YOKOSUKA, Japan - The Defense Service Office, Pacific began service alongside the Regional Legal Service Office on the second floor of the Personnel Support Detachment Building onboard Fleet Activities, Yokosuka.
Lt. Cmdr. Brian Halliden, executive officer of Defense Service Office said, “It was less of a dis-establishment and more of a transition and realignment. There hasn’t been any changes in services provided, just in who’s been providing them.”
Halliden said that the Judge Advocate General Corps took a look at the services that their Regional Legal Service Offices were providing (defense and legal services) and split that function in two, and hence the birth of Defense Service Office.
“Now we have a command that focuses strictly on defense,” Halliden said. “Defense for the sailor means representation at courts-marital, representation at administrative separation boards, and personal representation services, any action a sailor is facing that might require a defense attorney.”
Halliden said that Regional Legal Service Offices still provide legal services, prosecution, and command services (advice to commander).
Defense Service Offices will be staffed by more senior military attorneys, and they will focus only on defending their clients according to Halliden.
Senior Chief Legalman Gregory Cook, Defense Service Office’s senior enlisted adviser, said that this reorganization helps his office focus more on the legal work. “It benefits the service member because we’re able to get a much closer relationship with the client, spend more time specifically focused on their cases, and provide a much higher level of defense service.”
Halliden said that Defense Service Office-Pacific’s territory is all naval installations from Hawaii to Diego Garcia which includes all of Japan, Guam, and Singapore.
Personnel authorized for Defense Service Office’s services are active-duty military and reservists. Personnel authorized for Regional Legal Service Office’s services are active duty military, their spouses and family members, reservists on deployment or active duty orders, and DoD (stateside hire) civilians.
The hours of operation for both offices are Mondays through Fridays from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Appointments are required for individuals who would like to see an attorney, or are seeking wills, powers of attorney, notary public, and other such services. Walk-in times for legal services are Thursdays from 1 to 3:30 pm.
For more information visit the Defense Service Office at www.jag.navy.mil.
| Date Taken: |
11.09.2012 |
| Date Posted: |
11.12.2012 20:38 |
| Story ID: |
97672 |
| Location: |
YOKOSUKA, KANAGAWA, JP |
| Web Views: |
66 |
| Downloads: |
0 |
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