Military Assistance Program Thrives
by OBA President Deb Reheard
Free CLE for New Volunteers
We are more than halfway through the inaugural year of our Oklahoma Lawyers for America’s Heroes project, what we believe will be the first of many years for this important community service program for our association. So far, more than 300 military service members and veterans have requested our assistance with their legal challenges, and we stand ready for action. Hundreds of Oklahoma lawyers have stepped up and are volunteering pro bono representation of American heroes.
We continue to encourage bar members to sign up for the project, because as news of the program spreads, we anticipate the demand for our services will increase dramatically. With that in mind, the OBA Continuing Legal Education Department is offering a free CLE this month for lawyers who volunteer to provide 20 hours of pro bono assistance to service members in need.
The free CLE is set for at the Northwestern Oklahoma State University — Enid Campus, 2929 E. Randolph. Participating attorneys will receive seven hours of MCLE including one hour of ethics. The CLE will touch on the practice areas in which service members are most likely to encounter issues, such as family law, consumer or credit issues, estate planning and disability law.
The program is being co-sponsored by the Garfield County Bar Association. Our partner organization, Pros4Vets, is also sponsoring the event and will provide lunch for attendees. To sign up, visit www.okbar.org/s/7sdpi or call 405-416-7006.
Why Should You Volunteer?
We have found that younger reservists who are paid the least are often the most at-risk for legal problems. They are in stressful situations and are separated from their families. This stress can lead to trauma, substance abuse and suicide. As an association, our goal is to step in and prevent these problems from spiraling out of control. As attorneys, this program gives us the opportunity to serve those who have served us in defending our freedom. As your president, I encourage you to repay the debt we owe these American heroes for the sacrifices they make on the battlefield and back home.
The Aug. 19 CLE in Enid mirrors a similar program that took place in Oklahoma City in February. That “OBA Boot Camp: Oklahoma Lawyers Representing America’s Heroes,” was an amazing event that made me proud to lead this association. In addition to becoming better educated in the best practices for representing our service members, we had a lot of fun. A surprise visitor included NFL standout and former Sooner Roy Williams. While we can’t guarantee football legends at every CLE, we can guarantee that this will be a rewarding and fulfilling experience for lawyers who sign up.
We already anticipate more than $1 million worth of legal services will be donated to our military members as a result of this program. While that’s a great number, it’s only a start. We hope that OBA members who could not attend the CLE in Oklahoma City will make the trip to Enid and join us in our efforts. Please ask yourself this question: “For those who serve, will you serve?”
