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Protecting those who serve

September 2006 | Volume 42, Issue 9

Family law for military personnel
William S. Friedlander

Representing a servicemember in a family law case can be like entering a foreign country: There is a whole new set of laws you have to learn and procedures you have to master. Bone up on the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act to ensure that your clients’ service obligations—including deployment to a war zone—don’t jeopardize their filial relationships or financial welfare.

Representing veterans in the battle for benefits
Interview with Ronald B. Abrams

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is charged with ensuring that all veterans get the benefits they were promised. Yet despite its best efforts, the VA’s resources are often stretched too thin to help every veteran—and some veterans may not even be aware of what they are entitled to. Ronald Abrams, the joint executive director of the National Veterans Legal Services Program, discusses how lawyers can make a difference advocating for veterans.

Fighting for our troops on the home front
Monica Goracke, Roger Heller, and Victoria Ni

Increasingly, housing on military bases is being run by private, for-profit contractors, and much of it is substandard, poorly maintained, and even dangerous. The situation is especially bad for veterans with disabilities, who may experience discrimination or retaliation in response to requests for accommodation. The military itself may be immune from a lawsuit, but private property managers, architects, and contractors can be held accountable.

When the military paycheck is prey
Stuart Rossman and Hellen Papavizas

Military families are a favorite target of high-interest loan companies, rent-to-own schemers, and other dubious merchants. Military men and women receive a guaranteed paycheck from a reliable source, but their salaries are low, and many military families are struggling financially. Litigation can protect them from rip-offs and help servicemembers get an honest deal.

Features

ATLA officers, 2006-2007

Meet the president, president-elect, vice president, treasurer, secretary, and parliamentarian for the upcoming year. These newly elected leaders talk about ATLA’s past victories, current projects, and hopes for the future, sharing their vision of how ATLA can continue fighting for the rights of all Americans.

What can Google do for you?
David Ratcliff

The little search engine that took over the Internet world has myriad uses beyond basic research. Google can help you find everything from a company’s annual report to its legal history, research defendants—and their counsel—in depth, uncover hidden information, calculate figures, and get directions to your next meeting. Tap into its wealth of free resources and discover why bloggers like to say, “Google is your friend.”