MARCH AIR RESERVE BASE, CALIF. -- For those in need of legal services, help may be only a ticket away. The March Air Reserve Base Legal Office provides limited legal assistance to military members and their dependents. There are actually two different legal offices co-located in the building: the 951st Reserve Support Squadron Staff Judge Advocate, and the 452nd Air Mobility Wing Staff Judge Advocate. The 951 RSPTS/JA is open Monday through Friday, and assists active duty Air Force personnel stationed at March ARB. Reservists should seek assistance from the 452 AMW/JA during Unit Training Assembly weekends.

Due to staffing restrictions, legal assistance is limited to mobilization and deployment related services. The highest priority is given to Air Force personnel who have received orders to deploy. Retired military members and servicemembers with non-deployment related issues, as well as their dependents, should seek assistance from the nearest active duty base (i.e. Fort Irwin, Los Angeles AFB). Members of the 163rd Reconnaissance Wing should contact the Air National Guard Staff Judge Advocate.

Legal assistance attorneys can prepare wills and advanced medical directives, including living wills and medical powers of attorney. Legal office attorneys cannot, however, represent clients in any court or administrative proceedings or draft or file legal documents. The legal office staff can prepare general and special powers of attorney and provide notary services.

To schedule an appointment for wills or POAs, please call for the 951 RSPTS/JA (active duty Air Force), or for the 452 AMW/JA (reservists). Before your appointment, please visit the Air Force Legal Assistance website at: https://aflegalassistance.law.af.mil and complete an online legal worksheet. After completing the worksheet, the website will provide you with a "ticket number." The data you entered will be held secure and may be retrieved only after you provide your ticket number to the legal office staff. Although visiting the website and completing the online worksheet is not mandatory, we highly recommend it.

Many clients travel to the legal office to obtain a will or other legal document, only to realize after arriving that more information or documents are required. Sometimes a client realizes she needs to speak with her spouse or another family member about an issue. Completing an online worksheet helps minimize multiple visits. By filling out an online worksheet, clients are able to consider critical issues online prior to visiting the legal office. This reduces the amount of waiting time, and reduces the amount of information the client needs to bring.

The legal assistance website not only provides access to legal worksheets, but also contains short papers on common legal assistance topics such as wills and family law issues. It also contains links to other helpful sites. While the website increases convenience for clients, everyone should note that information on the website is for educational and informational purposes only. The website cannot replace consultation with an attorney, and you will not have the ability to print a legal document (will, power of attorney, etc.) from the website. You need to visit the legal office and provide a ticket number to obtain the documents.

All of us here at the March Air Reserve Base Legal Office look forward to serving the base and the local community's legal needs. Check out the website next time a legal need arises, and call our office to schedule an appointment. We value your feedback concerning the website and the services we provide as we continue to look for ways to better serve you. See you soon -- and don't forget your ticket number!