November 10, 2017
Carson City, NV – Today, Nevada Attorney General Adam Paul
Laxalt celebrates two years of serving Nevada’s military service members and
veterans through his Office of Military Legal Assistance @EASE Program. Two
years ago, the program was officially launched around the State as the nation’s
first attorney general-led, public-private partnership offering our military
communities access to pro bono civil legal services. Since then, the program
has gone on to serve more than two thousand military service members and
veterans through its pro bono legal affiliates and volunteer attorneys.
In
practice, the program pairs military service members in need of legal
assistance with pro bono private legal counsel for civil matters including
consumer fraud, military rights, immigration, landlord/tenant, predatory lending
and creditor/debtor issues. The program also provides monthly workshops
dedicated to drafting free wills and powers of attorney for Nevada veterans
across the State. Thus far, more than 50 of these workshops have been held in
every county of the State.
“Veterans
Day is a time to honor those who have honored our country with their selfless
service and fierce sense of duty,” said Laxalt. “As a veteran of the Iraq war,
the Office of Military Legal Assistance @EASE Program is my way of ensuring
that our service members and their families are shown the gratitude and
statewide commitment they are owed for their service to our State and country.
With more than 150 Nevada attorneys assisting in this effort, we are proud to
have served over 2,300 veterans in the past two years, and I am thrilled to
announce our latest partnership with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to
bring free legal clinics to the VA Medical Centers in Nevada beginning in 2018.
Today and every day, I hope you will join me in expressing our deepest appreciation
for the humility and love of country our veterans have demonstrated.”
Last
year, the Department of Defense named the Office of Military Legal Assistance
@EASE Program a “Best Practice Program,” and recommended that
the program be duplicated in states throughout the country. The early success
of this program resulted in the program being replicated in three other states
thus far, with more than a dozen in various stages of development, including in
the legislative process to bring the program to service members and veterans in
those states. Just this week, South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson
announced that his office would launch its V.A.L.O.R. Program, which stands for
Veterans, Active/Reserve Legal OutReach, in January 2018.
As
an Iraq war veteran and a former officer in the U.S. Navy, AG Laxalt noticed a
critical gap in legal assistance while serving his country. With the brave men
and women of our military in mind, AG Laxalt was driven to create the Office of
Military Legal Assistance @EASE Program in order to give back to those who have
given so much in service to this State and country. He remains proud to be the
first attorney general in the country to lead this effort and demonstrate a
commitment to our military communities.
For
more information about the Office of Military Legal Assistance @EASE Program, or
if you are an attorney who would like to volunteer please call 775-684-1100 or
visit nvagomla.nv.gov . To schedule of
upcoming veterans workshops can be viewed here.
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