The Marine Corps is committed to ensuring that service members and their families receive the support they need, particularly when it comes to legal matters related to an individual’s disability.
To further this commitment, the Marine Corps has made free specialized legal support available to families enrolled in the Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP). This support comes in the form of attorneys who focus on disability-related law and are stationed at key Marine Corps bases across the United States.
These four attorneys are located at Marine Corps Base (MCB) Quantico, MCB Camp Pendleton, MCB Camp Lejeune, and MCB Hawaii, where they offer assistance to clients within a regional framework. The role of these attorneys is to provide EFMP-enrolled families with guidance and support related to various legal issues that may arise due to the exceptional needs of their family members. Their expertise is particularly valuable when navigating complex disability-related concerns.
Published January 2025, MARADMIN 012/25 expands the scope of services these attorneys can provide. According to the updated guidance, these attorneys may not represent clients in claims against the United States government. However, they can represent clients in matters involving the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) schools and base housing, provided that the issue does not involve litigation. In cases where litigation is anticipated, the attorneys are required to refer the client to other legal resources.
The goal of these legal services is to ensure that Marine Corps families with exceptional needs have access to the appropriate legal support, allowing them to focus on what matters most—maintaining the well-being of their loved ones. The Marine Corps recognizes that families are an integral part of the service member's mental fitness, and as such, is committed to providing resources to address their unique needs.
This initiative is just one of many ways the Marine Corps works to support its service members and their families, ensuring that free and specialized legal advice and representation is available to EFMP families.