Marine Corps Base Camp Smedley D. Butler

 

Marine Corps Base Camp Smedley D. Butler


Legal Assistance
Our Mission

Click Here for the Tax Center

Mission: to foster the operational readiness of the armed forces through the provision of legal assistance services to eligible clients and customers in the Pacific Region through private attorney consultation regarding personal civil legal affairs, and presentation of preventative law/pre-marital/pre-deployment/estate planning briefs to units of III MEF and MCI-PAC.

Location:  Bldg 5717 Camp Foster down the hill from the Naval Hospital

Phone:  DSN 645-1037 (Please do not call about the Tax Center- it is a separate office

              For off-base Cell Phones call - (098-911-5111)

Documents
 TitleCategoryModified DateSize 
Special Power of AttorneyLegal5/9/2016359.99 KBDownload
Power of Attorney RevocationLegal5/9/2016105.98 KBDownload
General Power of AttorneyLegal5/9/2016144.45 KBDownload
Hours / Services Provided

      1. Prospective Client Intake Hours: If you would like to speak to an attorney, then you must come to Prospective Client Intake Hours to determine whether an attorney may take your case.
                                             
                                   Monday through Friday from 0800 to 0900

                *Arrive early to ensure you can be seen that day.

      2. Appointment Hours: If you are already a client of the Legal Assistance Office Camp Foster, then you may schedule an appointment to see an attorney. Please call DSN 645-1037 or 098-911-5111(for off-base cell phones) to schedule an appointment.

                                  Monday through Friday from 0900 to 1200 and 1300 to 1600. Fridays from 0900 to 1200.
     
       3. Notary Hours: If you need a notary, then you may receive notarial services on a first-come, first-serve basis.
                                 
                                  Monday through Thursday from 1100 to 1400 and Friday from 0800-1030.
                    
              *You do not need to speak with an attorney to have your documents notarized*, **Any adjutant, legal officer, judge advocate or military officer of the rank 0-4 or above may act as a notary for your document.**
    
    
      4. Office Closures:

Martin Luther King Jr. Day     January 16th - 19th (96 Hours)
Super Bowl                             February 6th - 8th (72 Hours)
President's Day                      February 13th - 16th (96 Hours)
Memorial Day                         May 28th - 31st (96 Hours)
Independence Day                 July 2nd - 5th (96 Hours)
Labor Day                               September 3rd - 6th (96 Hours)
Columbus Day                        October 8th - 11th (96 Hours)
Veteran's Day                          November 10th - 13th (96 Hours)
Thanksgiving                           November 24th - 27th (96 Hours)
Christmas Day                         December 24th - 27th (96 Hours)
New Year's Day                       December 31st - January 3rd (96 Hours)



Notary Services: These services do not require consultation with an attorney and include standard notarizations.
  • Statements of Verification (Certified Copies)
  • Power of Attorneys
  • Affidavits
  • TSP Withdrawal
  • SPB Election
  • Passport Application

 Eligible Clients/Customers:  Active Duty Military (all services), Military Dependents, Military Retirees, DoD Civilian Employees (only while on overseas assignment).  **Contractors are NOT eligible for services unless the contractor fits one of the eligible categories


 Supported Installations/Locations:  The Camp Foster Legal Assistance Office serves as the central office for the Pacific Region so it provides assistance not only for personnel located at Okinawa, Japan but at remote installations in the Pacific as well such as Camp Fuji, Camp Mujuk, or service members deployed to Australia or SE Asia.  Legal Services Support Section Pacific also operates a Legal Assistance Office at MCAS Iwakuni, Japan.

INDIVIDUAL ATTORNEY CONSULTATION: the Legal Assistance Attorneys on staff will provide individual consultation to eligible servicemembers, dependents, retirees and DOD civilian employees regarding their private civil legal affairs.  The Legal Assistance Attorneys form attorney/client relationships and all communications are fully covered by attorney/client privilege and will not be disclosed except as a result of express or implied consent from the client to effectively represent his/her interest, or as otherwise allowed under the rules of professional conduct.  See JAGINST 5803.1D

- Commands cannot compel a legal assistance attorney to disclose privileged information.


 - The Legal Assistance Office will not disclose the presence or relationship of any client except per client consent



 Private Civil Matters: These matters require consultation with an attorney.  Absolutely no legal advice will be provided over the phone, e-mail, or outside of the attorney consultation hours noted above.  The Legal Assistance Attorneys will advise on the following matters, but not limited to
   

  • The Legal Assistance Office is PROHIBITED from advising on the following:    
  • Criminal matters (civilian and military)
  • Request Mast, Article 138, Section 1105 complaints
  • NJP
  • Administrative Separation proceedings and Physical Evaluation Boards
  • Claims against the government or any other matter in which the U.S. government has an interest, whether or not adverse to the individual.
  • Investigations.
  • Private Business Ventures

Preventative Law/Pre-Deployment Briefs: The Legal Assistance Office provides briefs to units regarding estate planning, consumer protection, military rights & benefits, and family law.  Contact the Legal Assistance OIC at 645-1037 to schedule briefs as part of required annual training and overall unit readiness.  It is strongly advised to schedule pre-deployment briefs at least 90 days in advance of deployment to ensure documents can be prepared before deployment.


*IMPORTANT:  do NOT wait until fulfilling pre-deployment requirements to get your unit ready.  Make sure your Marines are ready to deploy at any moment.