Legal & Advocacy Services
Stand up with those who serve by supporting justice-involved veterans, identifying legal challenges related to military service, and linking to effective military-veteran legal support resources.
Why Ask The Question:
Advocating for justice-involved Attorneys, paralegals, legal aid providers and other advocates encounter veterans, service members, and military family members, but they don't always know it. Veterans do not always identify themselves. They can be proud and stoic, and tend to be more comfortable helping others than asking for help themselves – even when they are in some kind of trouble or crisis. Military life can impact an individual's safety, finances, relationships, and opportunities. The best way to ensure service members and veterans get the representation they need is to ASK!
Ask The Question
When you encounter a new client, ask, "Have you or a family member ever served in the military?"
When The Answer Is "YES," you may consider thanking them for their service. You may also then be able to increase your understanding of the potential impact of military service on their current situation, and help them to identify veteran-specific programs, services, and benefits. Asking further questions will also help you to:
- Build rapport and demonstrate interest and cultural competency
- Identify any service-related legal or other stressors that may impact how best to pursue support and representation
- Link to any needed military and veteran resources and referrals, including both VA and non-VA programs
- Explore sources of income and financial stability
- Identify any other areas in need of support, as well as individual and family supports and resources
- Address perceived barriers to seeking support and services
Read a vignette about how providers in Legal & Advocacy Services can make a big difference!
Get To Know Your Veteran
Following are some questions that could be asked in the context of gathering information for more effective referrals and services. Pay attention to non-verbal cues, and show respect, curiosity, and empathy. Also be aware that responsiveness and effective follow–up are critical to building trust and rapport.
When did you/your family member serve? What service era? Which Branch?
- Build rapport with the parent and child and demonstrate interest and cultural competency
- Identify family supports and resources as well as needs for support not yet met
In what ways may your need for services here be connected to your/your family member's military service?
- Identify any deployment-related stressors on the child and family as well as any related behavioral, emotional, social, and academic implications for the child
- Explore deployment and reintegration challenges
Is your child facing or has recently faced a family member's deployment or military duty away from home? If yes, when?
- Identify any deployment-related stressors on the child and family as well as any related behavioral, emotional, social, and academic implications for the child
- Explore deployment and reintegration challenges
Are you/your family member enrolled/connected to the VA or other veteran resource or organizations for support or services?
- Link to any needed military and veteran resources and benefits, including both VA and non-VA programs
- Identify family supports and resources as well as needs for support not yet met
What types of support are needed but not yet met?
- Link to any needed military and veteran resources and benefits, including both VA and non-VA programs
- Identify family supports and resources as well as needs for support not yet met
What reservations did you/your child have about coming in to seek support and assistance? Is there anything that might be a barrier to further seeking assistance?
- Address perceived barriers to the child or parent(s) in seeking support