help. Our volunteer lawyers have been trained to provide legal assistance primarily relating to the SCRA. Many volunteers are also willing to assist with family law, consumer/credit law, real property/landlord-tenant law, and estate planning issues.

Volunteer lawyers expect to give at least one hour of advice and counseling to a client free of charge. It is up to the lawyer and client to decide whether to continue the lawyer/client relationship beyond the pro bono consultation.
The list will be available to both the National Guard’s JAG Corp and to military
personnel on an individualized basis.

To participate, please –

1. Contact your family support unit or the Oregon Army National Guard at
(503) 584-3571 for an authorization (“MR”) number; and then,

2. Contact the Oregon State Bar’s Lawyer Referral Service at
(503) 684-3763 for a referral to a participating lawyer.