Resources

Oregon-specific Links and Articles

Oregon State Bar Publications

Veterans, Military Servicemembers, and the Law, 2018 Edition

This 2018 offering is a resource developed in conjunction with the Military and Veterans Law Section. It highlights the vast military presence in Oregon, underscoring the need for legal resources to support our veterans and military. It also provides information about legal rights and benefits that may alter how you practice when your client or opponent is a veteran or military service-member.

2019 Recipient, Award for Professional Excellence, Association for Continuing Legal Education

Highlights include:

Who Is a Veteran?
Military Branches
Oregon’s Military Presence
Criminal Law for Veterans
Getting Military Records, and Witnesses: Privacy Act, FOIA, and Touhy Requests
The US Department of Veterans’ Affairs
State Veterans’ Benefits and Resources
Employment and Re-Employment Rights
Helping Servicemembers on Active Duty and Veterans as Civil Litigants, Consumers, and Taxpayers
Family Law Issues
PTSD and TBI: Issues in Administrative and Criminal Forums
Veteran-Focused Service Organizations

Order your copy today by visiting our online bookstore. You may also contact our CLE Service Center at (503) 431-6413 or 1-800-452-8260, ext. 413.
In November 2019, the executive committee of the section discussed the free distribution of its book, paid from member dues, to Oregon state veterans service offices. In May 2020, the executive committee approved the distribution. In June 2020, the section mailed each of the state’s 34 offices its own book.

Laws

Enforcement of rights under Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (ORS 30.136 – 138)
(Federal Servicemembers Civil Relief Act)
Veteran’s status considered in mitigation of criminal punishment (ORS 137.090(2)) the Section sponsored this legislation.
Active-duty servicemembers have a right to stay administrative hearings (ORS 183.413(2)(P)
Preference given to veterans in public employment. (SB 184 (2021 Session)); the Section sponsored this legislation.

Guidance Letters

Defense Dept. May 2014 letter to Oregon State Bar regarding military justice review
Oregon State Bar June 2014 letter in response to Defense Dept. letter regarding military justice review
Newspaper article concerning improper command influence in military justice reported in the August 14, 2017, Washington Times

Groups

Regional and national links

American Bar Assn Legal Assistance to Military Personnel Standing Committee
Consumer Resources for Military & Families
North Carolina State Bar – Legal Assistance for Military Personnel
Washington State Bar – Legal Assistance to Military Personnel Section
Veterans History Project (Established by the Library of Congress, the VHP collects the personal accounts of American war veterans so that future generations will better understand the realities of war.)
Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve ESGR, a Department of Defense program, was established in 1972 to promote cooperation and understanding between Reserve Component Service members and their civilian employers and to assist in the resolution of conflicts arising from an employee’s military commitment. ESGR is supported by a network of more than 3,600 volunteers in 54 committees located across all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Guam-CNMI (Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands), Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Volunteers, hailing from small business and industry, government, education, and prior military service bring a vast wealth of experience to assist in serving employers, Service members, and their families. Together with Headquarters ESGR staff and a small cadre of support staff for each State Committee, volunteers work to promote and enhance employer support for military service in the Guard and Reserve.
VAntage Point, the official blog of the Veterans Affairs Department. A good resource for current affairs, resources, tips, and information for veterans and those who care for veterans.

List serve

The Oregon State Bar maintains a list serve for the use of section members. The Bar has uses the following guidelines regarding use of the list serve.

List serves are a limited public forum provided to allow discussion among OSB members of issues germane to the law, lawyers, the practice of law, the courts and judicial system, legal education or the Oregon State Bar.

Do not post any information or other material protected by copyright without the permission of the copyright owner. By posting material, the posting party warrants and represents that he or she owns the copyright with respect to such material or has received permission from the copyright owner, or otherwise has the right to post such material.

Do not post any information that violates federal or state laws, including laws prohibiting discrimination in employment.

In the event that any posting is brought to the OSB’s attention, and the OSB will take all appropriate action and reserve the right to terminate access to any user who does not abide by these guidelines. All such decisions shall be made without reference to the viewpoint or content of the posting so long as the content is germane to the law, lawyers, the practice of law, the courts and judicial system, legal education or the Oregon State Bar.

For questions regarding list serves, see List Serve FAQs