| Bar Bulletin |
August,
2003 |
| MSBA News |
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MARYLAND DEFENSE FORCE
SEEKS VOLUNTEER LAWYERS TO ASSIST FAMILIES OF MOBILIZED TROOPS
By Janet
Stidman Eveleth
In the last six months, thousands of men and women serving in the Maryland
National Guard and military reserve units have been summoned for active
duty to serve their country. Over 3,000 citizen soldiers in Maryland have
been mobilized to support our international crises and our homeland
defense. Many are serving extended periods of time and they and their
families now face a multitude of legal situations.
When deployed soldiers encounter legal predicaments on active duty,
military JAG (judge advocate general) officers assist them with their
legal needs. However, back at home, families of these soldiers also face a
number of hardships and legal issues. Many turn to Maryland attorneys who
volunteer to help them on a pro bono basis.
Across Maryland several attorney volunteer efforts are currently underway
to support the families of our state’s citizen soldiers. The Maryland
State Bar Association’s Leadership Academy recently published two public
service pamphlets to educate soldiers and their families about their legal
rights. In addition, MSBA attorneys who helped out during the Persian Gulf
War are volunteering again. Now the Maryland Defense Force (MDF) is also
recruiting volunteer lawyers to help the families of mobilized troops,
supplementing these other efforts.
Organized by Maryland’s Governor, MDF is a voluntary military force that
functions as a support service to the Maryland National Guard. Most
members have a military background and meet several times a year to review
and assess operations. Since the 9/11 terrorists attacks, MDF has been
more actively involved in and prepared for homeland defense.
Recently, Brigadier General Benjamin F. Lucas, II, an attorney, was named
MDF’s new commanding general. Lucas has revamped the Force, created a
legal, medical and chaplain corps and appointed Colonel Joesph K.
Pokempner, a partner in the Baltimore law firm White, Taylor & Preston,
Director of Legal Support Services for MDF.
In his new role, Pokempner will direct efforts to assist the families of
Maryland’s mobilized reservists. He is now actively recruiting volunteer
lawyers who are members of Maryland’s Bar to render legal assistance to
soldier families. Retired members of the bar who may be commissioned
military officers and can still practice are encouraged to volunteer too.
Essentially, MDF’s cache of attorney volunteers will function as
“minutemen.” Lucas reports, “They will be trained and stand in the wings,
ready to offer assistance when needed.” Former military experience is a
plus because those volunteers “better understand the military’s mission
and culture.” However, Lucas and Pokempner welcome all attorneys
interested in volunteering for the MDF’s legal corp.
Ideally, they would like two volunteer lawyers in every county and
Baltimore City and up to four in the larger jurisdictions. MDF volunteers
will be supporting Maryland’s National Guard by helping the dependents of
mobilized troops. Lucas envisions two phases: (1) pre-mobilization, where
volunteers prepare soldiers ready to be deployed by helping with
everything from wills and powers of attorney to estate planning, and (2)
post-mobilization, where families left behind are assisted with a plethora
of legal issues.
On a pro bono basis, these attorneys will assist families with everything
from missed military benefits, landlord/tenant disputes, mortgage
payments, evictions, real estate issues and employment compensation to
family law matters, health care concerns and consumer issues. All
volunteers will be trained by full time JAG corps officers so they are
cognizant of the intricacies of military law as well as new laws regarding
the rights of activated soldiers.
MSBA members interested in volunteering should contact Pokempner at (410)
347-8737.
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