The Wilmington morning star., 1945-09-08
Veterans To Receive
Free Legal Services

Former serviceme9 needing lie.
gal counsel on problems arising
from a change to civilian life and
in veterans affairs, may secure
professional advice without charge,
Donald King, commander of the
Wilmington post OF the American
Legion, said Friday.
Mr.. King further revealed that
competent advisors will be on
hand at the Legion Home to help
veterans.
He pointed out that the service
mems Rights and Benefits" a
booklet compiled by the federal
government, provides that legal
counsel without charge is available
to ex-service personnel through the
state chairman of the American
Bar association, or veterans may
consult their local Selective Service
board, Red Cross or Legal Aid
Society"
The probable need for legal ad-
vice has been anticipated and
means provided to meet it here.
Servicemen wanting an attor-
ney's counsel should contact the
Wilmington Red Cross chapter,
which serves as a referral point to
the New Hanover County Bar as
ISOLATION. The Bar association, in
turn, will refer the veteran to its
members who offer free legal serv-
Ices. Office of the association is
located in the Trust building.
It should not be necessary for a
veteran to pay for legal advice,
since, in addition to the services
preferred by the local bar associa-
ton, it is the responsibility of the
Veterans Administration to insure
Justice for the returning veteran.
There are exceptions, of course,
to this general rule for handling
veterans legal counsel: should an
ex-serviceman be guilty of violiat-
ing any of the local laws, or should
he need extensive legal counsel on
matters unrelated to his status as
veteran, then lawyer employed
by the veteran would be justified in
charging his usual fee. However,
for general advice on veterans af-
fairs, their claims, or their jobs,
there is no justific ation in charging
fees.
1t. Col. Charles Jonas Of the
State Selective Service office to-
day told attorneys in Raleigh that
the Soldiers and Sailors Civil Re-
lief act had not lost its effective
ness by reason Of the cessation OF
hostihties.
An amendment to the act pro-
vides that any serviceman or wom'
an may, within six months after he
or she is discharged from military
service, apply to court for relief
in respect to any obligation or IL
ability which he or she incurred
prior to or during the period OF
military service or in respect to
any tax or assessment which be-
came due prior to or during mill
tary service
To meet the further needs OF ct
Grams that have arisen recently,
Mr.. King said, that Wilmington
real estate firm was furnishing the
post with a series of answers to
questions posted by veterans VINO
have sought advice about purc.1as-
ing property. This is being dcre.
he explained, in order to better
equip the Legion to advise veterans
about real estate transactions in
the future.
The OPA panel, announced last
week by c. Van Leuven, chairman
of the War Price and Rationing
Board here, is similarly designed
to acquaint the veteran with the
details OF price control and ration
ing and to forestall any attempts
to profit at the veterans expense.
Should any difficulty arise in get
ting his old job back, the veteran
should Immediately consult the re-
employment officer of his Selective
Service board, whose responsibility
it is to see that the veterans job is
there for him. If necessary, the
veteran can secure the assistance
Of the U. S. district attorney in
pressing his claim.
All the local agencies established
to aid and counsel the veteran are
coordinated under the Veteran S
Service Committee, which was
established by the federal and state
governments as the clearing IL >
for all veterans organizations. T. 5
committee is headed by H. R.
Emory, with Fred E. Little as vice
chairman.