Legal Assistance

OSJA provides a wide range of legal assistance services, without charge and by appointment only. Appointments must be scheduled in advance; we do not provide services on a walk-in basis. Please note that we are NOT authorized to appear with you as your attorney of record on legal assistance matters in any court.

Our legal assistance services include:

• Wills
• Living wills
• Notarization
• Powers-of-attorney
• Advice on most personal legal matters, including automobile accidents, wills, credit matters, repossessions, consumer complaints, living wills, health surrogate forms, tax assistance, life insurance contracts and powers of attorney
• Review of legal documents, including contracts and leases if they are not related to a private income-producing business
• Preparation of correspondence and other legal documents

Military Trial Defense Services

Military Trial Defense Services OSJA provides specified defense counsel services whenever required by law or regulation and when authorized by our higher headquarters.

• Army National Guard: Contact us at 317-247-3449. Our resources are limited. We contact our clients on a first-come, first-served basis and reply to inquiries and requests for assistance as quickly as possible.
• Air National Guard: Airmen seeking legal defense services should contact the appropriate legal office to provide them assistance. Members assigned to the 122nd Fighter Wing should contact the legal office in Fort Wayne at 260-478-3317. Members assigned to the 181st Intelligence Wing should contact the legal office in Terre Haute at 812- 877-5385.

Our trial defense services include:

• Representing soldiers charged with military criminal offenses at trial
• Representing soldiers during criminal investigations and before elimination or grade reduction boards
• Counseling soldiers regarding pretrial restraint, nonjudicial punishment and various adverse administrative actions taken pursuant to military regulations

Please note that counsel and representation are not the same, and counsel does NOT include in-person appearances, or speaking on behalf of the client to third parties. Counsel consists of reviewing documentation provided by a client, conducting research based upon law and regulation and providing a legal opinion or advice to the client.

Sample Letters

• Request reduction of interest rate during deployment.pdf
• Stay of Proceedings Pursuant to Service Members Civil Relief Act.pdf
• Advance Notice to Employer of Military Duty.pdf
• Termination of Motor Vehicle Lease Pursuant to Service Members Civil Relief Act.pdf
• Termination of Premises Lease Pursuant to Service Members Civil Relief Act.pdf

Legal Briefing Sheets

The legal briefing sheets below cover a wide range of topics relevant to Indiana National Guard service members. For literature specific to the U.S. Air Force, please visit http://www.e-publishing.af.mil/.

• Article 15 fact sheet.pdf
• Benefits at separation.pdf
• Disposition of AWOL Soldier's Property
• Divorce in Indiana.pdf
• Drug/alcohol abuse rehabilitation failure.pdf
• Failure to meet Army body composition standards.pdf
• Financial Liability Investigations of Property Loss - Common Errors
• Financial Liability Investigations of Property Loss - General
• Incomplete Financial Liability Investigation of Property Loss
• Involuntary allotments and garnishments.pdf
• Planning for the future.pdf
• Political Activities by Members of the Armed Forces
• Powers of Attorney.pdf
• Separation for misconduct.pdf
• Support of dependents.pdf
• Unsatisfactory participation.pdf

Working for the Office of the Staff Judge Advocate

JAG Corps
The Indiana National Guard Office of the Staff Judge Advocate actively recruits members of the military to join the Judge Advocate General (JAG) Corps. The JAG Corps provides an excellent opportunity for young lawyers to experience a number of different legal fields and to become involved in a broad range of cases. Judge Advocates may serve as prosecutors in criminal cases (courts-martial) or in legal assistance to provide counsel and advice to soldiers, retirees and their families. Legal fields include civil litigation and administrative, contract, international, labor and medical law. Contact us if you are interested in learning more.

Paralegal
The Indiana National Guard Office of the Staff Judge Advocate actively recruits paralegals. If you are looking for a challenging opportunity to serve, and you have an associate’s degree in paralegal studies or a bachelor's degree in another field and a certificate in paralegal studies, this field may be right for you. Paralegals assist the legal team by conducting research; drafting correspondence, reports and legal documents; filing documents with the court; maintaining filing systems and handling the phones/intake process. Paralegals must demonstrate excellent communication, computer, interpersonal, organizational and research skills. Contact us if you are interested in learning more.

Contact

Office of the Staff Judge Advocate
Headquarters, Indiana National Guard
2002 South Holt Road, Bldg 1, Room 1253
Indianapolis, IN 46241
Phone: 317-247-3449
Email: ng.in.inarng.list.jag@mail.mil

Airmen seeking legal defense services should contact the appropriate legal office to provide them assistance:

• Indiana National Guard members assigned to the 122nd Fighter Wing should contact the legal office in Fort Wayne at 260-478-3317.
• Indiana National Guard members assigned to the 181st Intelligence Wing should contact the legal office in Terre Haute at 812-877-5385.