ABA Military Pro Bono Project

Military legal assistance attorneys are unable to represent individual servicemembers or their families in civilian court.

The American Bar Association (ABA) Pro Bono Project provides an opportunity for civilian attorneys to assist active duty military clients E-6 and below and their family members.

Here are the steps:

1. Referral
Client meets with a military attorney and receives assistance to the fullest extent possible. The military attorney completes the referral form on the project website (www.militaryprobono.org).

2. Review
The referral is routed for review for merit and eligibility and then either approved for referral, disapproved, or returned for more information.

3. Search
ABA seeks to identify a civilian attorney who can handle the matter.

4. Match
The assigned civilian counsel completes a "conflict check" then all interested parties are notified of the referral.

5. Progress
The civilian counsel begins working with the client and provides periodic progress updates to the ABA through case completion.

70 percent of referrals to the Military Pro Bono Project are for family law matters including divorce, custody and domestic violence issues.

Other qualified cases include:
- Consumer law
- Landlord-Tenant
- Probate
- Trusts & Estates
- Guardianship
- Employment/USERRA
- Expungements
- Tax Law

Child support matters are not generally appropriate for referral.