Marquette University Law School launched the Servicemembers and Veterans Legal Assistance of Wisconsin (SAVLAW) to assist Wisconsin’s valued servicemembers and veterans who are experiencing civilian legal issues.

SAVLAW is organized under Marquette University Law School’s Office of Public Service, and is coordinated by Marquette law students under the supervision of the school’s pro bono coordinator with invaluable assistance provided by Wisconsin volunteer attorneys.

SAVLAW has three separate initiatives, which are described briefly here with more information on each program below.  The first is pro bono legal assistance for active duty servicemembers who have a legal issue that is impacting their ability to serve.  The second initiative is a limited legal advice and referral clinic for veterans and their families who are experiencing a civil legal issue.  The third initiative is educational outreach for servicemembers and their families.  This aspect of the program is currently being developed.

The American Bar Association also serves members of the military through its Military Pro Bono Project.  For more information, please visit their website.

PRO BONO PANEL FOR SERVICEMEMBERS
SAVLAW’s pro bono panel is intended to provide Wisconsin servicemembers with legal assistance in certain civilian legal matters that are impacted by their military service.  These areas of law include:

SAVLAW pro bono panel referrals can be made by a servicemember or their family member, acting on their behalf, to Marquette’s Pro Bono Coordinator by using the intake form online. In order to qualify for SAVLAW, the servicemember must:

SAVLAW will work with servicemembers on civil, civilian legal issues only.  SAVLAW cannot address any criminal legal issues, and will refer the servicemember to take any military-specific legal matters to their military legal assistance office (such as issues related to discharge).

SAVLAW will follow-up on all referrals that it receives in some manner.  SAVLAW may be able to provide procedural, non-legal advice; a referral to a pro bono attorney; referral to a military legal service provider; or provide other assistance.

SAVLAW will make its best efforts, but cannot guarantee that a pro bono attorney will be available to take every servicemember’s case.  SAVLAW relies on private attorneys to volunteer their time to meet the needs of those requesting assistance through SAVLAW.

Click here if you are an attorney in Wisconsin who is interested in being put on the SAVLAW pro bono referral list.

Marquette Volunteer Legal Clinic for Veterans
Marquette University Law School offers a free legal clinic for veterans and their families. The legal clinic will be held the first and third Monday of each month from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

The legal clinic is held in the Milwaukee Veteran Service Office (MVSO), building #4 on the VA Medical Center grounds, just west of Miller Park baseball stadium at 5400 W. National Avenue.  Click here for a map and directions.

For information on location and to confirm hours, please call 414-382-1753.  No legal advice can be given over the phone; this number is for information on location and hours only.

Please bring all paperwork related to your legal issue to the legal clinic.  The clinic will take people on a walk-in basis only.  Volunteer attorneys will provide confidential legal advice and referrals at the clinic, but no on-going attorney-client relationship will be established.

For more information on the MVLC for Veterans as well as Marquette’s other legal clinics, please visit the MVLC website.