Veterans Legal Program - Volunteer Resources

Thank you for volunteering with VLJ’s Veterans Legal Program! The resources below are meant to provide information and support to you while you volunteer with our virtual legal clinic, held twice per month.

If you are volunteering for the first time (or it’s been a while), please watch VLJ’s recorded training, available HERE.

STEP 1: COMPLETE A WELLNESS QUESTIONNAIRE WITH EACH CLIENT

The first step in assisting our veteran clients is to assess their needs and identify legal issues.  We do this by asking each volunteer team to complete the Veterans Legal Wellness Clinic - Volunteer Packet (below) with each client.

The Volunteer Packet includes:

• Part 1: Limited Scope Agreement

• Part 2: Wellness Questionnaire

• Part 3: Volunteer Report Form

We recommend appointing a scribe to complete the packet through the course of appointment, and alternate scribes throughout the clinic.

REMINDER! Each team must complete a Veteran Legal Wellness Clinic - Volunteer Packet for each client and return to VLJ. Additional forms and questionnaires should be completed if applicable and returned to VLJ as well (see below).

step 2: complete the additional steps depending on legal issues identified during the wellness questions

Criminal Record Expungement
If veteran was deemed eligible for NJ criminal record expungement, complete the following:

1. Conduct Criminal Record Searches via public access searches, allow attorneys to review via screenshare, download save records, and submit back to VLJ.
   
   Download How-to-guide HERE and please save all search results.
   
   Municipal Court Case Search (MCCS): https://portal.njcourts.gov/webe41/MPAWeb/
   Title 2C: is the New Jersey code for criminal matters

   Superior Court Case Search (Promis Gavel): https://portal.njcourts.gov/webe41/ExternalPGPA/CaptchaServlet
   

2. Complete a Records Requests so VLJ can submit to the court(s) records department.
   Note, if the veteran has incidents in more than one municipality, a Records Request should be submitted for each.

   Download sample Record Request available for download HERE.

Child Support Modification
If it was determined that a veteran is a good candidate to seek a modification of their existing NJ Child Support Order, complete a supplemental Child Support Questionnaire and Records Request.

Note, if the veteran has child support orders in multiple NJ counties, a Records Request should be submitted for each county.

1. Download blank Child Support Questionnaire HERE.

2. Download sample Records Request HERE.

Driver’s License Restoration
If veteran has a suspended NJ driver’s license, let them know that VLJ will be sending them an MVC Consent Form (by email) to complete and sign to get a copy of their record from the Motor Vehicle Commission. If client cannot receive email please notify VLJ to send via mail.

Bankruptcy
If veteran has overwhelming debt, complete a supplemental Bankruptcy Questionnaire.

1. Download blank Bankruptcy Questionnaire HERE.

Estate Planning
If veteran is seeking to have estate planning documents drafted, including a Will, Power of Attorney, and/or Medical Directive, complete a supplemental Estate Planning Questionnaire.

1. Download blank Estate Planning Questionnaire - Married Veterans, HERE.

2. Download blank Estate Planning Questionnaire - Single Veterans, HERE.

Eviction / Habitability Issues in Rented NJ Unit
If veteran has received an Eviction Complaint and/or is experiencing habitability issues in their rented apartment, complete a supplemental Tenancy Questionnaire.

Note, VLJ does not provide rental assistance. If there is no eviction case and veteran is only seeking rental assistance, you do not need to complete the questionnaire. Only make a note on in Volunteer Packet.

1. Download blank Tenancy Questionnaire HERE.

VA Benefits and Military Discharge Upgrades
Unfortunately VLJ is not able to assist with VA Benefits issues, including Discharge Upgrades. Notify veteran that they should be in touch with a local veteran service officer (“VSO”) to review their eligibility, update their VA e-benefit account, etc.

1. List of VSO’s by NJ county available HERE.

2. For Military Discharge Upgrades, please contact the GI Go Fund at (973) 802-1479, ext. 703 or The Veterans Consortium Discharge Upgrade Program at (202) 733-3324 or upgrades@vetsprobono.org.

3. For an interactive guide to available VA benefits, please click on “Veterans Guide” below.

Other Legal Issues and Social Servics
If a other legal issues are identified for the veteran, and not noted above, it is likely that they should be provided referrals to an agency that can provide that specific services.

• List of other organizations/services available HERE.

• List of NJ Lawyer Referral Offices available HERE.

training videos

Whether this is your first time volunteering with VLJ’s Veterans Legal Program, or it has been a while, below are relevant training videos we recommend.