Mission Statement

Within the Office of the Staff Judge Advocate, the Joint Legal Assistance Office is tasked with providing free attorney and paralegal assistance to uniformed service members, their family members and dependents, retirees and other eligible clients regarding personal legal matters. "Family members" or "dependents" are those persons identified in the sponsor's service record and/or who possess a valid United States Uniformed Services Identification and Privilege Card. Legal Assistance attorneys are available to assist clients with step-parent adoption, child support, consumer problems, contracts, debt and credit problems, immigration advice, wills, living wills, name changes, marital separation agreements, spousal support, and Notaries.

Walk-In Hours

First come first served and only a certain number are seen depending on attorney availability: Tuesday and Thurday at 0730, and Wednesday at 1300.
Dissolution classes begin at 0730 on Tuesday and Thurday. There is no dissolution class during Wed walk-ins NOTE: Bring all documentation relating to your case with you to your walk-in session. If you do not have the necessary documents on hand, an attorney may not be able to assist you.

Matters Handled During Walk-In Hours

Consumer Law Issues (credit card debt, identity theft, car loans, foreclosures, car contracts, etc.)
Contract Disputes
Landlord/Tenant Disputes
Review of Contracts (e.g., to purchase a car)
Non-Support Issues
Family Law Issues
Wills
Adoptions
Name Changes

Dissolution (Divorce) Class

Parties considering marital dissolution must attend the Dissolution Brief held on Tues and Thur morning at 0730. After you attend the brief, you will have enough information to decide whether our office’s mediation service is appropriate for your dissolution.

Services Not Provided by Legal Assistance

Living Trusts
BCNR Petitions
Conservatorships
Traffic Violations
Criminal Matters
NJP Counseling
Fitness Report Rebuttals
DUI Counseling
Claims Against the Government

Citizenship & Immigration Hours

Attention: Before you start the Citizenship process you must attend the brief on Wednesday afternoon. There is no immigration brief, only walk-ins.
Immigration Walk-ins: Wednesday at 0800-1000
Citizenship walk-ins: Mon &Tue: 0900-1100 and 1300-1530.
Citizenship brief: Wednesday at 1400

Doors open at 0730, FIRST COME FIRST SERVED.
* BOTH petitioner and beneficiary must be present unless the beneficiary is out of country.
* Petitioner must be seen at least 6 weeks prior to deployment.

Powers of Attorney and Wills

Wills and POA Brief: Mon, Wed, Fri at 0900
Will Executions: Mon, Wed, Fri at 0800
Note: Those interested in will services must meet with an attorney. This can be done during walk-ins or after the Wills and POA Brief.

Notary Public Hours

Monday-Thursday at 0800-1100, 1300-1500 Friday at 0800-1100
*special and general POAs can be notarized at the above times.

Mediation

After attending the dissolution brief, and you and your spouse have decided to attend mediation, you can come in to make an appointment for mediation at our office on Mon and Wed at 1300. In order to schedule mediation, you must attend the dissolution brief and subsequently file a petition with the court. Bring all documents concerning your dissolution, including but not limited to, court paperwork, your current Leave and Earning Statement and/or pay stubs, bank account information, credit card information, and vehicle information.

Traveling Legal Briefs

Must be scheduled 2 weeks prior to requested date.
Preventive Law Briefs, Wills and Power of Attorney Briefs, and Pre-deployment Briefs may be scheduled by units for classes of 50+ attendees.

Contact Us

UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS
Joint Legal Assistance Office
Building 22161
Box 555023
Camp Pendleton, California 92055-5023
Phone: (760) 725-6558, Fax (760) 725-5038
http://www.pendleton.usmc.mil/base/legalassistance/index.asp

Other Joint Legal Assistance Offices

Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego: (619) 524-4110/4111
Marine Corps Air Station Miramar: (858) 577-1656