MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. -- Legal Service Support Sections centralized to improve the legal system within the Marine Corps and standardize both the legal process and the reporting process here Oct. 1.
“The legal field within Marine Corps Installations-West will greatly benefit from centralization, as attorneys and personnel will be exposed to a broader range of experiences and will create regionally standardized procedures,” said Col. Michael B. Richardson, officer in charge of Legal Services Support Sections-West.
Within MCI-West, the officer in charge of LSSS-West will oversee the Legal Services Support Teams, made up of Miramar, Camp Pendleton and Twentynine Palms, who will report to the commanding general of MCI-West.
“We no longer have ‘Joint Law Centers’ where the SJA (Staff Judge Advocate) dual-hatted as both an advisor and a legal service provider,” Richardson said. Legal command advice will be provided exclusively by the staff judge advocate. While legal service support is provided by the local LSST.
The LSST of Miramar will provide services, as needed, to Marine Corps Air Station Yuma and Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego. Twentynine Palms will also be providing services to Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow.
“This reorganization is designed, in part, to ensure that we have a supportable training and mentoring plan for young judge advocates,” Richardson said. “It’s also to ensure they receive appropriate supervision and resourcing, and ultimately that the cases get tried by personnel with the appropriate experience levels.”
For More information about LSSS-West, visit: http://www.pendleton.marines.mil/StaffAgencies/LegalServicesSupportSectionWest.aspx.